Electric and hybrid vehicles are getting smarter—and safer. While most modern cars offer basic safety assist features like backup cameras and lane departure warnings, some EVs and hybrids go above and beyond.
Automakers like Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, and Ford are packing their electric and hybrid models with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) designed to make everyday driving less stressful and potentially life-saving.
Here’s a look at some of the most effective safety assist features available right now—and the vehicles that offer them.
Forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection
This has quickly become a must-have feature in modern cars. It uses cameras and radar to detect vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists in front of the car and can automatically apply the brakes if the driver doesn’t respond in time.
Kia’s EV6 and Niro EV both include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) as standard. Higher trims even recognize oncoming vehicles while turning at intersections—something not all systems do.
Toyota’s Prius Prime plug-in hybrid also offers a similar system as part of its Toyota Safety Sense package. In real-world situations, these systems have helped drivers avoid accidents or at least reduce the severity of impacts.
Blind-spot view monitor and rear cross-traffic alert
Blind spots are tricky for any driver, but EVs and hybrids—especially crossovers—can have slightly more limited rear visibility due to battery placements or design tweaks.
Kia’s Sorento Plug-in Hybrid and the larger EV9 electric SUV offer a Blind-Spot View Monitor that shows a live video feed in the instrument cluster when you signal to change lanes. It’s a surprisingly helpful feature, especially in fast-moving highway traffic.
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist is another smart add-on that’s standard on many Kia models. It’s particularly useful when backing out of parking spaces with limited side visibility.
Highway driving assist and smart cruise control
Semi-autonomous driving is no longer futuristic. Kia’s Highway Driving Assist 2, found in models like the EV6 and EV9, blends adaptive cruise control with lane centering. It keeps the car at a set speed and distance from the vehicle ahead, while also helping with gentle steering adjustments to keep you centered in your lane.
Hyundai (Kia’s corporate sibling) and Genesis offer similar systems, but Kia’s version is considered one of the most intuitive in its segment.
Ford’s Mustang Mach-E takes this further with BlueCruise, which allows for hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways. While not fully autonomous, it’s about as close as you can get without giving up control.
Safe exit assist
This underrated feature is especially handy for families. It alerts occupants if they try to open a door into oncoming traffic—like a cyclist or approaching vehicle.
Kia’s Niro EV and EV9 offer Safe Exit Assist on select trims. Hyundai, Genesis, and even some Audi models are starting to include similar systems, showing that this kind of situational awareness tech is catching on.
Surround-view and parking assist
Parking can be nerve-wracking, especially in tight urban spots or crowded lots. Several EVs now offer 360-degree surround-view monitors, which stitch together a bird’s-eye image from multiple cameras around the car. Tesla gets a lot of attention for its Autopark feature, but Kia, BMW, and Hyundai are catching up fast in terms of precision and reliability.
Kia’s EV9, for example, offers Remote Smart Parking Assist, which can maneuver the vehicle into or out of a space without you in it. Just press a button on the key fob and watch it inch in or out.
If you’re shopping for an electric or hybrid vehicle in 2025, it’s not just about range or price anymore. Safety tech can make a big difference in how confident and comfortable you feel behind the wheel.
Before you buy, explore all the options and trim levels to make sure you’re getting the safety features you want most.
This article was created by Skyline Studio, the in-house creative agency for Southern California News Group and The San Diego Union-Tribune. The editorial department of SCNG and the U-T had no role in this post’s preparation.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Smart safety tech: Top features available in electric and hybrid vehicles )
Also on site :
- Watch Live: American Cardinal Robert Provost chosen as new pope
- Former Pomona police officers acquitted in brutality case settle lawsuit against city for $2.5 million
- White smoke appears over Sistine Chapel as Conclave elects new Pope