blue cruise vs tesla

Ford BlueCruise Vs Tesla Autopilot: Which Is Better For Road Trips?

As the production of cars gets more advanced, throwing down more horsepower and torque than ever before, safety systems also get more advanced. One such push by automakers in recent years is the introduction of driver assistance systems. Two such systems are Ford BlueCruise and Tesla Autopilot. 

Both are Level 2 autonomous driving systems , as described by the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE) International. That means that both systems require constant input from the driver, and do not allow for total hands-free driving for the duration of the trip, and are, by nature, very limited in scope and ability. That said, each system has the potential to offload some of the more tedious or monotonous driving tasks to the car itself and allow the driver to experience at least a bit of assurance behind the wheel. 

Ford has been trying its darndest to make strides in the world of EVs and steal the electrified crown from Tesla with EVs like the F-150 Lightning and Mach-E. But which automakers' driver assistance system holds up best to the rigors of a long road trip lasting hundreds or thousands of miles?

Ford BlueCruise

For starters, BlueCruise is fairly limited in the scope of vehicles it's available on. It's only available on the Mustang Mach-E, the XLT, Lariat, Platinum, and Tremor trims of the F-150, Platinum, and Lariat trims of the EV F-150 Lightning, and Platinum trim models of the Ford Expedition. Additionally, it's available on both the Lincoln Corsair and Lincoln Navigator, regardless of trim level.

Currently, BlueCruise 1.3 is the latest version, and the system includes adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, and the ability to reposition the car inside the lane if it strays outside the lines. According to Ford, BlueCruise works on 97% of the highways in the United States and allows for somewhat hands-free driving on a large portion of highways. Although judging by Ford's coverage map, you will need to take control of the vehicle on nearly every road that isn't a major highway. And for safety's sake, you should never have your hands off the wheel for any extended period of time whatsoever.

The previous version, the  Ford BlueCruise 1.2 system is found to be sensible, but it is ultimately lacking in coverage, and the system has a tendency to abruptly change speeds at times. Given that many major highways are covered in a strict road trip scenario, having Ford BlueCruise enabled might make the bi-yearly trip to Disney slightly less strenuous. 

Tesla Autopilot

On the other hand, Tesla Autopilot is significantly more controversial than Ford's option. The same could be said about the entirety of Tesla. The full self-driving system, which is separate from the autopilot system, came under immense fire and has faced many legal and safety challenges, one due to a shocking dashcam video showing an autopilot Tesla crashing into emergency vehicles.  That can't be ignored when it comes to driver assistance features. And given Elon Musk and Tesla's tendency to over-promise, it's best to pay extra attention. 

At least on paper, Tesla's system touts much of the same abilities as Ford BlueCruise, meaning it can steer, slow down, and speed up by itself within a lane. However, Tesla does not make the same geographic concessions as Ford. Tesla takes great pride in its cameras that (theoretically) allow Tesla Autopilot to be used on more roads than Ford's system, not just major highways. The system also includes Smart Summon features that Ford does not have. As far as a road trip is concerned, you don't have to worry about the system's compatibility with the road you are driving on. And given the fact Teslas are electric, the onboard system is able to automatically guide you towards any Tesla Superchargers during the drive, a feature that's particularly helpful in unfamiliar areas.

Nonetheless, Tesla has the leg up on Ford as far as driver assistance features are concerned. Tesla has also been in the game longer, and as Autopilot capabilities improve, they will continue to be upgraded by over-the-air software updates. 

The verdict

For a road trip, the victor would have to go to Ford, even though the technology may not be as capable as Tesla's. And as of now, it only works on a set number of highways. Not only will the number of compatible roads go up in the future, but Ford has a better attitude toward safety improvements than Tesla has shown in the past. An individual Tesla likely isn't going to go haywire while in autopilot mode. Still, given  the sheer number of safety investigations into the brand and its supposed autonomous driving technology, it's tough to make an honest recommendation.

When it comes to long-distance driving, Ford's system covers most major highways to the point where it likely won't be a problem if you're going across the country. But it's still something to consider. If coverage is a deal-breaker and you don't mind stopping to take in the sights and fill up on electrons at a charging station, then Tesla's Autopilot might be the driver assistance package for you.

There's also the final question of price. Base Autopilot is standard on all Teslas, and the Enhanced Autopilot, which includes Smart Summon, automatic lane changes, and navigation features, is a $6,000 option. Ford's BlueCruise 1.3 is a $2,100 option on the Mustang Mach-E, and BlueCruise 1.0 is a $1,995 option on the gas-powered F-150.

Ford BlueCruise Has Clear Advantage Over Tesla Autopilot

But it's not absolutely perfect yet.

Mustang Mach-E

Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are well on the rise throughout the automotive sphere to decrease on-road fatalities and ultimately develop a foundation for autonomous mobility. Ford's relatively new BlueCruise system has been implemented into products such as the Mustang Mach-E and, based on impressions from experts on the technology, it might just be one of the best examples out there.

