Digital driver assists abound these days, with a plethora of features on offer to make the experience behind the wheel easier, more comfortable, and safer. Some of these features even overlap in terms of functionality – for example, there’s regular cruise control, and Adaptive Cruise Control, both of which can be equipped on modern GM vehicles. The question is – how do you switch between these two systems, and why would should you use one over the other?
First, to switch between Adaptive Cruise Control and regular cruise control, press and hold the disable cruise control button. A notification will appear in the Driver Information Display (DIC) indicating that the change was made.
The two systems will also display differently in the DIC when activated. When Adaptive Cruise Control is engaged, a green icon will appear in the instrument cluster with the following gap displayed. Conversely, when regular cruise control is engaged, a different green icon will be lit without the following gap.
So when is one system preferred over the other? As it turns out, Adaptive Cruise Control performance can be limited in certain scenarios, primarily when the front-facing camera used to gauge the distances between vehicles cannot function at optimal levels. These scenarios include:
- Winding and hilly roads
- When visibility is poor due to rain, snow, fog, dirt, insect residue, or dust
- When a foreign object obstructs the camera’s view
- When the lead vehicle or oncoming traffic obstructs visibility, such as with road spray
Additionally, Adaptive Cruise Control may not work properly in the following scenarios:
- Vehicles in front of your vehicle have a rear aspect that is low, small, or irregular
- Vehicle in front is an empty truck or trailer that has no cargo in the bed
- Vehicle in front has cargo extending out from the rear
- Non-standard shaped vehicles in front, including vehicle transports, vehicles with a side car, or horse carriages
- Objects that are close to the front of your vehicle
- Vehicles in front upon which extremely heavy cargo is loaded in the cargo area or rear seat
With limitations like this, it starts to make sense that both systems would be equipped on the same vehicle. So which do you prefer? Let us know in the poll below, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for ongoing GM news coverage.
Comments
Please tell me when Adaptive cruise control is coming to HD trucks. I am waiting to purchase based on this feature. I have it in my 2016 Yukon and love it. It should be standard on all GM vehicles for its safety alone .
Author might have mentioned with no vehicle in front of Adaptive Cruise Control that it will apply the brakes on a down hill slope when the car rolls faster then the specified speed. Where as with basic Cruise Control if operating it will allow a car to go over the specified speed on a down hill, no braking.
It is not safe to have the truck think for you and suddenly slow down. If you need someone else to drive, PLEASE hire a chauffeur.
I own 3 GM cars with cruise, two of which have “Adaptive”. Never have I seen a “the disable cruise control button”. Where is that and how is it labeled”.
Of course the most annoying reason for not using “Adaptive” Cruise control isn’t even addressed in the article. The “adaptive” cruise constantly slows your preferred speed behind the parade of oblivious left lane D’s blocking the PASSING lane. KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS morons!! It had to become LAW in NJ with all the danger illegally passing on the right not to mention the road rage incidents!!
Peter, you explanation of down-hill speed maintenance is not compatible with my cars. My 2012 CTS does NOT have Adaptive Cruise but maintains set speed with power, brakes and downshifting. It is a feature I dislike very much.
You listed four road conditions where adaptive cruise control would have difficulty, under these four conditions cruise control of either type should never be enabled.
I was driving while it was snowing at 34 degrees. There was no snow on the road but the adaptive cruise wouldn’t work due to the snow in the air, bs.
Do the brake lights come on when adaptive cruise slows my Impala down?
I’m very disappointed I can’t switch to regular cruise control in my new 2020 Suburban. Nobody will even talk to me. I would think it is a software fix. Very frustrating on the interstate, I constantly have to make sure I’m not slowing down. $65,000 wasted. Never thought to check if something as simple as regular cruise was not a standard feature on a “Premier”. Lifetime GM owner, but looks like that may change. There are so many issues as to why this is unsafe, from changing lanes as the vehicle is trying to slow down over 100 yards behind a slower vehicle. Brake lights coming on as you are attempting to change lanes, over revving the engine as you have to stomp on the gas as the vehicle is braking. It just goes on and on, but now I’m stuck with a lemon.
I too have been a lifetime GM owner.. Only switched once and came right back it came right back. I have a 19 premiere and and 20000 miles and it appears I’m having a catastrophic computer failure as of yesterday Everything from stavilla track traction control lane change collision avoidance to adaptive cruise control says it needs maintenance. I contacted Chevy they will look at it Monday but if it is the computer computer they can’t get chips even build the cars my truck will have to sit and there are no rental vehicles available..
Have you got it fixed ? I have a 2021 Tahoe and it’s doing the same stuff.
If u hold the Cancel button down it will put it in regular cruse control
Not on a 2020.
Not on a 2019 Tahoe Either
Not on my 2018 either
Appears as if some people do not know how to use their equipment,
Read the owners manual, or talk to the Dealer
I’ve read the owners manual, think it shows on page 236 how to switch to regular cruise control (if equipped), didn’t work. Took it to dealership, after all day, they said factory rep said it wasn’t equipped, only Cadillac had that option. Recently rented a Toyota Camry (retail price $25,000) and it was very easy switch back and forth. Trying to find a work around or software upgrade, but right now, buyer beware, many GM vehicles only come one way.
My 2019 Yukon Denali you couldn’t deactivate adaptive cruise but my 2021 Yukon Denali you can. Thankfully! I hate adaptive cruise
Your comment, Ken, saved me from making a huge mistake with a Tahoe. Same deal, can’t change, and dealers didn’t know (in 2020, and was buying a 2017). Thank you, Ken.
