I have been regularly effusive about General Motors’ ‘Super Cruise’. By geofencing the combination of custom cruise control and lane maintenance so that it will only participate in divided highways and on top of that with a driver tracking system that allows Super Cruise to function only when drivers have their eyes on the road ahead, it works extremely well and within a tight operational design domain that should have every chance of encountering a parked car.
After trying out the Cadillac CT6 in 2018, I was so impressed that I repeated Alex Roy and called on GM to make Super Cruise available in as many models as possible, as soon as possible. GM is doing this slowly. Even Consumer Reports was under the impression. But in all that time, I think I have never read the finest print.
So, the people at MotorTrend did it, and guess what? It turns out that if you bought a model year 2018, 2019, or 2020 CT6, you actually only get a free three-year trial of Super Cruise functionality. After that point, you must have an active OnStar account for Super Cruise to continue working:
New owners of 2018 (produced September 6, 2017, and later), models of 2019 *, and 2020 receive the Super Cruise package, which includes 3 years of OnStar to support functionality. In order to continue the Super Cruise functionality after the 3-year Super Cruise package ends, an OnStar plan must be purchased.
I think I have never detected this before.
Cadillac
GM told MotorTrend that a custom cruise6 control and lane for CT6 would continue to work, even with an inactive OnStar account. This would not be operated and would not use the driver supervision system, and it would also ask you to put your hands on the steering wheel every 15 seconds. Otherwise it would deactivate.
I have to say, I feel a little wrong. Sure, I did not detect that small fine print, but one of my peers, it seems, has not done so far. (Except Bozi, but then he is more machine than human. And I think the Philadelphia Enquirer.) It’s certainly not something GM has ever raised when discussing the system with the media.
Given the cost of a new Cadillac CT6, it’s probably reasonable to expect an owner to keep their OnStar subscription – the cheapest of which costs $ 25 a month – after the first three years. And of course, the car needs to be able to get remote map updates. That maybe I’m getting angry about nothing. But will that be true for buyers of cheaper models once the feature rolls into the range? Or for people who buy a used CT6?
If 2020 has taught us anything, then it is that you should expect the least (and even then you will be disappointed).