Consumer Reports put the system to the test and noted how it may even put GM's Super Cruise and Tesla's Autopilot to shame. BlueCruise incorporates hands-free driving on divided highways that are pre-mapped. This automates the car's steering, acceleration, and braking but the stand-out feature is its driver monitoring and warning functionalities.

BlueCruise bears a lot of similarities to GM's Super Cruise, which is soon to be shown up by the group's upcoming Ultra Cruise system . Both of these technologies make use of direct driver monitoring via an infrared camera mounted to the top of the steering column. This is employed to ensure that the driver maintains a steady eye on the road.

This has been considered a crucial feature in ADAS when combined with lane centering assist and adaptive cruise control. That's because it ensures that the driver is paying attention in the case of an unforeseen circumstance where said driver will have to intervene. Consumer Reports notes that this is not the case in a system such as Tesla's Autopilot .

If BlueCruise and Super Cruise run on similar systems, what makes the former better? The key difference is the technology's motivation for driver collaboration. If the driver notices an obstacle in the course, such as a pothole or pedestrian, and assumes direct control, the system switches to a standby mode and reengages once the action is complete. With Super Cruise and Autopilot, the system cancels operation completely.

Consumer Reports notes that BlueCruise does take steps in the right direction but it's not the perfect system. For example, the driver does not receive sufficient communication in instances where they are required to put their hands back on the steering wheel. Furthermore, Ford's decision to market the system as a "hands-off highway driving experience" is likely to mislead customers when they take their hands off the wheel and are told to place them back.

"If consumers expect that BlueCruise will do the driving for them, they are going to be disappointed," says Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports . "The reality is this is a unique, collaborative approach that balances making driving easier while keeping drivers engaged during the boring parts of driving."

In an interview with Ford representatives, it was stated that the brand chooses what to show drivers via messages in the instrument cluster with a lot of caution. It also acknowledges that feedback from consumers has been essential and is looking at making enhancements to the system in the future. A series of instructional videos are also being produced for improved clarity on how to operate BlueCruise.

AutoInfluence

Ford BlueCruise vs. Tesla Autopilot: Which Hands-Free Driving System Is Better?

If you’re like many drivers, new tech developments within the automotive industry may intrigue you, especially when it comes to hands-free driving capabilities. This relatively new feature is popping up all over the industry, with giants like Ford and Chevy taking on newcomers like Tesla, offering their unique spin on semi-autonomous driving. Several news outlets have recently announced that Ford’s BlueCruise technology has secured the top spot in Consumer Report’s ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) test, which put various systems through a rigorous course to see how they stacked up against each other. Ford surpassed its main rival, Chevy, and its Super Cruise tech to take the top spot, but most notably, Tesla, one of the biggest up-and-coming automakers, fell to seventh place. This is a big deal for the respected Ford brand since Tesla is touted as being one of the most innovative and tech-forward automakers on the planet.

Passing by your local Ford dealer , you may wonder which vehicles on the lot are armed with some of the best semi-autonomous driving tech in the industry. From the Mustang Mach-E to the iconic F-150, electrified Lightning to the Expedition, Ford is loading up its vehicles with this groundbreaking tech. The biggest question is; although BlueCruise scored the highest in one testing event, is it really better than Tesla’s famous Autopilot technology? We weigh in on each system, getting down to the nuts and bolts of each to see which semi-autonomous driving experience is the best in the business.

About Ford BlueCruise

BlueCruise pairs Adaptive Cruise Control, which adjusts to the speed of traffic to keep you moving forward safely, with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering capabilities to keep you securely in your lane, braking and accelerating accordingly. The system also utilizes Speed Sign Recognition to ensure that you’re following the rules of the road at all times. Put all of these advanced features together, and you’ve got a vehicle that maneuvers through traffic with ease and adjusts to changes in the journey, all without your hands being on the wheel. Vehicles armed with BlueCruise technology can travel over 130,000 miles of Blue Zones throughout the continent, which have been pre-mapped and tested to ensure your safety and the quality of the ride. Once in a Blue Zone, blue lighting on the instrument panel will illuminate, signaling that the vehicle is safe to engage in hands-free driving.

Ford BlueCruise’s Most Notable Features

So, what makes Ford’s BlueCruise technology such a winner? Well, you’ll find that the system isn’t just easy to use and ultra-convenient; it’s also extremely safe, with extra precautions in place to ensure one of the safest rides on the road. Here are some of the most notable features of this system that have drivers hooked.

Driver-Facing Camera

You may be wondering how exactly a vehicle can tell if you’re really paying attention when your hands aren’t even on the wheel. Wouldn’t it be easy to just launch into BlueCruise, climb into the backseat, and take a nap after a long day at work? Well, that won’t happen in a Ford vehicle because all BlueCruise vehicles are armed with a driver-facing camera, which monitors your gaze to ensure that your eyes remain firmly on the road ahead. If the vehicle detects that the driver isn’t paying ample attention to what’s going on on the roadway, it will disengage BlueCruise, and the driver must take over their driving duties. There’s no funny business happening inside a BlueCruise vehicle; Ford makes sure of this.