From what I understand with my 2017 Impala premier, in order to switch to regular CC from adaptive CC keep tapping the distance between (far, medium, short) button until it says ‘off’. Hope this helps those in question.
I’ve made multiple attempts to use regular cruise control vice adaptive cruise control but GM is apparently so ignorant. This functionality is not available on my 2019 Yukon XL Denali. One would think that for a vehicle priced over $80,000 The cruise control option would be available. So disappointed!
I am so happy to read that I am not the only disappointed GM customer. I purchased a 2019 Tahoe premier and spent 2 weeks trying to follow GMs useless tutorials about how to switch from adaptive CC to regular CC. Never happened. Even dealership experts could not get it to work. Bottom line explanation: ” it must not be equipped that way”. Really? On an 80k ride you’re not going to include that simple option when it has every other bell and whistle? I personally think some geek dweeb in charge of designing this system did not know his ass from a hole in the ground. Adaptive CC is one of those features dreamed up by millenials so they don’t have to pay attention to the road while driving, but can instead focus on their texting! What a POS! One of GMs worst ideas. My friend bet me the fix to switch from ACC to regular probably involves something stupid like trying to reprogram wheel stem pressure sensor positions on the car: turn the ignition on and off three times on an even numbered Thursday in an odd numbered month, then run around the car twice, spit in the back of it and whomp it once till the horn blows three times! Never met such a bigger bunch of smart morons in my life than those involved with programming automobile computer applications. Just wait till we have one good solar flare and every vehicle that doesn’t have an old fashioned carburetor and points will be dead in the road where they sit. We’ll have to then get around on riding lawn mowers or go back to the horse and buggy! One step forward, two backward!
Hi! Did you happen to find a solution on how to switch to regular cruise control from Adaptive CC?
Like you, I had recently purchased a 2019 Tahoe Premier and this ACC is driving me crazy… Its only good if your’e driving on MARS with nobody around you! Unpredictable Brakes, slows down…acts weird!
I have a 2004 Yukon and am very very satisfied with the normal CC.
Have to live with this now…until somebody provides a solution or workaround!!!
Let me know if you find some solution. Will be grateful!!!
Buy a Ram, adaptive cruise control works perfect
and GM needs to check them out
No vehicle in front of me and bright sunny day the cruise control turns off by it self I had it a gmc dealer they couldn’t fix it and booked it in again for Wednesday its still going to be the same can’t fix gmc knew about this in 2020 .I bought mine in 2021 but the sale person couldn’t tell me that the vehicle is defective before me sold it too me
I HAVE A 2021 TEERAIN AND THE CRUSE INDICATOR ON THE DASH HAS THE CRUISE PIC WHICH TURNS ON/OFF, BUT THERE ARE 2 DASHES NEXT TO THE SYMBOL AND I CANT SET THE CRUISE?
I have 2020 GMC Sierra 2500. It has gap adjust feature but not Adaptive Cruise. So disappointing.
Add me to the pissed of people not able to disable adaptive cruise when it malfunctioned! Drove 2000 miles with no cruise! 2017 Escalade ESV Platinum.
2017 Tahoe ACC does not work most of the time. It may go as much as 40 miles then die. Something about the front radar?
We just bought a used 2020 GMC Sierra Denali 3500hd is a outstanding truck. However, the steering wheel, dash controls and camera sensors look like the truck can be equipment with adaptive CC, but the build sheet shows that this truck has the K35 option – Regular CC. Can the dealership upgrade the truck’s software to have both Reg CC and Apt CC?
No GM HD are, or can be, equipped with adaptive cruise control. Maybe with the next redesign they will offer it, but like others complain on here, only get it if you can switch between adaptive cruise control and regular cruise control. Adaptive can work very poorly in many conditions, including when people pass and cut in front of you too soon and your vehicle slows down abruptly. Or when sensors are dirty or malfunctioning. Need to be able to use regular cruise control in many situations.
I have a Cadillac XTS Vsport, and I don’t like ACC, I would like to know how to switch it to ‘regular’ cruise control. I only good side of ACC is good for the dealers to replace brakes much sooner than otherwise required. Thanks!
I was trying to activate ACC in my 2023 suburban and was holding the cancel cruise button to activate it like manual said and now I have no cruise control at all!
Hi, i´m from europe en drive a 2021 Opel Insignia. It seems it has only ACC. Very anoying since it some times fails and gives the massage `ACC temporarly not available`. Than I need to drive 50 kilometers whitout *any* cruise control. Car is full option. but seems not to have normal CC. Very stange and anoying.
I’m truly saddened I bought my 2020 Impala.
You CANNOT turn off/disable the ACC. Like one commenter said, all other brands seem to be able to switch between the two. And, as others have noted, dealerships useless and even contacting GM directly got me no where. So, I started researching forums and such. Lots of fluff and glitter and a lot of pissed off people.
Thought maybe I could cover the stupid radar with tape or aluminum foil. Too many driver “assist” options in these new fangled cars. I HATE lane assistance, or the annoying and jarring emergency stop my car goes into if it thinks I’m gonna whack someone from behind when all I’m doing is veering into next lane to speed up because the DAMN ACC IS ON!! Can’t tell you how frustrating it is to drive with this feature – and I really have to use it because I drive long distances every week for work.
Anyone interested in a slightly used 2020 Impala?
So is there a fix to the ACC that says maintenance needed? We have a 2017 Tahoe Premier. Not able to switch to regular CC either.