10 Least Expensive Cars With Forward-Collision Warning

2019 Hyundai Accent ・ Photo by Hyundai

We’d all like to have a warning before something bad happens to us. That is certainly true in our personal lives and in our careers. It is equally true when we get behind the wheels of our cars. They say "forewarned is forearmed," and when you are driving, that can be the difference between life and death.

The good news is that these days our cars can be equipped with technology that will warn us of imminent danger — things like a potential collision with another vehicle or object that is in front of us. Collisions like that are very common, so carmakers have begun to offer what are typically called forward-collision warnings on a wide variety of their vehicles, including some of the most inexpensive available in the United States. On many vehicles, the forward-collision warning is not standard equipment but is available as part of an up-level trim level and/or optional package. Here are the least expensive cars that have a forward-collision warning.

2020 Toyota Yaris

If you seek high quality, great reliability, excellent fuel economy, and a low price, the 2020 Toyota Yaris might be just the car for you. The subcompact car offers features usually found on larger, more expensive vehicles.

This trend in the small-car segment means that these models aren’t forbidding “penalty boxes,” but are instead very accommodating cars. In fact, subcompacts aren’t as small as they used to be either. As an example of how things have changed, the standard infotainment in the Yaris has a sizable 7-inch display and is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On the safety front, the Yaris offers what Toyota calls a Low-Speed Pre-Collision System. If the system determines that a frontal collision is a strong possibility, it will alert the driver to apply the brakes with audio and visual warnings. It may also help the driver apply more force to the brakes with Brake Assist.

Photo by Toyota

2020 Nissan Versa

When it came time to redesign the Nissan Versa for 2020, the product planners and engineers endowed it with the features found on many larger cars. Among the standard convenience features are front and rear power windows, speed-sensing automatic door locks, cruise control, and remote keyless entry.

Beyond those standard features is the availability of Nissan Safety Shield 360 that helps provide front, side, and rear safety monitoring and intervention technologies. One of the key technologies is automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a very sophisticated system that includes a forward-collision warning. The system also scans for pedestrians and can provide automatic braking if its warnings go unheeded. With rear automatic braking and a lane-departure warning, Nissan Safety Shield 360 is available on the Versa's SV and SR trim levels.

Photo by Nissan

2020 Kia Rio

It is rare that an engine is replaced by a lower-horsepower new engine, but that is the case in the 2020 Kia Rio. Still, Kia had a good reason to make the change. The all-new Gamma 2 1.6-liter multipoint-injection four-cylinder engine that replaces the Gamma 1.6-liter direct-injection four-cylinder is more fuel-efficient as is the iVT continuously variable transmission that replaces the six-speed conventional automatic. Buyers will never miss the horsepower because the car’s drivability and performance is so good.

Among the Rio's interior features is a 7-inch color touchscreen infotainment system that is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. On the safety front, forward collision avoidance is optional on the Rio’s S trim level. The safety system warns the driver if a collision is imminent, and it activates the vehicle’s brakes if it detects additional risk factors.

Photo by Kia

2020 Chevrolet Spark

Popular the world over under a wide variety of nameplates, the 2020 Chevrolet Spark minicar is a segment leader. It is marketed in 131 countries and has enjoyed global sales of more than 2.67 million vehicles. Even in the midst of an era of low gasoline prices, Chevrolet decided to keep the Spark in its lineup because it can be filled with features. Air conditioning and split-folding rear seat are standard, and heated seats and power sunroof are available — not what you’d expect in a minicar.

A forward-collision warning is not offered across the board on the Spark, but the 2LT trim level has an optional Driver Confidence Package that includes it alongside automatic emergency braking and a lane-departure warning. The system warns of an impending frontal collision and applies the brakes when required to avert or mitigate a crash.

Photo by Chevrolet

2020 Kia Forte

The Kia Forte compact sedan has two new sport trims for 2020: GT Line and GT. Buyers have the choice of two engines: a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that delivers 147 horsepower and a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that delivers 201 horsepower.

