The 2021 Cadillac Escalade made its big debut back in February, dropping cover on a ground-up overhaul for the iconic luxury SUV nameplate. Now in its latest fifth generation, the new Escalade arrives with a long list of features and cutting-edge technology, including GM Super Cruise, the automaker’s semi-autonomous driver assistance system. And while Super Cruise is great for long-distance highway travel, Cadillac is warning that it should not be engaged when towing with the 2021 Cadillac Escalade.
Per the new 2021 Cadillac Escalade owner’s manual, use of Super Cruise is limited by the driving conditions, as outlined on page 283.
According to the manual, Super Cruise should not be engaged when driving the 2021 Cadillac Escalade in construction zones, when approaching or exiting toll plazas, when approaching an intersection, in adverse weather, or on slippery roads. Critically, the manual also outlines that the driver assist system should not be engaged “when towing a trailer.”
Check out the full list of Super Cruise warnings from the 2021 Cadillac Escalade owner’s manual below:
Given the enormous complexity of the GM Super Cruise system, it makes sense that it should remain off when towing with the 2021 Cadillac Escalade. That said, General Motors will offer a version of the system designed to handle towing with the 2022 GMC Sierra and 2022 Chevy Silverado pickups, both of which are slated to launch in the latter half of the 2021 calendar year. For now, it’s unclear if the towing-compatible Super Cruise system will also be offered on the Escalade sometime in the future.
As a reminder, GM’s Super Cruise system allows the driver to remove their hands from the steering wheel while traveling on compatible highways in the U.S, Canada, and China. The system debuted with the 2018 Cadillac CT6, but has since been extended to the 2021 Cadillac CT4, the 2021 Cadillac CT5, and the 2021 Cadillac Escalade.
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This post was created in collaboration with our sister publication, Cadillac Society.
Comments
The problem is both Ford and FCA have had trailer blind spot radar for several years, but GM is behind. Not expected until 2022 MY, 5 years behind Ford.
What does Super Cruise have to do with blind spot monitoring?
While your at it, why don’t Ford and Fiat have anything comparable to Super Cruise? The multi camera systems included for the past 3 model years on the Sierra? HUD? Magnetic shocks?
the radar is needed for collision detection so Super Cruise knows it is safe to merge.
The F-150 has had 360 surround cameras since 2015. The GM system isn’t a GM technology. It’s bought from Valeo, called XtraVue.
Ford has the current gen of HUD since 2019. They’re all based on a DLP projector system from Texas Instruments.
Ford has magnetic shocks in the Shelby Mustang since 2015 and the normal model since 2018. They’re the same system purchased off Delphi/Aptiv which is now independent from GM. Other brands with the same system include Acura, Audi, Land Rover, and Ferrari.
Reaching too much, what F150, Navigatior or competition offer a system similar to Supercruise? or trailer towing with autonomous driving?. Tesla don’t even offer that.
So GM has a $6150+$25 a month feature on high-end models. Meanwhile, competitors have standard driver assist features that GM lacks including trailer bind spot (all models), trailer backing (all models), auto park (some models), pedestrian braking (on most models), lane-keeping assist (on many models), pre-collision brake assist, post-collision braking, green-light self-honking, turn camera (non-truck models).
Silverado HD models even miss basic adaptive cruise control, available on Ford and RAM HD trucks.
GM has focused all their effort into a premium luxury feature so they can have bragging rights over Tesla (for Wall Street) and neglected mass-market features.
…. Please look at the standard Safety features of the TrailBlazer. Many of those features you mention are there.
It is going through all of GMs models now.
Many, in a haphazard fashion. But other manufacturers have more features and almost all have better model coverage, there was an article about this a few days ago. As an example, Subaru has all features standard, Honda has all features standard on all models except the HR-V and Fit.
GM’s HD can’t self-steer, blamed on its non-electric steering architecture, but Ford and Ram both have lane keeping just fine.
Sam, you just stated that GM is behind. You care to elaborate on this? You stated that competitors have standard driving assist features which is an entirely different conversation from autonomous driving capability tech. We can talk about safety and driving assist features all day long which may not be standard but are present in ALL GM products…but the question is where is Subaru’s semi-autonomous driving technology that rivals GM’s Super Cruise? Where is Honda’s? How about Toyota? Hyundai’s busy playing around with 3D gauges but no semi-autonomy driving tech either. They don’t have it. Consumer Reports stated Tesla’s Autopilot is a “distant second” to GM’s super cruise system. In addition to semi-autonomous tech, GM pioneered Rear Camera Mirror technology which eliminates rear blind spots nearly completely. Now manufacturers like Toyota and Tata Motors have adopted this technology and are now implementing it in their own high end products including Range Rover. Explain how the pioneer of aforementioned innovative technologies is “behind” it’s competitors. Please don’t let your argument be “GM’s behind in offering standard equipment”.
Stop deflecting, where’s this automated towing feature on Ford and Ram?.
Guest, the short answer is Ford and RAM have failed to offer a competitor to GM’s Super Cruise which is now available in it’s second generation. I’m convinced this website is a biased “let’s hate on GM” cult. The topic is autonomous driving technology and Tesla is the only American automaker with a competing technology. Neither Ford nor FCA has an answer for it, so the GMA trolls then attempt to base their argument on GM’s “lAcK oF sTaNdArD eQuiPmEnT”. When they don’t have an argument, they literally try to create one. These people are absolutely delusional.
Ford: Co-pilot 360 and Active driver assist (main super cruise and auto pilot competitor)
FCA: They have it, but it hasn’t been changed since 2014 and it shows
GM: A very limited feature that’s only offered on one vehicle that most people can’t afford
it will be in the Bolt EUV this summer.
it will be released in the majority of GM vehicles in the coming years.
BUTH FORD and FCA do not have HANDS FREE DRIVING SYSTEM like SUPERCRUISE.
Huh. That sucks.
No danger of mis-using Super Cruise on the Escalade, considering they’re not building them. They’ve created a lot of hoopla for nothing.
I’m personally just fine with adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist. I really don’t need all these fancy features that don’t work everywhere.
Hey Sam why is F150…oops I mean F1SHITY leaving comments for GM Vehicles anyway…? Stick with your Ford junk that will break in five years… remember F.O.R.D. FIX OR REPAIR DAILY! CHEVY IS FIRST ON RACE DAY!!!!!👍👍
Oh By the way you also mentioned FCA vehicles which is owned by F.I.A.T FIX IT AGAIN TONY…those Ram trucks will rust in five years. 😂
When it was owned by Mercedes Benz they still sucked. When my grandma had her Xj Cherokee the paint started to flake only 5 years later and she never had it in bad conditions and kept in a garage but regardless, somehow it didn’t rust. However, Fiat definitely ruined the Chrysler brands with their crappy little cars. Hopefully this new merger will change things but over all, all these mergers has hurt Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, and Ram.
Oh is this the spiffy new option that keeps you “safely distanced” ALL DAY behind the left lane “Richards” ahead of you driving way below the speed limit in the passing lane??? Brilliant engineering!!!