Predictive Speed Assist

Sometimes, the road ahead gets a bit windy, and you may wonder, is a BlueCruise vehicle able to tackle the twists and turns of the road? Absolutely! With Predictive Speed Assist, vehicles equipped with BlueCruise 1.2 adjust their speed to safely take on a tight curve without the driver having to intervene. There won’t be any worrying when a BlueCruise vehicle takes on windy mountain roads.

Lane Positioning Tech

Whether a BlueCruise vehicle needs to change lanes or shift away from vehicles in an adjacent lane, they can do so with advanced features in the BlueCruise system. Just a simple tap of the turn signal, and your vehicle will safely switch lanes for you. When it senses that a neighboring vehicle is inching too close to you, it effortlessly shifts away without you having to lift a finger.

About Tesla Autopilot

Tesla vehicles are equipped with what’s called Autopilot, a hands-free experience, utilizing eight external cameras to monitor road changes and deliver a safe and convenient ride. There are a variety of levels of this system, which include Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot, and Full Self Driving Capability. Autopilot utilizes Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to safely stay with the flow of traffic, as well as Autosteer, which steers the vehicle for you. Enhanced Autopilot allows drivers to switch lanes, parallel park, and navigate more complex environments without the driver’s help. Finally, Full Self Driving Capability utilizes traffic and stop sign technology to speed up, slow down, make full stops, and more, while an Autosteer feature for use in urban areas is making its way down the pipeline soon.

Tesla Autopilot’s Most Notable Features

Tesla is known for designing some of the most advanced vehicles on the road, and one look at any Tesla will most likely have you gawking in its direction. Although it seems like Autopilot has all of its bases covered, some concerns have arisen in the industry, especially regarding the safety of this system. Take a look at some of its most notable features and see where these concerns begin to pop up.

Steering Wheel Nag

Ford’s BlueCruise tech monitors the driver’s attention via a driver-facing camera. This ensures that their eyes are glued to the road so that the vehicle remains in complete control, even when the driver isn’t actually operating it. Tesla, on the other hand, requires drivers to touch the steering wheel every so often to ensure that they’re still paying attention to the road.

Have you ever lost focus on work, started staring at your phone, and just moved your mouse around so that your computer didn’t go to sleep? That’s about the same as Steering Wheel Nag. What’s worse is that drivers have gotten smart, rigging a system where an object in the vehicle remains in contact with the steering wheel while the driver takes a siesta in the backseat. What would you do if you witnessed this out on the open road?

Smart Summon

Forgot where you parked your car? No worries, just summon it, and it’ll come to you. This may work with Fido at the dog park, but travelers aren’t quite sure they want a vehicle hurtling toward them on its way to find its faithful owner. The good thing is that it’s only meant for use in private parking lots or driveways. We have a feeling that’s not going to stop some drivers from putting it to the test in the Home Depot parking lot. Who else always forgets where they park when they go there?

The Verdict

Although Tesla is pretty cool and all, especially since you’re able to control your vehicle when you’re not even in it, it raises some concerns about the safety of the hands-free driving system. The cool features seem to do more harm than good, which places a seed of doubt into the minds of many everyday travelers. The biggest advantage of BlueCruise is that the system monitors drivers more accurately. There seem to be more precautions put into place because, let’s face it, the technology isn’t quite there yet for us to trust our vehicles to jet around town completely on their own. It seems as though BlueCruise may just be the answer drivers are looking for, especially when they want to harness cutting-edge tech, like semi-autonomous driving, but still want to feel safe on the road.

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Ford BlueCruise Rivals GM’s Super Cruise for Balancing Automation and Driver Monitoring

This new active driver assistance system stands out for allowing the driver to intervene without shutting off

We just evaluated the new Ford BlueCruise active driver assistance system on a 2021 Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle and came away with mostly positive feelings. The system can allow for hands-free driving on sections of premapped divided highways, automating the vehicle’s steering, acceleration, and braking for the driver. It stands out for its driver monitoring and appropriate warnings when driver attention appears to have wandered, plus it effectively encourages collaborative driving. 

BlueCruise is similar to General Motors’ Super Cruise—currently the top-rated active driver assistance system in Consumer Reports’ tests —in that it uses a direct driver monitoring system, via an infrared camera mounted on top of the steering column, to make sure the driver is looking at the road. 

CR feels it is imperative that active driver assistance systems—which combine lane centering assist (LCA) and adaptive cruise control (ACC)—use direct driver monitoring to make sure the driver is looking at the road to help keep their car and other vehicles around it safe. Most current active driver assistance systems, including Tesla’s Autopilot , do not use effective direct driver monitoring, and instead require occasional hand pressure on the steering wheel as a means to make sure the driver is paying attention.

