How Does Honda Sensing Work?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Almost every new car on the market today comes standard with a host of safety and driver-assist features. If you currently own – or are planning to buy – a new or slightly used Honda, then you have probably heard the term “Honda Sensing.” But what is Honda Sensing and how does it work?

What is Honda Sensing?

2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid | Honda

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According to Honda, Honda Sensing is an “exclusive intelligent suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies designed to alert of things you might miss while driving.” Basically, the system is comprised of a few different cameras and sensors to keep your car within the lanes, the speed you set it at, and prevent it from running into other objects or pedestrians.

However, there are many different features that make up the whole suite, which could be a little confusing to some Honda owners and prospective buyers. As such, here is an explanation of each feature that you’ll find on every new Honda equipped with the Honda Sensing suite.

Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow

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Adaptive cruise control is a lot like normal cruise control in the sense that it allows the driver to set the desired speed for their commute. The “adaptive” part of the feature means that the driver can set the distance between their car and the car in front of them. By doing this, the system will maintain a safe following distance relative to the speed the car in front is traveling.

“Low-Speed Follow” applies when the traffic ahead slows down to a crawl. In stop-and-go traffic, the low-speed follow system will apply the brake and accelerate the car automatically so that driver no longer needs to do the “traffic dance” (stop and go) during heavy commutes.

Road Departure Mitigation

The Road Departure Mitigation feature recognizes if your car is about to leave the road. The system uses a camera to identify the lane markers in the road and will warn the driver if the car is traveling outside of them. When that happens, the system will apply steering and brake force, if necessary, to keep the car in line.

Collision Mitigation Braking System

The Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) scans the road ahead while you drive and will alert the driver audibly and visibly if it determines that there could be a potential crash. If needed, the system will apply some brake pressure for assistance with stopping.  

Forward Collision Warning

This system gives the driver and audible and visual warning when it detects any obstacles ahead that the car can crash into.

Traffic Sign Recognition

Using a camera in the windshield area, the Honda Sensing suite will detect the speed limit on the road that you’re traveling on. This feature is especially handy when you’re driving on a road where the posted speed limit is not so obvious.

Cross Traffic Monitoring

When you put the car into reverse, the Honda Sensing system will detect whether a car or pedestrian is approaching on either side of the car. In the event that anything does approach, the system will audibly and visually warn the driver on the touchscreen display. This feature is available on select Honda models only.

Honda Sensing is not a substitute for driving

While all of the features in the Honda Sensing suite are put in place to assist drivers in their everyday commutes, they are not a substitute for actual driving. Also, certain features in the Honda Sensing suite may not function properly during heavy rainfall or snow. Check your car’s owner’s manual for more details.

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The BMW Feature Fit for Star Trek

by Gabrielle DeSantis

BMW filed a new patent in the European Patent Office detailing new technology for virtual wing mirrors. BMW’s concept i8 used virtual technology and the U.K.’s Honda e and Audi e-tron have virtual mirrors. How is BMW’s new virtual mirror patent different?

BMW i8 | BMW

How would BMW’s new virtual wing mirror patent technology work? 

Right now most cars have standard side mirrors on the sides of cars, and a few cutting-edge cars have camera-based systems. These generally transmit a camera view onto a screen inside of the car. BMW’s new virtual mirror patent will be quite different, a combination of the two. 

BMW’s new patent shows technology that will use cameras to capture images that wing mirrors typically show. Then, instead of displaying that image onto a screen, it will be transmitted onto virtual wing mirrors. 

Virtual wing mirrors will be embedded into the glass of the front side windows, similar to where wing mirrors usually are. This will mean drivers won’t have to adjust to a new placement when checking their wing mirrors. 

The new virtual wing mirrors could use electromagnetic radiation to transmit the pictures onto semi-transparent mirrors. Don’t worry about rolling down the windows and losing your virtual wing mirrors; they stay put, even when the windows are open. 

What are the benefits of virtual wing mirrors?

New cars, especially electric ones, are all about being sleek and aerodynamic. After all, the distance you can travel before recharging depends on it. Virtual wing mirrors will cut down on the amount of drag in new BMW’s, thereby increasing range. 

BMW’s new patent shows that the virtual wing mirrors can be used in other ways, too. They’ll be able to help you park, and relay the speed of passing cars to make it easier for you to change lanes (or not). 

This isn’t the first time that BMW has teased the public with virtual mirror technology. Their 2016 concept i8 used side cameras to send images of the road to a center screen inside the car. It also used a screen instead of the traditional rear view interior mirror. 

Both the UK versions of the Honda E and the Audi e-tron currently have their own versions of virtual wing mirrors

Virtual wing mirror technology isn’t currently legal in the U.S. It is, however, legal in the U.K. and other countries. This means that we’ve had a chance to see how it works, and it seems pretty good. 

The U.K. version of the Audi e-tron currently uses video to capture images of the road. It then transmits those images onto OLED screens inside of the car. 

While this mirror technology is certainly new and kind of cool, it can be an adjustment for drivers. The screen is in the center of the car, meaning that drivers used to looking to traditional wing mirrors will have to get used to looking inward, at the center of the car.

The Honda e also uses camera-based mirrors. The Honda e’s side mirror system uses two six-inch screens on either side of the dashboard. 

When will BMW’s new virtual mirror patent become reality?

Well, that’s the tricky part. Although BMW has filed the patent, it doesn’t mean that they will definitely institute this virtual mirror technology. Even if BMW does decide to move forward with this technology, there’s no word on when we can expect to see virtual side mirrors (or if they’ll be allowed in the U.S.). 

