What cars have brake assist? This is a question you may be asking if you are planning to purchase a new car or if you are simply looking at buying a used car with a Brake Assist feature. Before answering this question it is important that you are aware of what the meaning of brake assist is and what it does for your car.
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Top Cars With Automatic Emergency Braking in 2021
- 2021 Honda Civic.
- 2021 Hyundai Palisade.
- 2021 Honda Accord.
- 2021 Mazda CX-5.
- 2021 Mazda3.
- 2021 Audi A4 Allroad.
- 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe.
- 2021 Ford Expedition.
What is Brake Assist?
A brake assist system in your car is specifically designed to help avoid accidents and to minimize damage to your vehicle. It works by applying the breaks automatically during a sudden stop as well as helping the driver regain control of the car. It applies the breaks at the precise moment when the driver’s foot strikes the accelerator. This means that not only can it help avoid accidents, but it can also help minimize damage to your vehicle and can even help save your life in the event of an accident.
How Does a Brake Assist Work?
To explain exactly what brake assist is, it is important to look at what it does. In short, emergency braking is provided by your car’s emergency brake assist system – which consists of two separate systems. The first system is the emergency braking system which provides the breaks while the second system helps to maintain the vehicle’s braking power so that it does not become stuck in slow-speed traffic.
Types of Brake Assists
There are many types of brake assist available in the market today but there are 3 most common types. Firstly, emergency braking and emergency stop are two separate systems – emergency braking is the exclusive use of your car’s emergency system, and the second system is the antilock system. The main difference between brake assist and anti-lock brakes (ABS) is that ABS can prevent skidding, whereas brake assist cannot. The third common brake assist is the city-brake active system.
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
The emergency brake assist simply applies the breaks at the exact time when the driver’s foot hits the accelerator.
According to the reports from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10 car manufacturers had most of 2018 vehicles equipped with AEB. How it works is that in the worst-case scenario when you need to stop quickly, like a car coming out of nowhere or if there is an accident ahead. Emergency braking will activate and automatically break your vehicle so it can come quickly to a halt.
In fact, many automakers produce their makes and models in a way that the antilock system works in conjunction with the emergency brake assist.
Anti-lock Brakes
The antilock system can sense any possible blockages and apply the breaks simultaneously or can sense another problem, such as a slow-moving vehicle in front of you, and apply the brake at a later time. This means that you do not need to apply both brakes at the same time.
With anti-lock brakes when there is no input from the driver’s foot on breaking, an electronic system kicks in that automatically applies pressure to all four wheels.
Most modern cars are equipped with ABS.
City-brake Active System
City brake active system is the one that brakes your vehicle when traveling at a speed from 40-60km/h. For example, when you’re at an intersection and the light turns yellow, but you don’t want to move yet because of traffic from other directions, this system will brake your car for you in order to avoid any collisions.
So, what cars have a city-brake active system? The most popular cars with this system include some models of Honda cars such as the Prelude, Civic, CRX, Civic Type R, and Civic Si. Most Toyota and Mazda cars also have some form of city brake assist. Mercedes-Benz cars generally come with an extra stick on their steering wheel for emergency stops. In addition to these three examples, other types of vehicles that have this type of safety device are: BMW, Ford, and Mercedes.
What to Do When Car is in Stuck Braking Problem
If your car does not have an automatic emergency stop feature, then what do you have to do in the event of a stuck braking problem?
If you are stuck, the first thing to do is to try to break loose of the wheel and pull to the right (or left) to free the brakes.
Steering should be turned to the side. Once you have freed the brakes, make sure that you push the pedal downwards while you are pulling the brake handle downwards.
This is necessary because if you are going to go straight ahead, which is the most likely direction you will end up breaking loose of the wheel and losing control of the car, then you would use the brake pedal in order to break loose of the wheel and stop the car. In the case of the Civic Type R, you would use the brake pedal in order to steer the Civic towards the right and stop the car there.
Final Words
Knowing what cars have brake assist will help you decide your next car. It’s important to know that not all cars come with this feature, so it could be something vital for somebody looking for a new vehicle and who needs the extra safety from accidents in intersections or oncoming traffic while driving on an incline.
Further Reading:
- ECE R-90 regulation for brake discs and brake drums: A standard for more safety
- Global Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) Markets, 2020-2024 by Vehicle Type
Hey, Naomi O’Colman here.
With years working at an auto repair shop in Texas and passionate about the auto industry. I want to share with my readers the best quality products through my well-researched reviews as well as fixing minor defects in your car.
