More and more cars are now equipped with automatic emergency braking capabilities yet it is still considered a fairly high-end feature. Before, active-safety features including automatic emergency braking were only offered in top-trim luxury cars. These days many more modest and affordable brands have made this feature available along with other advanced safe technology. Here is a list of cheap cars that have the best automatic braking capabilities.
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All the cars listed below are available with automatic emergency braking for below $23,000. Some cars listed both have forward and reverse automatic emergency braking feature, while others provide only forward automatic emergency which can still help prevent accidents from happening, even save a life.
2020 Nissan Versa
Price: $14,730
The 2020 Versa comes standard with forward and reverse automatic emergency braking. Other standard safety tech features include forward collision warning, lane departure warning, pedestrian detection, a rearview camera, and automatic high-beams.
Nissan Versa went through a full redesign for 2020. This is the reason it includes a number of advanced driver-assistance features. This model year also comes with a nice interior and good safety scores. To make it even better, you can have it for a low price. Its two main drawbacks are its anemic engine and cramped back row.
2020 Toyota Yaris
Price: $15,650
This Toyota subcompact car comes standard with automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning in its low-speed pre-collision system. The system allows the car to automatically apply the brakes if it identifies an impending front-end collision at a speed below 18 mph, and the driver fails to hit the brake.
The 2020 Yaris is among the top 5 subcompact cars in 2020 thanks to its high predicted reliability ratings, engaging handling, and a stylish interior equipped with a myriad of tech features together with its safety suite.
2020 Kia Rio
Price: $17,190
Drivers who want to have automatic emergency braking in the 2020 Rio for the cheapest price will need to get the Rio S sedan model then add the S Technology package. The Rio S trim also comes with remoteless keyless entry, cruise control, 60/40 split folding rear seats, and a backseat USB port. Standard features on all trim levels include a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The 2020 Kia Rio is a stylish subcompact car equipped with intuitive tech, and motorists will definitely like how great it is gas mileage and in handling. The only big drawback is it’s missing some advanced driver-assistance systems that come standard or available in many of its rivals.
2020 Kia Forte
Price: $17,890
The entry-level 2020 Kia Forte comes standard with automatic emergency braking. Forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, driver attention and drowsiness monitoring, and a rear view camera are also included.
The 2020 Forte is the best compact car you can get for its price range. It offers lots of interior tech, good gas mileage numbers, a spacious trunk and roomy seats.
2021 Hyundai Venue
Price: $18,750
The 2021 Venue is generous in its standard advanced safety tech features which include automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, driver drowsiness monitoring, and a rearview camera. Additional available safety features include blindspot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert. You can get the automatic emergency braking even if you only go for the base trim, making it economically friendly.
Besides the removal of the manual transmission option, the 2021 model year does not have any mechanical updates since its 2020 debut. Going for 2021 Hyundai Venue will give you a vehicle with great gas mileage, plenty of intuitive infotainment tech alongside its advanced safety features and is easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Its weaknesses are weaker acceleration and less cargo space than rivals.
2020 Nissan Kicks – Best Automatic Braking Capabilities
Price: $18,870
The 2020 Nissan Kicks comes standard with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, rearview camera, rear cross traffic alert, rear cross traffic alert, high-beam assist, lane departure warning, blindspot monitoring, and pedestrian detection.
It is one of the best subcompact SUVs in terms of the value you’ll get for the price. On top of the standard suite of safety technologies, the 2020 Nissan Kicks has good fuel economy, one of the largest cargo spaces and a myriad of standard interior tech features. You’ll get all of that at a low starting price.
2021 Hyundai Veloster
Price: $18,900
Hyundai did not hold back in equipping the 2021 Hyundai Veloster with numerous driver-assistance features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, rearview camera, lane keep assist, drowsiness monitoring, and blindspot mirrors.
Aside from being rich in driver-assistance features, the Veloster is also a fun compact car to drive with generous trunk space, lots of tech niceties and supportive front seats. However, it fails to impress when it comes to fuel efficiency and the quality of the interior materials. The rear seat could be better with more space.
2020 Honda Fit
Price: $19,060
A collision mitigation braking system is included in the optional Honda Sensing safety suite bundle of advanced driver aids. To get these safety features along with lane keep assist, automatic high-beams, Honda LaneWatch, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and road departure mitigation, you will need to go for the Fit Ex model. The 2020 Fit Ex also offers plenty of infotainment tech, a moonroof, automatic transmission, and proximity keyless entry.
All in all, the 2020 Honda Fit is a great subcompact car, many car websites placed it on top of the ranking among hatchbacks, subcompact and small cars. It offers plenty of features considering its price tag.
2020 Nissan Sentra – Best Automatic Braking Capabilities
$19,090
The 2020 Nissan Sentra comes standard with forward and reverse automatic emergency braking which are included in the Nissan Safety Shield 360 bundle. Also included in the bundle are forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high-beams, and blind spot monitoring. Standard features also include a rearview camera, driver attention monitoring, and a rear-seat reminder.
