Consumer Reports has ranked 17 active driver assistance programs, and GM’s Super Cruise has taken the top spot.
While fully autonomous cars are still being developed, the vast majority of automakers offer active driver assistance programs that help drivers stay alert and drive safely. While Tesla’s system gets the lion’s share of media attention, Consumer Reports labeled it a “distant second,” when compared with GM’s Super Cruise.
Even after two years, Cadillac’s Super Cruise remained our top-rated system because, when turned on, it uses direct driver monitoring to warn drivers that appear to have stopped paying attention to the road. General Motors told CR that Super Cruise will be on 22 GM vehicles by 2023.
One of the key differentiating features is Super Cruise’s ability to monitor a driver’s eyes and make sure they’re watching the road.
“Even with new systems from many different automakers, Super Cruise still comes out on top due to the infrared camera ensuring the driver’s eyes are looking toward the roadway,” says Kelly Funkhouser, CR’s head of connected and automated vehicle testing.
In the final score, Cadillac Super Cruise scored a 69, while Tesla came in second place with a score of 57. Lincoln/Ford Co-Pilot 360 rounded out the top three with a score of 52.
The full, rather long, report is well worth a look.