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2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime vs. 2021 Ford Escape PHEV: Battle of the Plug-Ins

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The popularity of both hybrids and crossovers alike has grown tremendously over the past decades. Put together, the two categories make up a significant chunk of market sales in the U.S. Now, it’s time to look at two of the most popular offerings in the hybrid crossover segment: the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime and the 2021 Ford Escape PHEV. Both are strong contenders, but only one is the better buy, and it’s time to find out which one takes the crown.

2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime: fast enough?

2021 RAV4 Prime | Toyota

In some ways, the RAV4 Prime is faster than the Japanese brand’s own sports car, the Supra. It’s also got more luggage space, better fuel economy, and more mass appeal. The crossover’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder motor offers an astonishing 302 hp mated to two electric motors that help contribute to that number. The RAV also boasts standard all-wheel-drive, making it easily the quickest RAV4 you can buy, according to Toyota.

But it’s not all speed with this one. The Prime is arguably the best-specced version of the RAV4, options can include leatherette seats, Android Auto and Apple Carplay, as well as radar cruise. All that in a package as handsome as the RAV makes it quite the contender. Add to that its impressive 90 mpg-e, and the Ford has its work cut out for it.

2021 Escape Plug-In Hybrid: a real looker

A red Ford Escape on a wet and woody back road
2021 Escape | Ford

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The Escape isn’t off to a great start, however. Power is down on the RAV, with the little blue oval-bearing crossover making 221 hp with the help of its electric motors. Ford’s Escape is sure to feel a little sluggish compared to the RAV in that regard. If all-wheel-drive is a must, the Escape won’t be your choice. All 221 hp goes straight to the front wheels through an automatic transmission.

The Escape does have an interior that is at least on par with the RAV in most regards and boasts some of the same options as its competitor, including smartphone integration. Unfortunately, the Escape doesn’t quite match the RAV4 Prime on MPG either, with a combined 44 MPG. It does however hang with the Japanese crossover in terms of pure-electric range, coming in a mere 9 miles short of the RAV4, according to Ford. Happily, charging won’t be too much of an issue with either model, with EV charging infrastructure improving. At the top end, the Escape will charge up in around 3.5 hours, and beats the Toyota there, as the manufacturer has not released charge times for the RAV4 Prime yet.

Who comes out on top?

A dark blue Toyota RAV4 prime shot at front 3/4 view with buildings in the background.
2021 RAV4 Prime | Toyota

There’s a clear winner here, and it’s the Toyota in just about every measurable metric. While the Escape wins out on price, starting at around $33,000, the RAV offers more for its base price of $38,000. More really is the name of the game here, with the RAV4 offering better economy, space, and options for just a touch more cash. Regardless of price, both are solid picks that should slot well into everyday life, all without breaking the bank. Whether Ford is able to hit back next year remains to be seen, but the American manufacturer has some serious ground to cover against its competitor.

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The 2022 Bentley Bentayga S Is Peak SUV

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It seems even the wealthy can’t escape the sporty SUV trend. Until very recently, if you wanted a more sporting feel from the Bentley Bentayga, the Bentayga Speed was really your only option. Not that it was a bad one, mind you. A twin-turbo W12 is never a bad thing. Now, there are some slight tweaks to the Speed that deserve a new badge. Meet the Bentley Bentayga S.

Making changes

2021 Bentayga S | Bentley

Now, if a sportier feel is what you’re after, the S is happy to oblige. Equipped with a twin-turbo V8 making a massive 542 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque, the Bentayga S still moves all four wheels through an eight-speed auto gearbox. It’s a pretty potent unit, and the transmission doesn’t make itself known unless you should so desire. So, effectively what we have here is a Bentayga Speed “lite”.

Though the British brand’s SUV is portly, with some units crossing the 5,000 pound mark, the V8 will save a little weight over the W12. Under most driving conditions, it’ll be hard to notice nearly 100 hp difference. However, there are some changes that will help liven the Bentley up under… less than ordinary driving conditions. Most of these changes are reflected in the chassis and suspension, and should help to keep the massive weight of the Bentayga under control.

Bentley speeds things up

The Bentley winged badge on the nose of one of their cars
The winged badge on the Bentayga | Harold Cunningham via Getty Images

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The new Bentayga S gets some stiffer dampers to help in that regard. 15% stiffer, as a matter of fact, according to Bentley. Very unbecoming of a brand synonymous with luxury. Of course, luxury isn’t all the Crewe-based automaker can do. Several of their race cars have won events like Le Mans and Bathurst numerous times. According to the British Marque, the demand was there for a sportier feeling SUV.

That’s a strange thing to some, however. Why make a large, comfy, family-hauler with a truly mammoth curb weight into a sports car? Well, the market wants what the market wants. Apparently, the market also wants everyone to know they own the S version of the large SUV. Black badging and trim adorn the exterior as well as interior, and the exterior lights get a darker treatment too. Special 22-inch wheels aren’t just for tricked-out Escalades anymore, and Bentley has their choice on offer for the S as well.

Is the Bentayga S all you really need?

The interior of the Bentayga S in red and black leather
2021 Bentayga S | Bentley

While pricing for the new S trim hasn’t been announced yet, it can be expected to fall in under the W12-equipped Bentayga Speed, which would put it right around $200,000. A lot of money to be sure, and for it the Bentayga had better be good at everything. With suspension technology these days being as good as it is, it’s hard to imagine the big SUV won’t turn after Bentley is done with it. So, the new Bentayga S will shoot you down a road faster than most cars, do the grocery shopping, and coddle you in leather and alcantara. Not such a bad all-rounder, is it?

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