Best Tech of 2026 Is Awarded to Tesla's FSD: MotorTrend

For years, MotorTrend has been one of the loudest critics of Tesla’s FSD efforts. Just last year, the publication famously awarded its inaugural “Best Tech” award for driver assistance to General Motors’ Super Cruise, citing Tesla’s erratic behavior as “scary.”

That included incidents involving Autopilot and FSD, with phantom braking and inconsistency cited as reasons to strip it of the crown.

In its 2026 Best Tech Awards, MotorTrend has now named FSD (Supervised) the winner of its Best Driver Assistance System award, stating that with the release of FSD V14, the software has fundamentally changed the landscape of autonomy.

From Critic to Acolyte

The most striking part of the review is the tonal shift from the editors. In their new verdict, they openly addressed their previous skepticism:

“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), is vastly improved over the system (v12) we tested in 2025. It’s crucial to note that although it remains far from perfect, the majority of the flaws we noted in earlier versions of FSD have largely been addressed, while its features and capabilities have only improved.”

The editors noted that while last year’s decision to choose Super Cruise was easy given Tesla’s unpredictability, this year’s decision was equally easy in the other direction.

“Tesla FSD (Supervised) really is that good, and for now at least, it’s the best advanced driver assistance system on the market.”

Why FSD Won

According to the review, the victory comes down to three main factors, where Tesla has simply outpaced the rest of the industry.

The first is geographic freedom. Unlike GM’s Super Cruise or Ford’s Blue Cruise, which are geo-fenced to pre-mapped highways, FSD simply operates everywhere. MotorTrend praised its abilities to handle city streets, traffic circles, and complex intersections that other systems simply don’t even allow.

The editorial team also highlighted FSD v14 as a major turning point in the experience. The last version they tested was v12, and the new end-to-end neural net behavior was staggeringly smooth. That applied to both highways and city streets, even in high-stress locations like unprotected left turns.

Finally, they acknowledged that while the upfront and monthly prices were high, features like Auto Park and the seamless transition from city to highway and back justify the premium Tesla charges.

Tesla FSD (Supervised) really is that good

The Verdict

While MotorTrend was careful to remind its readers that FSD is still Supervised and requires a vigilant driver, the conclusion was definitive. After logging thousands of miles in testing, the editors were satisfied that the previous flaws they found were effectively solved.

For Tesla, which has battled skepticism from the traditional auto press for a decade, this award represents a turning point: the moment mainstream media begin to praise and recognize Tesla’s efforts. This alone could help Tesla sell hundreds of thousands of additional vehicles.