BlueCruise has a big advantage over Super Cruise and Autopilot: It allows for driver collaboration. If the driver wants to steer around a pothole, pedestrian, or cyclist, for example, the system doesn’t immediately shut off or go into a standby mode, as with Autopilot and Super Cruise. After the maneuver is completed, the system will recenter the car in the lane automatically. This allows the driver to work with the system, rather than seemingly passing the control back and forth between automation and the driver.

Although BlueCruise has taken notable steps in the right direction for active driver assistance systems, Ford has made some missteps, too. We found that it doesn’t communicate enough information to the driver about when and why they are being told to suddenly put their hands back on the wheel when the system is in its “hands-free” mode. 

Plus, Ford’s marketing of the system as a “hands-off highway driving experience” is sure to leave some customers confused about the system’s capabilities when they get alerts to put their hands back on the wheel for reasons that aren’t always clear. 

“If consumers expect that BlueCruise will do the driving for them, they are going to be disappointed,” says Jake Fisher, CR’s senior director of auto testing. “The reality is this is a unique, collaborative approach that balances making driving easier while keeping drivers engaged during the boring parts of driving.”

During an interview with representatives from Ford, we were told that they “choose very carefully what to show drivers” in terms of messaging on the instrument cluster. But they also acknowledge that they’ve been listening to feedback from customers and “are looking at a future enhancement” to the system, although they wouldn’t elaborate on the details. To further help their customers understand the nuances of BlueCruise, Ford says it is developing how-to videos on the system.

@consumerreports Tesla’s system fails to keep a driver's attention on the road. Ford's issues an alert when the driver's eyes are diverted. #cartok #tesla #ford ♬ original sound - Consumer Reports

BlueCruise worked well during our preliminary evaluations on a Mustang Mach-E rented from Ford. The system is easy to activate because it takes only a single press of the cruise control button on the steering wheel to simultaneously engage the ACC and LCA. After that, all the driver has to do is stay attentive, ready to take over the steering on certain curvy sections of highways and manage the little stuff, such as steering to avoid potholes and manually adjusting the ACC’s speed, if they wish. 

We found BlueCruise enjoyable to use because it provides steering assistance on straight, boring sections of highway, or when you’re stuck in a traffic jam, which can make driving less stressful and more relaxing. 

We’re happy with Ford’s decision to utilize a driver monitoring camera to ensure that the driver is paying attention to their surroundings any time the system is active, whether on highways or secondary roads. 

We will fully test BlueCruise when the system becomes available through an over-the-air update on our 2021 Mustang Mach-E test car.

Photo: Consumer Reports Photo: Consumer Reports

BlueCruise Strengths

• Direct driver monitoring to make sure the driver is paying attention to the road.
• Allows for the driver to make their own steering-wheel inputs without immediately shutting the system off.
• Simple to activate by pressing a single button on the steering wheel.
• The system works on nonhighway roads with lane lines, but it still requires the driver to have their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

BlueCruise Weaknesses

• BlueCruise doesn’t make it clear to the driver why it’s telling you to suddenly put your hands back on the wheel, or why the system won’t engage “hands-free” mode at times on divided highways.
• Hands-free mode doesn’t always engage immediately after pressing the cruise-control button, with no explanation as to why.
• Ford’s marketing of BlueCruise as “a hands-off highway driving experience” overstates the true experience.

Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports

The Camera Is the Key

BlueCruise hands-free driving is available only on “prequalified” (Ford’s term for GPS mapped or premapped) sections of divided highways called “Hands-Free Blue Zones.” Those zones cover about 130,000 miles of North American roads, according to the automaker. Thanks to Ford’s mapping data, BlueCruise knows information such as the GPS location of the lane, lane width, lane curvature, and changes in elevation. The information is onboard the vehicle, and Ford will update the maps over the air as needed.

But a key reason BlueCruise works so well is that the driver has to pay attention to the road. The system uses a driver-facing infrared camera perched atop the steering column that monitors the driver’s eyes and head gaze. If the driver glances away from the road for too long (about 5 seconds in our experience)—whether to look at their cell phone, fiddle with the infotainment screen, or because they fell asleep—the system will give the driver a visual warning to “Watch the road” within the instrument cluster, followed by an audible warning chime. The driver monitoring works effectively at detecting when the driver is looking away from the road, and it was not thrown off by sunglasses or a face mask. We didn’t find that it warned us so quickly that it became annoying.

Among BlueCruise’s advantages over competing systems is its simple activation process: All the driver has to do is press the cruise control button on the steering wheel (provided the system is set to adaptive cruise control, as opposed to “normal cruise control,” within the driver assistance settings on the infotainment screen) and the system is activated. 

But although pressing the cruise control buttons turns the system “on,” the hands-free aspect won’t necessarily engage immediately—sometimes it does; other times it can take a few seconds to a couple of minutes. The system has to be on a section of divided highway that it deems safe for hands-free driving. The driver will know the hands-free mode has been engaged when the instrument cluster background turns from white to blue, while showing a steering wheel with the words “hands-free” below it. 

