We drove across Canada barely touching the wheel. Here’s what it felt like.
2026-08-05
What does it look like when you drive across Canada with your hands on the wheel, only when they have to be?
The route across Canada sees mountain passes through the Rockies, open prairie sky on the Yellowhead Highway, the Cabot Trail winding along the Nova Scotia, and Cape Spear, Newfoundland, the easternmost point in North America.
This summer GM Canada took in these stunning vistas. Almost entirely hands free.
From Victoria B.C. to St. John’s Newfoundland — Hands-Free
The Great Canadian Hands-Free Drive with GM's OnStar Super Cruise1 set out from Mile Zero in Victoria, British Columbia and road tripped across the country until it reached St. John’s, Newfoundland. In between, the Coast Mountains, the Icefields Parkway through Jasper, the wide-open stretches of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the St. Lawrence River corridor, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the wild west coast of Newfoundland.
Every kilometer on compatible roads was driven using Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driver assistance technology, across a fleet of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles, both gas and electric.
It was the perfect time for the undertaking. Super Cruise is now available coast to coast across Canada for the first time ever, including newly mapped roads in Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland.
So, What Exactly Is Super Cruise?
Think of Super Cruise as the next evolution of cruise control, capable of doing a lot more than maintaining a set speed.
With an attentive driver and on compatible roads, Super Cruise handles steering, braking, acceleration and even lane changes for you (on properly equipped models). When the steering wheel light bar turns green, you can take your hands off the wheel. The drive doesn’t stop, it just gets easier.
It’s designed for the places Canadians actually drive. Major highways and commuter routes where stop-and-go traffic grinds people down and where long stretches of open road become monotonous. Super Cruise helps ease those moments so you arrive feeling ready for what’s next.
On properly equipped vehicles, it also works while trailering, automatically adjusting for the size and weight of your trailer. Another GM Canada innovation that is the only hands-free driving system in the world capable of doing so, and a genuine game-changer for anyone who hauls a boat, a horse trailer or a snowmobile.
How Does It Know Where to Go?
Super Cruise uses a combination of real-time cameras, radar, GPS and precision LiDAR-scanned maps to determine exactly where the vehicle is within its lane.
When you’re on a Super Cruise-compatible road, an icon lights up on your display. Press the button, the light bar at the top of the steering wheel turns green indicating the system is active. Google Maps integration even shows you which parts of your route are Super Cruise-enabled before you leave the driveway.
A small camera monitors the driver’s eyes to make sure attention stays on the road. If they look away for too long, alerts kick in. And if a driver can’t respond, Super Cruise will safely bring the vehicle to a controlled stop and connect with an OnStar advisor.
Built in Part in Canada, for Canada
GM Canada’s Canadian Technical Centre in Ontario is home to more than 1,100 engineers working across three campuses. They develop and test the control intelligence, precision map updates and lane-change features that power Super Cruise, on Canadian roads, in Canadian weather, and then share that work with the world.
Where Can You Experience It?
Super Cruise is available on over 20 GM vehicles from family SUVs to affordable EVs and trucks across Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. Customers who purchase a model year 2025 or newer vehicle equipped with Super Cruise get three years of OnStar One1, so they can enjoy going hands-free from day one.
GM is advancing toward the next generation of Super Cruise, a hands-free, eyes-off driving experience planned to launch in 2028 on the Cadillac ESCALADE IQ2.
Follow @GMCanada on Instagram to see the full Great Canadian Hands-Free Drive story.
To learn more and explore compatible roads near you, visit onstar.ca/en/services/super-cruise-hands-free-driving.
Ready to try it? Visit your local Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac dealer.
Always pay attention while driving and when using Super Cruise. Always use Super Cruise in accordance with local laws. Do not use a hand-held device. See onstar.ca/en/supercruise for compatible roads and more information. Requires active Super Cruise subscription plan. See onstar.ca for details. Services are dependent on compatible wireless networks provided by third-party wireless service providers, working vehicle electrical systems, GPS signal and other factors outside GM control.
Availability and permissible use by state.
