Who’s Got Your Back? All Those Safety Systems In Your Car. Here’s What They Do, By Car Brand

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·December 6, 2025
Surround cameras are standard in the Safety package of every trim of the 2025 GV80
Surround cameras are standard in the Safety package of every trim of the 2025 GV80. Credit: Kymri Wilt

Surround cameras are standard in the Safety package of every trim of the 2025 GV80.

They beep, buzz, light up, and flash. They take some of the stress off the driver when it comes to safety features, and sometimes, they jump right in and take the wheel. Advanced Driver Assist and Safety features, or ADAS, are becoming increasingly common, and most of them are now standard equipment on new cars.

But automakers can give them fancy-schmancy names and make it confusing to tell what systems a car has and what they do. Even the list of standard and advanced safety features can be overwhelming.

So, we decided to break it down so you know what they mean (and because, hey, there are a lot). Then, read on for a brand-by-brand look at what each new popular car brand offers (luxury cars will appear on a separate list).

This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.

Safety Features Can Drastically Improve Your Drive—When They’re Not Driving You Nuts

The video rear view mirror in the 2025 Lexus LX 700h – Credit: Scotty Reiss

Features like blind spot detection, cross traffic detection, automatic emergency braking, and others are called Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Their sole function is to compensate for what otherwise might be a mistake made by a distracted driver—from you or another driver.

These systems have been proven to decrease the number of accidents by thousands according to the National Safety Council, which predicts they have the potential to lower traffic deaths by 62%.

If an ADAS sensor detects a potential collision, like a driver wandering into another lane without using a signal, it will beep loudly, and lights will flash before it’s activated, which annoys most drivers. Many are turned off, which increases the risk of an accident.

Many Automakers are Offering ADAS Safety Features as Standard Equipment

Most functions are on the touch screen, including the air vent adjustments, in the Polestar 4 – Credit: Liv Leigh

Increasingly, automakers are adding more ADAS standard safety features standard on all models. Some market them under different names, but here’s a list of common safety features:

Related: Test Driving the New H.E.L.P. Disabled Car Safety Alerts

“Advanced” Safety Features Are, Thankfully, Becoming More Widespread

You can customize your driver safety features on the multimedia system in the 2026 Kia Sportage – Credit: Scotty Reiss

“Advanced” systems are categorized as such because, unlike the basic features, not all cars have them. Some are reserved for the more luxurious and expensive trims, sometimes more advanced features like a 360-degree camera or park assist come as an add-on, while some manufacturers have them on all trim levels. These features are typically:

If you’re car shopping, it’s probably not a bad idea to make a list to ensure that the car you’re looking at has the features you know you’ll need. Here’s how manufacturer of popular car brands sum up the systems in their cars.

Read More: The Subaru Solterra is a Beautifully Rugged All-Electric SUV

Toyota’s TSS Systems Continue to Evolve

Scotty Reiss with the 2026 Toyota RAV4 – Credit: Natalie Merola

Toyota calls its system “Toyota Safety Sense” and evolves it with a number designation each time the company adds more features; current new models carry TSS 3.0. The company’s list of features included ABS, emergency automatic braking, traction, and stability control, as well as electronic brake distribution.

Toyota also has advanced or upgraded versions of this called TSSC (for compact cars) and TSSP (for larger SUVs).

Most Toyotas have several or all of the Safety Sense features, which include:

Read More: The Ultimate Off-Road Hybrid Showdown: Toyota RAV4 Woodland vs. Subaru Forester

Honda Sensing Leaves the Senses Tingling

Honda FINALLY added the CR-V to the TrailSport family – Credit: Sara Lacey

Honda calls its ADAS features “Honda Sensing” and includes common safety items. Not all vehicles in the Honda lineup include all of Honda Sensing’s safety features, but many do include some or all of them.

Here’s what each typically includes:

Honda discontinued “LaneWatch,” which was a feature that provided a live feed of the right and left lanes from cameras on the side mirrors on the center infotainment screen. Now, Honda calls it “Blind-Spot Monitoring.”

Related: H.E.L.P. Roadside Assistance is On the Way —Thanks to New Tech Coming to VW

Subaru Has Its Eyes on the Road with EyeSight

There are a ton of improvements made to the new Subaru Forester Wilderness – Credit: Kristen Brown

Designed to work like the human eye, the Subaru system combines three color cameras that converge on objects like the road ahead to detect things the way you would. The system includes:

For 2026, Subaru is releasing the fifth generation of EyeSight, which will come with a hands-free driving assist (Subaru’s version of advanced highway driving assist) up to 85 mph, new wide-angle cameras to improve pedestrian and cyclist detection, improved automatic emergency braking, and better lane change technology, as well as blind spot detection. The new infotainment screen in the Outback is faster and more responsive, too.

Most importantly, Subaru’s adding Emergency Lane Stop Assist to its safety suite, which will automatically pull the car over and call emergency services if the driver doesn’t respond to audio and visual warnings. This is to combat falling asleep behind the wheel or if the driver suffers a medical emergency.

Read More: Love and Puppies — 10 Reasons Subaru Owners Are So Loyal

Nissan Protects with its Intelligent Safety Shield

The front end of the 2026 Nissan Sentra – Credit: Kristen Brown

Nissan’s list of safety features is very similar to those offered by other manufacturers, and includes six main systems on some or all of its models:

Most Nissans come with Intelligent Driver Alertness Sensoring, which utilizes computers to “learn” a driver’s steering patterns. If the system detects any irregularities, like over- or understeering due to fatigue, a warning will appear on the screen. Nissan tells drivers they may be overtired by using a coffee cup as an icon.