We asked Ford representatives what parameters cause the system to suddenly switch out of hands-free mode, and were told it could be a number of things, from overly curvy lanes to unclear lane lines.

Works With the Driver, Not Against

As with Autopilot and Super Cruise, the BlueCruise system steers the vehicle to keep it near the center of the lane, yet unlike those other systems it doesn’t fight the driver if they want to take corrective action to dodge a pothole, or steer around a pedestrian or cyclist. Once the steering correction is made, the system seamlessly resumes control. With some competing systems, adding your own steering inputs deactivates the steering assistance, which means the driver will then have to reactivate it. 

Not only is it annoying to have to reactivate the system, but having to do so can also be a deterrent to the driver adding their own steering inputs, or using the system at all. With BlueCruise, even if the driver takes over the steering, the system still provides lane centering steering-wheel torque, but we found that it works with the driver instead of feeling like it’s working against them.

We see this as a big win, because systems shouldn’t “penalize” the driver for adding their own steering inputs.

BlueCruise Correctly Suggests Its Limitations

Unlike the inappropriately named Autopilot and other active driver assistance systems, the BlueCruise system is “more honest” about its limitations, says Kelly Funkhouser, CR’s manager of vehicle technology. “In our experience so far, BlueCruise seems to perform well in areas such as lane centering, ease of use, and driver monitoring,” she says. “But one of the aspects we really like about BlueCruise is that it doesn’t say to the driver, ‘I’ve got this, don’t worry about steering,’ which can lead to a false sense of complacency.”

Instead, BlueCruise asks the driver to “Keep hands on steering wheel” on curvy stretches of highway. “It’s not necessarily ending its steering assistance,” Funkhouser says, “but the system wants the driver to have their hands on the wheel for safety just in case the automation can’t actually handle the turn.”

“I love driving,” Fisher says. “But not on boring, straight stretches of highway or in stop-and-go traffic.” In those situations, BlueCruise can automate the steering, braking, and accelerating for you pretty well.

“I still want to be in charge during higher-risk driving, such as through fast or tight curves,” Fisher continues. “BlueCruise has the ability to sense those sections ahead of time, and it makes sure you have your hands on the wheel so you’re at the ready.”

Mixed Messaging

Ford’s marketing of BlueCruise as a “hands-off highway driving experience” is potentially misleading to consumers. People may be confused or feel misled when they find out that BlueCruise wants them to have their hands on the steering wheel quite often on curvier sections of highway. Many customers may assume “hands-free” actually means “hands-free at all times,” and in our experience so far, that simply isn’t the case with BlueCruise, even on premapped sections of divided highway.

BlueCruise is currently available on the F-150 full-sized pickup and Mustang Mach-E EV. The system will be coming to the 2022 Expedition Platinum soon, as well as the upcoming F-150 Lightning EV pickup. A Ford spokesman told us BlueCruise would be heading to more vehicles, as well, but declined to give specifics as to which models, and the time frame.

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Tesla's Autopilot is falling behind as other software catches up

• Consumer Reports ranked the best advanced driver-assistance systems on the market. 
• Tesla's pioneering Autopilot feature was beaten out by several technologies. 
• Ford's BlueCruise took the top spot. 

Tesla, a pioneer in the world of high-tech cars, fell in Consumer Reports' latest ranking of advanced driver-assistance systems released on Wednesday. 

The nonprofit organization evaluated 12 technologies that combine adaptive cruise control (ACC) and lane centering assistance (LCA) to aid with highway driving. The systems, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in the auto industry, keep a vehicle in its lane while slowing down and speeding up with the flow of traffic.

They don't make vehicles self-driving, of course, but can make driving safer and less stressful. 

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Ford's BlueCruise (ActiveGlide in Lincolns), which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel on approved highways, nabbed the top spot. General Motors' similar Super Cruise feature came in second place. Mercedes-Benz's tech took third. 

Tesla Autopilot fell to seventh place this year, from second in 2020. That's because Elon Musk's automaker hasn't made significant changes to Autopilot's core functionality in years, Consumer Reports said. It's mainly focused on adding features. 

"After all this time, Autopilot still doesn't allow collaborative steering and doesn't have an effective driver monitoring system. While other automakers have evolved their ACC and LCA systems, Tesla has simply fallen behind," Jake Fisher, the organization's senior director of auto testing, said in the report. 

Consumer Reports judged the features based on five criteria: ease of use, capability and performance, keeping the driver engaged, unresponsive driver, and clear when safe to use. 

Driver-assistance tech isn't the only area where Tesla is losing ground. Though it's still by far the dominant electric car seller in the the US, automakers like General Motors, Ford, Hyundai , and Polestar are eating away at its market share as they release new and appealing models . Tesla accounted for roughly 65% of electric car sales in 2022 , down from 79% in 2020 . 

