When it comes to the future of driving, the battleground has shifted from horsepower to high-tech. If you are in the market for a new pickup in 2024, you’ve likely heard the buzzwords: BlueCruise and Super Cruise.
Both Ford and General Motors promise a hands-free driving experience that eases the burden of long highway hauls. But do they actually deliver? We took a 2024 Ford F-150 Lariat and a 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate out on the road to find out which system reigns supreme.
Here is our full breakdown of BlueCruise versus Super Cruise.
2024 Ford BlueCruise Review: Accessibility vs. Execution
We started the test in a 2024 Ford F-150 Lariat PowerBoost. One of the biggest selling points of Ford’s BlueCruise is its availability. Unlike GM, which reserves its tech for the highest trims, Ford makes BlueCruise available across a wide range of models, from the luxury Platinum down to the volume-selling XLT.
The Frustrations
However, the user experience started on a rocky note. Determining whether the truck actually had an active BlueCruise subscription was confusing, with no clear indicator in the app or the truck itself until we were actually driving.
Key Issues We Noted:
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Confusing Activation: There is no simple "On" button. You have to ensure multiple settings (Lane Keeping, Speed Warning, Pre-Collision Assist) are active.
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Lack of Feedback: Unlike GM’s system, BlueCruise doesn’t give you clear, constant feedback on when it is ready to engage. It felt "finicky," sometimes requiring hands on the wheel even when the system was supposedly active.
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Highway Only: The system struggled on back roads, frequently asking the driver to resume control.
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Lane Changes: While the truck changed lanes when the turn signal was hit, it did not seem to offer automatic lane changes to pass slower traffic, and at times refused to merge even when signaled.
The Verdict on BlueCruise
The experience felt a bit "unnerving" in traffic. It often felt less like a true self-driving feature and more like a "glorified adaptive cruise control." While it’s great that it is standard equipment with a free trial on many trucks, it feels like the budget option in terms of performance.
2024 GM Super Cruise Review: The Gold Standard?
Next, we hopped into the 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate to test GM’s Super Cruise. Immediately, the difference in user interface was stark.
The Super Cruise Experience
GM has integrated a light bar directly into the steering wheel, providing instant visual communication. Green means go, blue means you are manually overriding, and red means take control.
Why Super Cruise Won Us Over:
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Ease of Use: There is a dedicated button on the steering wheel. If the system can’t engage, the dashboard tells you exactly why (e.g., "No Road Information").
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Smooth Operation: The braking and acceleration were incredibly smooth. It even brought the truck to a complete stop at a red light without the driver touching the pedals.
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True Automation: The standout feature was the automatic lane changing. The truck sensed slower traffic ahead and automatically checked the left lane, merged, passed, and merged back—all without the driver touching the turn signal.
The Downside
The main drawback to Super Cruise is the cost of entry. It is typically locked behind the highest trim levels (High Country, Denali, AT4X), meaning you have to pay a premium price tag to get this premium technology.
The Final Verdict: Which Should You Buy?
After driving them back-to-back, the winner is clear.
If you are looking for a system that inspires confidence and feels like true self-driving technology, GM Super Cruise is the superior choice. The interface is intuitive, the communication is clear, and the automated driving capabilities (especially lane changes) are miles ahead of the competition.
Ford BlueCruise wins points for accessibility—you can get it on a more affordable truck—but the actual driving experience feels clunky and less polished.
Winner: GM Super Cruise
Watch the Full Comparison
Want to see these systems in action? Watch our full drive and review below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iHcTfBJ8B8