When it comes to driving safety, the Forte is equipped with an impressive array of technologies, including both a forward-collision warning and forward-collision avoidance assist. If the system determines the vehicle could collide with a vehicle or obstacle, the system warns the driver with visual and audible alarms. If the driver does not respond to the warnings in a timely fashion, the system will take over control of the vehicle’s braking. The collision avoidance assist also could prevent the Forte from colliding with other vehicles that are approaching from the opposite direction and may intrude into the Forte’s lane.

Photo by Kia

2020 Chevrolet Sonic

Chevrolet has said a not-so-fond goodbye to many of its car models, but it has hung on to the Sonic small car. Because the Sonic is a winner elsewhere, keeping it around makes sense, especially because it can be tailored to meet American tastes.

One way to do that is to add features Americans like. For example, the Sonic offers a Wi-Fi hotspot, keyless entry, LED running lights, and split-folding rear seats. The Sonic’s infotainment system includes a 7-inch touchscreen and includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability. Standard safety items include 10 airbags and a backup camera. The Sonic is one of those increasingly rare vehicles that offers a forward-forward collision warning but not automatic emergency braking. An available “driver confidence package” bundles the forward-collision warning with a lane-departure warning and rear parking sensors.

Photo by Chevrolet

2020 Honda Fit

The 2020 Honda Fit is one of the most well-regarded and popular subcompacts in the market. Under the short hood is an economical 1.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine that produces 130 horsepower. Those of the old school can specify a six-speed manual transmission (standard in the LX and Sport trim levels).

If you prefer to have the car shift for itself, a continuously variable transmission is available on those trims and standard on the EX and EX-L — also the models that offer the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist features. Of particular interest here is the collision-mitigation braking system that combines the functions of a forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking. When it calculates a collision is possible, it produces audible and visual warnings to the driver to slow down. In the absence of the driver taking that advice, it then begins to manipulate the brakes, first to prompt the driver to act and then to stop the car automatically.

Photo by Honda

2020 Nissan Sentra

The Nissan Sentra compact sedan has undergone a complete makeover for the 2020 model year, and now it looks more like a mid-size car than ever. A new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivers 149 horsepower, much more than before, giving the car added friskiness. The new Xtronic continuously variable transmission has a D-mode step shift program that simulates conventional automatic gear shifts, delivering friskiness of its own.

As you’ve heard by now, the Nissan Safety Shield 360 includes an impressive array of standard safety and driver-assistance technology. The system looks for dicey situations involving another vehicle or a pedestrian and helps out with a series of actions. First, the driver is warned about and impeding problem. After that, the car starts to take action on its own.

Photo by Nissan

2020 Hyundai Elantra

For 2020 a new "intelligent variable transmission," Hyundai’s version of the increasingly popular continuously variable automatic transmission, has been added to the Elantra compact car. Improved fuel economy is a direct result, and the IVT isn’t nearly as irritating as some continuously variable transmissions.

Also for 2020, Hyundai added forward-collision avoidance assistance across the Elantra lineup. Using various sensors, the system eyeballs the traffic ahead looking for problems. If it senses one, it first warns the driver if a collision might occur. Should the driver fail to respond to that good advice, the system will begin braking the vehicle and can bring it to a full stop.

Photo by Hyundai

2020 Hyundai Accent

Although it's smaller, the 2020 Hyundai Accent subcompact sedan with the brand’s forward collision avoidance assist could be marginally more expensive than the Elantra compact with the same system.

The Accent is powered by a 120-horsepower, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine backed by a six-speed manual transmission or a new CVT automatic transmission. One reason that the prices of the Accent and Elantra are so close when equipped with a forward-collision warning is the fact that the system is only offered on the Accent’s up-level Limited trim that includes several other luxury items. The Accent's forward collision avoidance assist operates in much the same way as the Elantra's: As a first step, it emits warnings to the driver, then it applies the brakes if necessary.

Photo by Hyundai