Testing AutoPilot on Oklahoma’s Highways

It doesn't matter what new fandangled technology comes out, most people are slow to adopt it. That is even more true in Oklahoma. We're not behind the times or anti-technology, Okies just tend to be a little weary of the new, not wanting to be a beta-tester for someone else.

This is especially true of autopilot in vehicles.

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You know this to be true. The last time autopilot made headlines across the country, it was with a negative narrative and usually published next to a picture of some tired driver snoozing as their car drove them down a California highway... This rings a bell, right?

That is what I though too when I was told about this technology, but when I had a chance to try it out myself, I figured "Why not? I'll either have a lovely drive or not have to work on Monday."

I don't want to get ahead of myself here, but it was surprising.

Southwest GMC let me demo a 2025 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Southwest GMC General Manager and all-around good dude Darrin Swenson was kind enough to walk me through a bunch of the features on this vehicle. You see, while I've long been a GMC fanboy, my particular truck is from a time long before all of the creature comforts of today's trucks.

Swapping up to a vehicle controlled mostly by touchscreens, it was a welcome walk-through, if not a good chance to get my goat a few times. The truck has everything you'd expect in a luxury vehicle... heated and air-conditioned massaging seats, the savory smell of rich corinthian leather, and enough computing power to put gaming PC's to the test... but the one thing that scored a 9.5 on my weirdometer was SuperCruise.

GMC calls it SuperCruise, but I'm sure everyone identifies it as Autopilot. It's the function that allows the vehicle to drive itself. While I was very hesitant to try it, wouldn't you?

How it works.

First and foremost, it's not a set-it-and-forget-it type of technology. After years of bad press for other automakers, the drivers sleeping at the wheel and whatnot, GM is doing things differently. You still have to pay attention to the road.

Here's what it looks like.

The green line in the steering wheel is the status screen to let the driver know what is happening. When it's green, the truck is driving itself via SuperCruise. The purple dots are infrared lights that illuminate the driver, and that little bump right above the horn is a camera.

It all works in unison to make sure whoever is behind the wheel is at least paying attention to the road ahead. More than a few time during my first hour or so using SuperCruise it would slow the vehicle and flash red lights at me. That's because I was becoming distracted while heading up the turnpike.

I was playing with the incredible Bose sound system equalizer.

As a big safety factor, in the event a driver becomes too distracted, the truck will either make you start driving again or safely pull you over to the side of the road in case you've fallen asleep or have an emergency issue.

After learning all of this in real time, I have to say, GMCs SuperCruise is awesome.

If you're curious how it does in traffic, it handles it just like you would. It will turn on a blinker, scan the area around the vehicle for others, and change lanes coming back up to your set speed. After passing a slower driver, it will do the exact same thing to put you back into the cruising right-hand lane.

It was even able to detect a little truck hauling Christmas trees. It was a very dark stretch of I-35, and the trees obscured the taillights from being seen. I could hardly see it, but this Denali Ultimate handled it just as I would have. Checked for traffic behind, switched lanes, pulled ahead, and retook the right lane. Onward and upward.

At one point I did manage to distract myself one too many times behind the wheel so it locked me out of SuperCruise, but after a quick search, I pulled over to stretch my legs. By the time I hopped back in, Autopilot was once again a GO.

Slingshot Engaged.

All in all, over the holiday weekend to my family home in North-Central Oklahoma and back home again, this Sierra Denali Ultimate drove itself for 431 miles. Being so new, I didn't want to "test" it in OKC traffic, but here to there and back home, it was flawless and something I shall covet until I finally have it for myself.

If you'd like to see for yourself, stop by Southwest GMC Buick in Lawton. Go chit-chat with GM Darrin over in his corner office. He's a really good dude and that trait of his seems to trickle down to the awesome sales staff at SW GMC too. Ask about the Denali line of vehicles. They really are the nicest vehicles on the road today.

Content sponsored by Southwest Buick GMC.