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Tesla Autopilot vs Ford BlueCruise: BlueCruise Can’t Even Take Curved Roads

It’s a fully autonomous mad rush to the virtual finish line. While Tesla Autopilot has received its fair share of criticism over the years, the time has come for Ford BlueCruise. Unfortunately, Ford BlueCruise found a clue, and the clue is to find out what has worked for Tesla Autopilot.

Comparing Tesla Autopilot and Ford BlueCruise

In case you don’t know, Sandy Munro is an automotive engineer that is exceptionally well-versed in vehicles. Munro has sat down with Elon Musk before and regularly criticizes Tesla for one reason or another, as reported by Teslarati . However, Munro does drive a Tesla Model 3. However, Ford BlueCruise did not impress Munro. At all, actually.

Both Tesla Autopilot and Ford BlueCruise are advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). BlueCruise is a lot less further along in design than Autopilot, and it shows. Drivers can only activate BlueCruise in specific areas called “blue zones.” In the video below, Munro and Ford Driver Assist Technology Chief Engineer Chris Billman took a trip on a freeway in a blue zone.

According to Ford, BlueCruise has over 130,000 miles of pre-qualified highways that offer hands-free driving. Tesla Autopilot technically requires hands on the steering wheel at all times.

How Ford BlueCruise perfoms on the highway

BlueCruise simply knows to drive on a straight highway. When Munro questions if the Ford vehicle will take the offramp to get to another destination, Billman tells him no. It won’t even change lanes without the driver changing lanes manually. The navigation aspect isn’t integrated, Billman notes.

Munro must immediately place his hands on the wheel to navigate the bend when the road starts to curve. It’s a bit odd. Ford BlueCruise will offer over-the-air updates like Tesla Autopilot offers. Ford does plan on including lane change assist and speed control options. Munro says Ford BlueCruise performed OK, but he does not seem impressed at all. He offers a diplomatic opinion and delves into why he finds Tesla Autopilot so impressive.

Munro suggests that Ford get in a Tesla and try out Tesla Autopilot to see how it compares. “Maybe we will get another ride and drive, and ill say, ‘wow, this is marvelous.’ But not this time.”

It takes time to get up to speed

@Ford hands-free BlueCruise chases Tesla Autopilot, GM Super Cruise. Camera monitor, highways only. Payne @DetroitNews https://t.co/LoJnsdEvz0 pic.twitter.com/tKZbA6KSuk — Henry Payne (@HenryEPayne) April 14, 2021

There are some definite improvements Ford can make to the BlueCruise system right away. When Munro needed to put his hands back on the wheel, the alert was very quiet. If an unsuspecting driver was using the system, this might not be enough to attract attention. Plus, BlueCruise should include basic maneuvering like lane changes.

Trying to use Ford BlueCruise on a regular road seems quite far away for now. While Tesla Autopilot isn’t perfect, it has proven relatively good at navigating the city streets. Thus far, BlueCruise will debut in the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Ford F-150 Lightning . It seems that BlueCruise is in the same place Autopilot was four or five years back. It takes time to get these features correct, and Ford has a lot of work to do.

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Amanda Cline

Amanda Cline is an avid fan of Formula 1 and joined MotorBiscuit in 2021. A Southwest Floridian, she easily and often finds automotive events to attend in the Tampa, Orlando, and Miami areas. Amanda is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she earned a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a Master’s in Technical Communication. Combining her editorial and digital media expertise, Amanda served as a content creator for FanSided and now provides our readers with a variety of automotive subject matter like pickup trucks and SUV s, including valuable consumer advice.

Amanda closely follows many F1 drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Her all-time favorite author is Shel Silverstein.

Why Ford's BlueCruise Is Better Than Tesla's Autopilot And FSD

Although Tesla's Autopilot pioneered the industry, it is now being outdone by Ford's tech, the Ford BlueCruise, which is notably safer.

Tesla ’s pioneering role in the EV industry comes with a few perks. After all, the company’s name is almost synonymous with electric vehicles . Furthermore, the Texas-based manufacturer can also be credited for making Active Driver Assist Systems mainstream. As a matter of fact, many non-connoisseurs might mistakenly think that only Teslas benefit from such features ” But, as most know, such is not the case. Even more so, the Autopilot is far from being the best on the market nowadays. Three years ago, Tesla’s ADAS was comfortably ranked as the second-best on the Consumer Report rankings.

Fast-forward to 2023, and the Autopilot is now ranked seventh, from a total of twelve . Other systems such as General Motors’ Super Cruise and Volkswagen’s Travel Assist have since caught up. Amid this embarrassment of sophisticated driver assist systems, it is Ford’s BlueCruise that reigns supreme. The latter is perhaps the most significant threat to Autopilot in terms of prestige and reputation, which is why we’ve decided to compare the two, with a bit of nuance.

