I really wanted adaptive cruse control on my 2023 GMC Denali HD2500 but could not find one in stock that was equipped with it. However, after driving my truck pulling a 10,000 lbs trailer mostly on Interstates for about 5,000 miles, I must admit I’m glad I don’t have it. The non-adaptive GM cruse control with the thumb wheel adjustment on the steering wheel is much easier to use and regulate than earlier versions. In my experience, my brain and reaction times are more than adequate to make speed adjustments as needed even in emergency situations. I believe the distance alert that is included with the HD 2500 conventional cruse control system works similarly to the adaptive system that uses a combination of radar and cameras to monitor closing distance to a vehicle in front. Instead of applying brakes when closing distance rapidly diminishes, the non-adaptive system produces a very noticeable audible and visual warning. It works very well and I am very happy with the current version of GM’s non-adaptive speed control.
I am no stranger to adaptive control systems having owned four vehicles with it; three late model S-Class Mercedes and a Jaguar. The first S Class Mercedes S550 had issues with it from new and just as you experienced; it would jam on the brakes at high speed for absolutely no reason creating a severe safety concern. After many trips to the dealer , many test drives with the shop foreman, and eventually asking them to buy back my car, they finally found an intermitted conductor inside a wiring harness associated with the front radar transducers. With that replaced under warranty, the system was deemed to be fully operational. However, it still had trouble distinguishing a high median barrier on tight curves and nearby vehicles. It continued to slow the vehicle, sometimes severely by applying the brakes, under certain predictable situations. My next S550 with a “new and improved system” did exactly the same thing. Finally, I purchased a 2020 Mercedes S560 with an even more advanced adaptive speed control system and it does exactly the same thing. Over the years of driving these big Mercedes S-Class sedans all over the country in all types of weather, I have developed a habit of disengaging the speed control under these predictable situations. But my 2023 GM HD 2500 with the non-adaptive speed control experiences no such false alarms.
I don’t know how similar the GM speed control system is to what Mercedes uses but they certainly seem to operate comparably. The only problem I regularly experience is switching from one vehicle to another; some with adaptive speed control, some without and even some with no cruse control. Also, the Mercedes system includes steering assist wherein the cameras are tied into the speed control to monitor the vehicle position on the roadway. I believe the newest GMC version works similarly but can be driven completely “hands free” for longer periods of time than Mercedes. I cannot use these steering or lane control and positioning systems as the constant, automated steering adjustments induce motion sickness symptoms because my brain is not in control of the steering adjustments and therefore, cannot anticipate the lateral motion.
I will probably revisit this issue when it comes time to replace my 2023 GMC Denali HD 2500 with another but I continue to believe an alert and engaged human brain is far superior to any automated system.
