Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) has been recognized as the Best Technology of 2026 by MotorTrend.
For years, MotorTrend has been a prominent critic of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) initiatives. Notably, last year, the publication presented its first-ever "Best Tech" award for driver assistance to General Motors.
For years, MotorTrend has been one of the most vocal critics of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) initiatives. Notably, last year, the publication awarded its inaugural "Best Tech" accolade for driver assistance to General Motors’ Super Cruise, citing Tesla’s unpredictable performance as "scary." This criticism stemmed from various incidents involving Autopilot and FSD, with issues such as phantom braking and inconsistencies leading to the decision to deny Tesla the top honor.
However, in its 2026 Best Tech Awards, MotorTrend has now recognized FSD (Supervised) as the winner of its Best Driver Assistance System award, asserting that the launch of FSD V14 has significantly transformed the landscape of autonomous driving.
A Shift in Perspective
The review's most notable aspect is the evident change in tone from the editors. They candidly addressed their prior skepticism, stating:
“How do we explain our abrupt U-turn in selecting Tesla FSD as our 2026 winner? Simply put, the latest iteration of FSD, version 14 (v14), shows marked improvements over the system (v12) we evaluated in 2025. While it is important to acknowledge that it is not yet flawless, the majority of the issues we identified in earlier versions have been largely resolved, and its features and capabilities have seen substantial enhancement.”
The editors remarked that last year’s selection of Super Cruise was straightforward due to Tesla's unpredictability, while this year's choice was equally clear in the opposite direction.
“Tesla FSD (Supervised) truly excels, and for the time being, it stands as the best advanced driver assistance system available.”
Reasons for FSD's Victory
The review attributes Tesla's triumph to three primary factors where it has outpaced competitors.
The first is geographic freedom. Unlike GM’s Super Cruise or Ford’s Blue Cruise, which are limited to pre-mapped highways, FSD operates seamlessly in any environment. MotorTrend commended its proficiency in navigating city streets, roundabouts, and complex intersections that other systems do not support.
The editorial team also emphasized that FSD v14 marked a significant enhancement in user experience. Compared to the previous version they tested (v12), the new end-to-end neural network behavior was impressively smooth, both on highways and in challenging city scenarios, including unprotected left turns.
Lastly, while they acknowledged the high upfront and monthly costs, features such as Auto Park and the effortless transition between city and highway driving justify the premium that Tesla commands.
The Conclusion
While MotorTrend reminded its audience that FSD is still Supervised and demands an attentive driver, the overall verdict was clear. After extensive testing over thousands of miles, the editors concluded that the previous shortcomings had been effectively addressed.
For Tesla, which has faced skepticism from traditional automotive media for a decade, this award symbolizes a pivotal moment: the recognition and praise of its efforts by mainstream media. Such acknowledgment could potentially drive Tesla to sell hundreds of thousands of additional vehicles.
However, in its 2026 Best Tech Awards, MotorTrend has now recognized FSD (Supervised) as the winner of its Best Driver Assistance System award, asserting that the launch of FSD V14 has significantly transformed the landscape of autonomous driving.
A Shift in Perspective
The review's most notable aspect is the evident change in tone from the editors. They candidly addressed their prior skepticism, stating:
“How do we explain our abrupt U-turn in selecting Tesla FSD as our 2026 winner? Simply put, the latest iteration of FSD, version 14 (v14), shows marked improvements over the system (v12) we evaluated in 2025. While it is important to acknowledge that it is not yet flawless, the majority of the issues we identified in earlier versions have been largely resolved, and its features and capabilities have seen substantial enhancement.”
The editors remarked that last year’s selection of Super Cruise was straightforward due to Tesla's unpredictability, while this year's choice was equally clear in the opposite direction.
“Tesla FSD (Supervised) truly excels, and for the time being, it stands as the best advanced driver assistance system available.”
Reasons for FSD's Victory
The review attributes Tesla's triumph to three primary factors where it has outpaced competitors.
The first is geographic freedom. Unlike GM’s Super Cruise or Ford’s Blue Cruise, which are limited to pre-mapped highways, FSD operates seamlessly in any environment. MotorTrend commended its proficiency in navigating city streets, roundabouts, and complex intersections that other systems do not support.
The editorial team also emphasized that FSD v14 marked a significant enhancement in user experience. Compared to the previous version they tested (v12), the new end-to-end neural network behavior was impressively smooth, both on highways and in challenging city scenarios, including unprotected left turns.
Lastly, while they acknowledged the high upfront and monthly costs, features such as Auto Park and the effortless transition between city and highway driving justify the premium that Tesla commands.
The Conclusion
While MotorTrend reminded its audience that FSD is still Supervised and demands an attentive driver, the overall verdict was clear. After extensive testing over thousands of miles, the editors concluded that the previous shortcomings had been effectively addressed.
For Tesla, which has faced skepticism from traditional automotive media for a decade, this award symbolizes a pivotal moment: the recognition and praise of its efforts by mainstream media. Such acknowledgment could potentially drive Tesla to sell hundreds of thousands of additional vehicles.
