How to Use Sidewinder Mode

Sidewinder Mode is a 4-Wheel Steering setting that allows the angle of the rear wheels to mimic the angle of the front wheels up to a certain angle – the max. angle depends on your vehicle. This allows you to move your vehicle diagonally.

You may want to move your vehicle diagonally to make some parking maneuvers easier or in certain off-roading situations. For example, if the rear of your vehicle is facing an obstacle on the left side and you need to turn your vehicle to the right to get around it, you might risk colliding with the obstacle in Automatic Mode.

By moving the vehicle diagonally with Sidewinder Mode, you have the option of moving the vehicle to help avoid collisions with objects within your turning radius.

Sidewinder Mode can only be used at speeds below 20 mph. At speeds above 20 mph, the front and rear wheels will no longer turn at the same angle. If you continue to drive above 25 mph for longer than 10 seconds, Sidewinder Mode will disengage and return the system to Automatic 4-Wheel Steering mode.

Here’s how to engage Sidewinder Mode:

1. Your vehicle cannot be going faster than crawl speed (about 1.2 mph). 

2. Your steering wheel must be still.

3. Super Cruise^®† must not be active.

4. Depending on your vehicle, you’ll turn on Sidewinder Mode  using either the physical button on the Driver Mode Control dial or the infotainment screen.

a. Open the Controls app on your infotainment screen.
b. Then, tap the Sidewinder Mode button in the Controls app, then tap the Sidewinder Mode icon on the confirmation screen.

5. When Sidewinder Mode is first engaging, you’ll see an animation on your infotainment screen.

6. Once Sidewinder Mode is active, you can drive at speeds of up to 20 mph. Above 20 mph, the front and rear wheels will no longer turn at the same angle.

As with other 4-Wheel Steering modes, there is a limit to how far your rear wheels will turn —  the max. angle depends on your vehicle.