Related: Why Cadillac’s Super Cruise is Better Than Tesla Autopilot and FSD

The Autopilot Is Cursed With A Bad Track Record

The idea of an Autopilot was initially introduced in 2013, over the years, the flagship system has known quite a few improvements, and still stands as the epitome of automatic driving, quite mistakenly, considering it’s not completely hands-free, and requires a fair bit of human supervision. You see, levels of autonomous driving rank from 0 to 5 , with the lowest requiring you to be in control of your vehicle at all times, while the highest doesn’t even need any human input at all. In that sense, Tesla’s Autopilot offers a Level 2 of Driving Autonomy.

However, some misunderstandings regarding the legality and capacity of the Autopilot have led to a few arrests, and accidents. Over the years, the system has notably been plagued by issues of phantom braking, prompting an NHSA investigation, as well as a recent class-action lawsuit from a Model 3 owner. The term phantom braking is used to describe when an advanced driver-assist system (ADAS) resorts to braking for no valid reason.

This usually happens when the car mistakes a static object for a moving one, prompting it to wrongly anticipate a non-existent collision. In order to fix these bugs, the company recently released a new FSD Beta V11.4.4 to customers, in June of this year. Since then Tesla has been honing its software and releasing test-versions to employees only. The initiative seems rather promising, however, as Elon pointed out on X that it would reduce unnecessary slowdowns. Fingers crossed!

Aside from that, the Tesla Autopilot is a pretty good system that covers the entire panoply, from the entry-level Model 3 to the upcoming Semi. The features notably include:

• Navigate on Autopilot: Angled toward highway driving, helps with lane switching, and finding the correct exits.
• Autopark: Helps with parallel parking
• Summon: Helps you move your car in and out of tight parking spaces via the mobile app or key
• Smart Summon: An optimized version of the latter, which helps your car maneuver around complex perimeters to come find you directly

As of September 2023, customers can choose the Full-Self Driving Beta, for a modest fee of $12,000.

Related: Is Tesla's Autopilot Really The Best ADAS Currently?

The BlueCruise Is Only Available On A Select Few Models

When Consumer Reports tested the BlueCruise, it notably praised its performance, as well as its ability to keep the driver engaged. The flagship system comes endowed with a sizable amount of supporting technologies. The company released the 1.2 versions, in order to address some previous issues, and provide some upgrades. The new features were added through over-the-air updates. As of October 2023, the Ford BC consists of:

• Predictive Speed Assist
• Driver-Facing Camera
• Lane Positioning Tech
• Lane Change Assist
• In-Lane Repositioning

As of 2023,the BlueCruise is available on the Ford Expedition, the F-150, the F-150 Lightning, and the Mustang Mach-E SUV . The latter is often the go-to when it comes to testing the ADAS, perhaps due to its gargantuan frame and its powerful engine. Aside from that. The BlueCruise is compatible with over 100,000 miles across North America, and also available on the following Lincoln vehicles:

• 2023 Corsair SUV
• 2023 Navigator SUV

Mustang Mach-E Performance Specifications

Related: GM Super Cruise vs Tesla Autopilot: Who's The Daddy?

The BlueCruise Is Safer, And More Reliable Than The Autopilot

As previously pointed out, the difference between the Autopilot and the BlueCruise is a nuanced one. One thing that is worth keeping in mind is that Tesla includes its ADAS in its entire fleet, without any exception, while Ford charges customers for its BlueCruise system. The Autopilot is also slightly better at keeping itself centered, and offers better feedback. On the other hand, it is notably inferior when it comes to lane-switching , as it requires you to do it yourself, and restart the entire Autopilot system afterward. It is also notably more hesitant than the BlueCruise, which can be way more fluid at times. On the other hand, the latter can struggle with long sweeping curves, prompting harder steering angles.

Unlike the Tesla Autopilot, Ford’s BlueCruise forces the driver to remain engaged at all times through the use of direct driver monitoring systems (DDMS). The latter requires you to keep your line of sight on the road, using infrared cameras angled directly at your face, effectively tracking your eye movement. These infrared cameras trigger an immediate sound alert, if the driver’s focus shifts away from the road. If the person behind the wheel doesn’t turn their line of sight back on the road within five seconds, the car then gradually slows down, before stabilizing at 6mph.

This advanced setup, which is centered around responsiveness, is what effectively earned BlueCruise extra points from Consumer Reports. The renowned reviewer in fact considers DDMS to be the gold standard in terms of ADAS safety, and is all set to deduct points from those that don’t meet this specific criteria. As of now, only General Motors and Ford have been able to meet these standards.

Conversely, Tesla’s Autopilot has been known to be less demanding in terms of vehicle control , reportedly allowing vehicles to drive hangs-free for up to thirty seconds. People have also been known to take loopholes around the Autopilot's requirements. As a result, reports of drivers sleeping in their moving Teslas have gotten more frequent, making the road less safe for everyone involved.