What does it look like when you drive across Canada with your hands on the wheel, only when they have to be?
The route across Canada sees mountain passes through the Rockies, open prairie sky on the Yellowhead Highway, the Cabot Trail winding along the Nova Scotia, and Cape Spear, Newfoundland, the easternmost point in North America.
This summer GM Canada took in these stunning vistas. Almost entirely hands free.
From Victoria B.C. to St. John’s Newfoundland — Hands-Free
The Great Canadian Hands-Free Drive with GM's OnStar Super Cruise1 set out from Mile Zero in Victoria, British Columbia and road tripped across the country until it reached St. John’s, Newfoundland. In between, the Coast Mountains, the Icefields Parkway through Jasper, the wide-open stretches of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the St. Lawrence River corridor, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the wild west coast of Newfoundland.
Every kilometer on compatible roads was driven using Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driver assistance technology, across a fleet of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles, both gas and electric.
It was the perfect time for the undertaking. Super Cruise is now available coast to coast across Canada for the first time ever, including newly mapped roads in Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland.
So, What Exactly Is Super Cruise?
Taking in Canada's breathtaking scenery.
Think of Super Cruise as the next evolution of cruise control, capable of doing a lot more than maintaining a set speed.
With an attentive driver and on compatible roads, Super Cruise handles steering, braking, acceleration and even lane changes for you (on properly equipped models). When the steering wheel light bar turns green, you can take your hands off the wheel. The drive doesn’t stop, it just gets easier.
It’s designed for the places Canadians actually drive. Major highways and commuter routes where stop-and-go traffic grinds people down and where long stretches of open road become monotonous. Super Cruise helps ease those moments so you arrive feeling ready for what’s next.
On properly equipped vehicles, it also works while trailering, automatically adjusting for the size and weight of your trailer. Another GM Canada innovation that is the only hands-free driving system in the world capable of doing so, and a genuine game-changer for anyone who hauls a boat, a horse trailer or a snowmobile.
How Does It Know Where to Go?
Super Cruise uses a combination of real-time cameras, radar, GPS and precision LiDAR-scanned maps to determine exactly where the vehicle is within its lane.
When you’re on a Super Cruise-compatible road, an icon lights up on your display. Press the button, the light bar at the top of the steering wheel turns green indicating the system is active. Google Maps integration even shows you which parts of your route are Super Cruise-enabled before you leave the driveway.
A small camera monitors the driver’s eyes to make sure attention stays on the road. If they look away for too long, alerts kick in. And if a driver can’t respond, Super Cruise will safely bring the vehicle to a controlled stop and connect with an OnStar advisor.
Built in Part in Canada, for Canada
A scenic stop in Baddeck, Nova Scotia.
GM Canada’s Canadian Technical Centre in Ontario is home to more than 1,100 engineers working across three campuses. They develop and test the control intelligence, precision map updates and lane-change features that power Super Cruise, on Canadian roads, in Canadian weather, and then share that work with the world.
Where Can You Experience It?
Super Cruise is available on over 20 GM vehicles from family SUVs to affordable EVs and trucks across Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. Customers who purchase a model year 2025 or newer vehicle equipped with Super Cruise get three years of OnStar One1, so they can enjoy going hands-free from day one.
GM is advancing toward the next generation of Super Cruise, a hands-free, eyes-off driving experience planned to launch in 2028 on the Cadillac ESCALADE IQ2.
Follow @GMCanada on Instagram to see the full Great Canadian Hands-Free Drive story.
To learn more and explore compatible roads near you, visit onstar.ca/en/services/super-cruise-hands-free-driving.
Ready to try it? Visit your local Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac dealer.
1Always pay attention while driving and when using Super Cruise. Always use Super Cruise in accordance with local laws. Do not use a hand-held device. See onstar.ca/en/supercruise for compatible roads and more information. Requires active Super Cruise subscription plan. See onstar.ca for details. Services are dependent on compatible wireless networks provided by third-party wireless service providers, working vehicle electrical systems, GPS signal and other factors outside GM control.
2Availability and permissible use by state.
