General Motors’ Super Cruise once again edged Tesla Inc’s Autopilot in a review of 17 vehicles geared up with active driving assistance systems (ADAS) by Consumer Reports, the auto testing organization said on Wednesday.
A Tesla Model Y fitted with Autopilot completed with “a distant second,” to a Cadillac CT6 equipped with Super Cruise, which is being rolled out by GM to more than 20 vehicles – including its new Hummer electric pickup truck – over the next three years.
Safety and insurance researchers have regularly warned of the risks of consumers overestimating ADAS systems’ abilities, a misconception raised by some automakers calling their products Autopilot.
In 2018, the Cadillac CT6 with Super Cruise scored higher than a Tesla Model 3 with Autopilot, in a Consumer Reports test of just four vehicles geared up with ADAS.
In the recent test, carried out this summer on a track and on public roads, the Cadillac scored 69 points out of a possible 100, while the Tesla had 57. A Lincoln Corsair geared up with Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 system, finished third with 52.
The important difference in the Super Cruise system is a driver-facing infrared camera to ensure the driver is paying attention to the road and is ready to take over manual control when required, said Kelly Funkhouser, head of connected and automated automobile testing at Consumer Reports.
The group noted that Autopilot can shut off unexpectedly in some situations, while Super Cruise did a better job of informing the driver when the system is disengaging.
In the latest European safety testing, a Tesla Model 3 with Autopilot placed sixth out of 10 systems, achieving high marks for performance and ability to respond to emergencies, but falling short on its ability to preserve a driver’s focus on the road.