Of course, the irresponsible behavior of some drivers should not be directly pinned on the Autopilot, as it is neither fair nor logical. At the same time, we truly wish Tesla would take key measures to improve on these specific points, considering it is currently the best-selling EV maker on the planet. Furthermore, it is important to stress once again that the BlueCruise is not superior in every area, but does exceed the Autopilot in terms of safety. Opinions and anecdotal evidence may vary of course, and many customers have had positive experiences with the Autopilot, which is pretty functional, for the most part.

How GM Ultra Cruise Differs From Tesla's Autopilot

GM's Ultra Cruise differs from Tesla's Full Self-Driving tech in a few key areas, ranging from the sensors that power them to how they're portrayed to potential buyers.

GM Ultra Cruise Not Tesla's Autopilot

General Motors

2024 Cadillac Celestiq

The Cadillac Celestiq is on its way for the 2024 model year, bringing ultra-high-end styling and luxury and a sky-high price tag. Beyond its lavish build quality and futuristic styling, the upcoming EV will debut a new semi-autonomous driving function for General Motors. Called Ultra Cruise, the feature builds on the existing hands-free Super Cruise function with more advanced hands-free features and sensors.

Though it’s more advanced than the existing system, GM is careful not to label Ultra Cruise as an autonomous driving system, saying that drivers will still need to pay attention at all times. The marketing and language surrounding Ultra Cruise is a departure from the way Tesla portrays its full self-driving (FSD) system, but there are a few other significant differences to note.

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Unlike FSD, which lets drivers hand over control on city streets and other scenarios, Ultra Cruise’s functionality will be limited on rollout. It won’t work in roundabouts, intersections and parking lots at first, and will hand over control to the driver in those situations. The functionality will improve over time, however, eventually covering almost every paved road.

Another significant difference between GM’s Ultra Cruise and Tesla FSD is the sensor setup that guides each system. Tesla relies on cameras only to view and absorb data about the world around the vehicle, while Ultra Cruise uses short- and long-range radars in addition to cameras. GM also incorporates LiDAR behind the windshield and another camera inside to monitor the driver’s attention levels.

Perhaps the most significant difference between the two is how they’re advertised to prospective buyers. Tesla is under investigation for crashes that took place while drivers were using its FSD technology. The automaker hasn’t done much to curb the perception that vehicles can actually drive themselves when equipped with the tech. Its beta test program is running on public roads in the hands of everyday drivers, so it’s easy to see how things could go sideways.

General Motors is taking a more measured approach to the Ultra Cruise rollout, saying that its fundamental strategy is to safely release the functions to the public. Its testing regimen has examined the handoff point between tech and human control, saying that the most consistent and clear operation presents the safest situation.

Super Cruise offers hands-free driving on highways and is available in several vehicles, including the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, Silverado and others. Ultra Cruise will be far more limited to start, with availability only on the insanely expensive and bespoke Celestiq EV. Even so, the rollout to other models will be faster than it was with Super Cruise. However, GM said it was not ready to make promises on which functions would be available at launch due to its extensive and ongoing testing.

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Ford Blue Cruise and GM Super Cruise lauded in Consumer Reports’ driver monitoring rankings

In a recent announcement, Consumer Reports stated that it has decided to reward carmakers whose driver-assist systems encourage safe driving behaviors. With this in mind, the CR 2022 autos Top Picks, which would be announced on February 17, would reflect scoring changes based on how vehicles’ driver monitoring systems perform in real-world scenarios. 

Under the updated scoring system, vehicles with systems that encourage safe driving are given two additional points. So far, Consumer Reports noted that only Ford’s Blue Cruise and GM’s Super Cruise would be earning these extra points. Jake Fisher, senior director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center, explained these findings. 

“We believe it’s time to recognize vehicles that have found a safer way to deploy this technology. GM’s Super Cruise and now Ford’s BlueCruise both have the right combination of helping drivers enjoy the convenience of automation while verifying that they’re keeping their eyes on the road,” he said . 

Different carmakers utilize different driver monitoring systems. Ford’s Blue Cruise even taps the brakes to “jolt” an inattentive driver , and other systems limit access to certain features if a driver proves inattentive. Other systems engage an audible alarm if a driver is not paying attention to the road, and some restrict further usage of automated features until the next drive. 

Consumer Reports noted that it has tested driver-assist systems from five carmakers, namely BMW, Ford, GM, Subaru, and Tesla. In BMW’s case, features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist could reportedly be engaged even if the vehicle’s internal camera is covered or toggled off in a system menu. Subaru’s EyeSight and DriverFocus, on the other hand, could detect driver distraction in some scenarios, but it could be completely turned off. 

As for Tesla, Consumer Reports claims that in their Model S and Model Y with V11 software , Autopilot could still be engaged while the cabin camera was fully covered. CR shared concerns about Tesla using video data from its vehicles’ cabin camera as well, since owners have the option to send footage from their cars to the company. Lastly, Consumer Reports claimed that as long as drivers’ hands were on the wheel, there were no warnings if drivers’ eyes were off the road. 

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