ProPilot Assist is a batch of features that are included in the Ariya EV, Pathfinder, Rogue, Leaf EV, and Altima. It includes systems like:

Read More: 10 Ways Your Car Can Prevent Distracted Driving — And the Cars That Do it Best

General Motors is the Only Manufacturer to Offer Teen Driver Mode

There was already a lot to love about the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V—Now there’s even more – Credit: Kristen Brown

General Motors encompasses the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac brands, and while the company doesn’t give a system name to the suite of safety features, they do a really nice job of spelling out what each does on the website. Most GM vehicles have these features as standard equipment:

GM brands, save for Cadillac, offer Teen Driving Technology for the Chevy Malibu, Equinox, Traverse, Colorado and Silverado. The GMC Terrain and the Buick Enclave have it, too. When in use, the principal driver can set speed alerts, hard braking or acceleration alerts, volume alerts, and record average speeds, all accessed via the car app or user account.

Volvo and Ford offer something similar to a valet key, where if the vehicle’s computer detects a certain key, speed and volume limits can be set.

Read More: The 2026 Kia Sportage Is Freshly Redesigned—and Shows Why The Top Trim Is So Popular 

Mazda Calls Their ADAS Safety Features “i-ActiveSense”

The turbocharger packed an invigorating punch – Credit: Kristen Brown

Mazda has always been at the forefront of safety and was one of the first to offer a head-up display and a solid suite of safety features standard. The Mazda i-Activesense group of technologies includes:

For 2026, the company’s expanded its safety suite to include Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS), Emergency Lane Keeping, and front traffic alerts to help keep you safe in intersections. On most models, front lighting and 360-degree view monitoring will be available.

Ford’s Safety Features are Your Co-Pilot

The red metallic paint made me feel like a firefighter instead of a cop – Credit: Cameron Aubernon

Ford calls their safety features Ford Co-Pilot360 and boasts an extensive list of safety features to help the driver. Both packages come with various advanced safety features you’ll want:

Vehicles that offer CoPilot360 as standard are the Mach-E, F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Edge, Expedition, Bronco Sport, Bronco, Escape, Maverick, Super Duty, E-Transit and Transit vans, Ranger, and F-150 Lightning models.

Most importantly, Ford’s Co-Pilot360 can now detect pedestrians in low-light conditions, and blind spot detection has been expanded to 33 feet. The company’s also adding new modes to the lane keep assist feature, and adaptive cruise control can now function in stop-and-go traffic. For those who tow, Ford’s added Pro Trailer Backup Assist.

Kia Drivewise has Your Back Wherever You Go

Obviously, one of the first things that caught my eye was the exterior styling – Credit: Kristen Brown

Kia is among the last to put a name to its suite of safety features, but the company has offered a lot of great systems in its cars and SUVs. For a while, all Kia vehicles have come with these features as standard equipment:

Hyundai’s Intuition is Always Active

Hyundai’s models are safe and affordable – Credit: Kristen Brown

Hyundai calls its safety suite SmartSense. It’s a group of technologies that aren’t available on all models, but plenty of them.

Here’s a breakdown of the features:

Models that come with SmartSense are the Elantra, Sonata, Kona, Santa Cruz, Tucson, Santa Fe, IONIQ 5, and IONIQ 6. For the new year, Hyundai’s updated its safety suite to include cruising and traffic support, and improved driver attention warnings, too.

Related: Safest Cars On the Road Under $30,000: These Cars Are Loaded with Safety Tech and Features

Stellantis Brands Offers a Bundle of Safety Tech

The 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack Scat Pack Edition in Peel Out Orange – Credit: Scotty Reiss

Stellantis, which is the parent company of Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo, is keen to offer as many safety features as they does brands. Like General Motors, there’s no designated name for safety feature packages.

These are safety features that are standard for most vehicles:

Volvo Has Had it Figured Out Since the 1990s

The Volvo EX30 in Moss Yellow has a lot of personality – Credit: Liv Leigh

Volvo names its safety features package “Intellisafe,” and for good reason. The Swedes have been prioritizing safety since the boxy era of the 240s. Unlike many of the other manufacturers on this list, Volvo offers Intellisafe on all models.

Features as part of the package include:

The Volkswagen Group has Your Family Covered

The VW Jetta was accessible for most, but I couldn’t drive it – Credit: Liv Leigh

Volkswagen, like Stellantis, is a parent company of many brands, including Audi, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Ducati. But Volkswagen itself packages its suite of safety features under the name IQ Drive; these include:

Mitsubishi Plays it Safe

The very handsome Trail Edition – Credit: Kristen Brown

Mitsubishi offers a trove of standard features, like:

Mitsubishi is often underrated. Though their models are some of the most inexpensive in the industry, they’re packed with safety technology.

Mitsubishi offers a trove of standard features, like:

Moving into 2026, the forward collision mitigation has been expanded to include pedestrian detection, and the Outlander especially gets important navigational and infotainment upgrades to improve driver experience and usability.

Tesla Has Long Led With Automatic Safety Systems

Tesla Model Y. Photo: Sara Lacey

Tesla has made it well known that they offer ‘Autopilot’ and ‘Full Self-Driving’ modes, depending on how much you’re willing to pay for a subscription. But what does this even mean? It’s really just a set of advanced safety features offered by other vehicle brands (as listed above) as well. These include

While these systems contribute to self-driving, they should not be used for self-driving; even when the system is active, the driver should be aware, alert, and in charge to be safe.

And that can be said for any of the cars on this list; many of these systems will do a lot of the driving (and parking!) for you, but they are no substitute for an alert, aware, and safe driver. Which is why they’re called “assist” systems.

Now that you have a full run-down, make sure the car you’re shopping for is fully and properly equipped.

By Kristen Brown
Brown is a car-loving mom in Oregon, with a deeply rooted passion in auto mechanics. She's been an automotive ... More about Kristen Brown
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