We’ve compiled a list of Japanese cars released as of 2024 that are equipped with “Parking Assist.” Have you heard of “Parking Assist,” a feature that assists your car when parking? Recently, various companies have begun equipping cars with futuristic features such as “autonomous driving” and “radar cruise control,” which maintains a constant speed, but now we’re entering an era where cars can assist with parking. However, only a very small number of cars are equipped with this feature, and operation methods vary depending on the model, so we’ve compiled a list of what exactly it is.
About Toyota’s Parking Assist
Parking assist is a function that assists the car when parking. Toyota has five assist functions: “Simple Intelligent Parking Assist,” “Intelligent Parking Assist,” “Intelligent Parking Assist 2,” and “Smart Panorama Parking Assist,” which assist with steering, and “Advanced Park,” which controls steering, accelerator, and brake operations .
Smart Panorama Parking Assist
When parking, the system detects white line frames and provides voice and on-screen guidance, as well as steering assistance.
Intelligent Parking Assist
The vehicle is also equipped with a function that automatically corrects the target parking position, allowing the driver to park accurately near the center of the parking space simply by checking for safety around the vehicle and adjusting speed by braking.
Simple Intelligent Parking Assist
Using ultrasonic sensors, the system detects surrounding obstacles and determines the parking space. When you press the switch, the system guides the vehicle to the reverse start position and assists with steering operations for reverse.
Intelligent Parking Assist 2
The system uses ultrasonic sensors and cameras to detect space, and with the push of a switch, it automatically guides the vehicle to the appropriate starting position for reversing and assists with steering.
Advanced Park
Using cameras and sonar, the system controls steering, acceleration, and braking , monitors the surroundings, and assists with parking operations until the vehicle is completely parked.
After parking next to the space you want to park in, press the Advanced Park switch to confirm the parking position. Then, when you press the Start switch, the system will monitor your surroundings and assist with steering, acceleration, and braking to complete the parking position (shift operation is manual). In addition to parallel parking, exiting, and perpendicular parking in parking lots separated by lines, by registering your parking position in advance, it can also assist with parking in parking lots without lines or in environments with no adjacent vehicles.
Vehicle models
| Car model name | function |
|---|---|
| Aqua July 19, 2021 |
Advanced Park (with shift control) |
| Yaris | Advanced Park (no shift control) |
| Prius January 10, 2023 |
Advanced Park (no shift control) |
| Prius PHV March 15, 2023 |
Advanced Park (no shift control) |
| Rise | Smart Panorama Parking Assist |
| Yaris Cross | Advanced Park (no shift control) |
| MIRAI December 9, 2020 |
Advanced Park (with shift control) |
| Voxy January 13, 2022 |
Advanced Park (with shift control) |
| Noah January 13, 2022 |
Advanced Park (with shift control) |
| Alphard June 21, 2023 |
Advanced Park (with shift control) |
| VellfireJune 21, 2023 |
Advanced Park (with shift control) |
| Century (SUV) |
Advanced Park (with shift control) |
I previously owned a fourth-generation Prius, which had the Simple Intelligent Parking Assist feature , which can assist with steering, and I have used it several times.
Lexus Parking Assist
Advanced Park
Using cameras and sonar, the system controls steering, acceleration, and braking , monitors the surroundings, and assists with parking operations until the vehicle is completely parked.
After parking next to the space you want to park in, press the Advanced Park switch to confirm the parking position. Then, when you press the Start switch, the system will monitor your surroundings and assist with steering, acceleration, and braking to complete the parking position (shift operation is manual). In addition to parallel parking, exiting, and perpendicular parking in parking lots separated by lines, by registering your parking position in advance, it can also assist with parking in parking lots without lines or in environments with no adjacent vehicles.
Vehicle models
| Car model name | function |
|---|---|
| LEXUS LS | Advanced Park (with remote function) |
| LEXUS LM | Advanced Park (with remote function) |
| LEXUS RZ | Advanced Park (with remote function) |
| LEXUS RX | Advanced Park (with remote function) |
| LEXUS NX | Advanced Park (with remote function) |
| LEXUS LBX | Advanced Park (with remote function) |
About Honda’s Parking Assist
Honda’s parking assist system uses the “Smart Parking Assist System” to assist with steering.
Smart Parking Assist System
This function assists with steering when parking. When backing into a parking space or parallel parking, the steering wheel automatically turns, guiding the vehicle into the white lines of the parking space. While steering is automatic whether backing into a parking space or parallel parking, the driver is responsible for shifting gears when going forward or backward, and for operating the brakes and accelerator.
Vehicle models
Nissan Parking Assist
Nissan has two assist functions: “Intelligent Parking Assist” which assists with steering operations, and “ProPilot Parking” which controls steering, acceleration, braking and shifting operations .
Intelligent Parking Assist
The system automatically handles steering when parking, allowing the driver to concentrate on operating the accelerator and brakes and checking the surrounding area for safety.
ProPilot Parking
With just three steps, the system automatically controls the steering, acceleration, braking, shifting, and even the parking brake, assisting the driver until the car is completely parked.
Vehicle models
| Car model name | function |
|---|---|
| X-Trail | ProPilot Parking |
| Aria | ProPilot Parking (with remote function) |
| SAKURA | ProPilot Parking |
| Serena | ProPilot Parking (with remote function) |
| Leaf | ProPilot Parking |
About Daihatsu’s Parking Assist
Daihatsu uses “Smart Panorama Parking Assist” to assist with steering.
Smart Panorama Parking Assist
This function uses panoramic monitor cameras attached to the front, rear, left and right sides of the car to recognize parking spaces and assist with parking. The driver presses a button to activate the system, and then follows the car’s instructions to operate the navigation screen. Once the steering wheel starts moving, the system completes parking by operating only the accelerator and brake.
Vehicle models
| Car model name | function |
|---|---|
| Tanto and Tanto Custom | Smart Panorama Parking Assist |
| Taft | Smart Panorama Parking Assist |
| Rocky | Smart Panorama Parking Assist |
| Move Canvas July 13, 2022 |
Smart Panorama Parking Assist |
Subaru’s Parking Assist
Daihatsu uses “Smart Panorama Parking Assist” to assist with steering.
Smart Panorama Parking Assist
This function uses panoramic monitor cameras attached to the front, rear, left and right sides of the car to recognize parking spaces and assist with parking. The driver presses a button to activate the system, and then follows the car’s instructions to operate the navigation screen. Once the steering wheel starts moving, the system completes parking by operating only the accelerator and brake.
Vehicle models
Mitsubishi Parking Assist
Mitsubishi has an assist function called “My Pilot Parking” that controls steering, acceleration, braking, and shifting operations .
My Pilot Parking
With just three steps, the system automatically controls the steering, acceleration, braking, shifting, and even the parking brake, assisting the driver until the car is completely parked.
Vehicle models
| Car model name | function |
|---|---|
| ek Cross EV | My Pilot Parking |
Parking Assist Summary
Among Japanese cars, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, and Daihatsu have adopted this system, but Mazda and Suzuki do not. Parking can be frightening and stressful for many people who aren’t good at driving, but Toyota’s “Advice Park” and Nissan’s “ProPilot Parking,” which handle both steering and accelerator operations, are extremely reassuring features. Furthermore, several Toyota, Lexus, and Nissan models are also capable of remote parking . Hopefully, the accuracy of this system will continue to improve.
