GMC is no longer the top automaker in the U.S., but it’s taking strides to turn that around. Super Cruise is one of its latest innovations that is putting other automakers on notice, and letting them know that GMC is not done yet. But what is Super Cruise, and how do you know if your vehicle has it? Here’s what we found out.

What is Super Cruise?

GMC is proud to announce that many of its vehicles now have Super Cruise. The American automaker claims that this is the “first true hands-free driver-assistance technology for compatible roads,” and is a semi-autonomous driver-assistance feature. 

In spite of the fancy language, it is not a truly autonomous vehicle. Instead, it’s a Level 2 type and is merely there to assist you. There are many other automakers out there which report their vehicles offer hands-free driving, such as Tesla. 

Some of the features on Safe Drive allow you to change lanes thanks to Lane Change on Demand and Automatic Lane Change. To operate Super Cruise, you’ll need an active GMC Connected Services plan. You’ll receive three years of Connected Services when you purchase a new GMC vehicle with Super Cruise, but you’ll need to subscribe after this.

You’ll also need to make sure adaptive cruise control is on, as well as set your forward collision system to alert and brake. Super Cruise will not operate if Teen Driver is in use. There are also some roads that are not compatible with Super Cruise, such as unpaved back roads, or roads that are covered in snow or rainwater.

Even though it’s marketed as hands-free, it does not mean that you can sit back and chill while your GMC vehicle handles all the hard work of driving. You’ll still have to remain alert. Many drivers who use hands-free driving technology still have wrecks, so it’s crucial that you keep your eyes on the road even if Super Cruise is activated. 

GMC has taken steps to make sure this does not happen. The Driver Attention System will warn you three times, and if you still aren’t paying attention the third time, the vehicle will slow to a stop and brake until you take control of the vehicle again.

How do you know if your GMC has Super Cruise?

All you need to do is check the steering wheel. If you are using the adaptive cruise control, you’ll notice a thin green LED which will appear on the upper section of the vehicle’s steering wheel. This means you not only have Super Cruise on your vehicle, but it’s also safe to use it. You can also check with your dealer before purchasing, or look at your manual.

Super Cruise is currently offered on the 2022-2023 HUMMER EV Pickup, 2022-2023 Sierra 1500 Denali and Denali Ultimate, and the 2023 Yukon Denali and Denali Ultimate

GMC has been rolling Super Cruise out rather slowly 

GMC Authority reports that it’s been a slow, but steady process to design and incorporate Super Cruise into its lineup. News first arrived that GMC was working on Super Cruise in April 2013. 

In 2014-2015, GMC stated that the Super Cruise would soon be arriving on the Cadillac CT6. The timeline was expected to be 2016-2017, but this was slightly delayed. It wasn’t until September 2017 that it was included in the 2018 Cadillac CT6.

GMC and Cadillac began to focus hard on expanding the compatible roadways Super Cruise could be used on, and that number is currently up to 200,000 miles in the U.S. and Canada. Some 2023 models can travel over 400,000 miles.

Since then, GMC has added Super Cruise to more vehicles, and that number is growing. While Super Cruise is not a truly autonomous system, it’s still rather impressive.