The Sentra got a new design for 2020, and its contemporary interior style is part of the updates alongside a slew of standard active safety features. The downsides are many of its rivals have faster infotainment response times, more headroom in the rearseats and better engines.
2021 Volkswagen Jetta
$19,495
The base 2021 Volkswagen Jetta S can be coupled with automatic emergency braking and other driver-assistance tech through the addition of the Driver Assistance package which costs $500. All trim levels above the entry level trim offer automatic emergency braking as standard. Other standard features include a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, two USB ports, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and Bluetooth.
National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2021 Jetta a rating of 5 out of 5 overall safety score. The Jetta also provides intuitive tech and a smooth ride. But some rivals are more sporty and comfortable.
2021 Hyundai Accent
Price: $19,500
If you want to get automatic emergency braking, you’d need to go for the highest trim, the Limited model. Alongside the automatic emergency braking, the 2021 Accent Limited standard features include automatic climate control, collision warning, and Hyundai Blue Link, a feature allowing you to operate functions like starting your car from a smartphone app.
All in all, the Hyundai Accent is a decent subcompact car with intuitive tech features and spacious seating. However, you’d love to have more power in its 120-hp engine when accelerating, and it does not ride well over bumpy roads.
2021 Subaru Impreza – Best Automatic Braking Capabilities
Price: $20,095
To get the automatic emergency braking feature in the 2021 Subaru Impreza, you’ll need to go for a CVT since this addition includes Subaru EyeSight suite. The suite also includes lane keep assist, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lead vehicle start alert, and adaptive cruise control.
Despite doing poorly in its predicted reliability rating, has cheap-looking interior, and lackluster engine, the 2021 Subaru Impreza is still a good option for its great fuel economy, an airy cabin, standard all-wheel drive, and of course, it gives you automatic emergency braking at an affordable price.
2021 Kia Soul
Price: $20,590
If you want to get the automatic emergency braking, you’ll need to get the next trim to the base, the S trim. The 2021 Kia Soul S also comes with driver drowsiness monitoring, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane change assist, blindspot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and an upgraded cloth upholstery.
The Kia Soul was fully redesigned for 2020, and it is one of the best subcompact SUVs for 2020. The 2021 Soul is virtually the same as the 2020 model. Both offer comfortable and roomy seating, user-friendly tech and spacious cargo hold.
Which car has the best automatic braking system?
According to Consumer Reports, these brands have the best automatic system: Lexus, Genesis and Tesla. A Tesla driver stated that the automatic braking function helped him avoid one accident. A Genesis owner said that the automatic braking system of his car is very effective and always works.
Does automatic braking really work? – Best Automatic Braking Capabilities
Every car manufacturer now offers some type of automatic emergency braking system, but none states it’s a substitute for a driver remaining alert at the wheel. The technology is not sophisticated enough to detect and mitigate all potential types of impact. But it proves to add to the safety of a vehicle and is recommended by both the NHTSA and IIHS.
After studying and testing the automatic braking systems, AAA came up with the following findings:
- The systems made to fully stop the car decreased speeds by twice that of the systems that are designed to slow the car before impact.
- The systems made to just slow down the impact were able to avoid crashes entirely in about one-third of the cars tested.
- In testing of cars running at 45 mph going toward a parked car, the systems made to stop entirely decreased speeds by 74 percent, and successfully stopped 40 percent of the time. The systems made to reduce crash damage were only able to decrease speed by 9 percent.
The AAA study indicates that in most cases the automatic emergency braking technology still has lots to improve. This is why you cannot depend entirely on the systems. You can say that the perfect combination available today is automatic emergency braking paired with forward collision warning.
Forward collision warning alerts you loudly when you’re approaching a fixed object or coming up on something too quickly. Some of these alerts also throw a red light on the windshield which will make you hit the brakes hard.
Automatic braking still is a big help. In a study conducted by the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center, it is found that when running under 30 mph, a speed reduction of 10 mph will decrease the crash impact energy by 50 percent, and that is significant for drivers who are driving in town and also in stop and go traffic. This will prevent injuries and reduce collision expenses.
Until completely autonomous cars are invented, there won’t be a substitute for paying full attention on the road when driving. Nonetheless, automatic braking systems work in situations when a split second or a few feet make all the difference.
Perfecting systems such as the automatic emergency braking is meant to make us one step closer to autonomous driving. This is also true with adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist which puts the driver back in the right lane. Adaptive cruise control is also a huge step toward autonomous cars. This system keeps the driver the same distance from the car in front. If the vehicle in front slows down, brakes are applied. If it speeds up, your car will speed up to the predetermined speed you set up.
Conclusion
No longer do automatic braking capabilities reserved to the more expensive vehicles. There are plenty of cheap cars that have the best automatic braking capabilities. While not all AEB (automatic emergency braking) systems are made the same, all of them can help make driving safer. It is important to keep mind though that AEB is not a substitute to staying alert behind the wheel.