10 Cars with a Surround View Camera

2018 Genesis G90 surroundview camera and nav ・ Photo by Genesis

The surround view camera is one of the most useful new features we’ve come across in a long time. Using an array of cameras around the car (generally mounted in the front bumper, side-view mirrors, and trunk or tailgate), the surround view camera can stitch together a top-down bird’s-eye view of the car, which is a boon for parking. With a surround-view camera, you can avoid those all-too-common curb scrapes, easily maneuver around posts and pillars, and easily squeeze your car into tight parking spaces. Several cars offer surround view cameras, and here are 10 which we are particularly fond of.

2018 Acura MDX

Acura positions themselves as a tech-savvy brand, and there’s certainly no shortage of nifty technology in their big MDX SUV. We’re big fans of the MDX’s torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive, which does a better (and faster) job of detecting slipping wheels and sending power to the tires that are gripping the road. And the MDX Sport Hybrid, which uses a gas-electric hybrid powertrain derived from the NSX sports car, makes our inner geek stand at attention. Since it’s on this list, it’s pretty obvious that the MDX’s tech includes a surround-view camera, which makes parking this high-tech wonder a breeze.

Photo by Acura

2018 BMW 7-Series

The 7-Series is BMW’s flagship, and it can be ordered with seemingly every tech feature you need, and a few you probably don’t. (Night vision camera, anyone?) One of the technology features you will definitely need is the surround-view camera, which is a very helpful thing to have in a car this large. Not sure if you can fit into that tight parking spot? The surround view camera will help guide you in, and (more importantly) help you keep a safe distance from the curb so you won’t scratch those very-expensive wheels. Of course, there’s an easier way: the 7’s optional Parking Assistant Plus system will steer the car into a tight spot for you.

Photo by BMW

2018 Genesis G90

Genesis is the newest player in the luxury field, a new luxury spinoff brand from South Korean automaker Hyundai. The G90 (formerly known as the Hyundai Equus) is their top-of-the-line model, and it’s a heck of a bargain compared to traditional German luxury cars, especially when you consider its beautifully-outfitted leather-lined interior. Where the G90 trails its high-end competition is in tech features, but the G90 does come with a comprehensive suite of cameras with a surround-view mode. This is a big help when parking a car this large, and since the G90 doesn’t offer a self-parking system like its competitors do, it really comes in handy.

Photo by Genesis

2018 Infiniti QX30

Infiniti was the first brand to introduce the 360-degree camera when they debuted the “Around View Monitor” on the 2008 Infiniti EX. Today, the surround-view camera can be found on most of their vehicles, even the QX30, their newest and smallest SUV. Do you really need a top-down camera view on a vehicle this small? We think so. All it takes is one little scrape of the curb to damage those very-expensive wheels, and the “eye in the sky” view helps prevent that. And let’s not forget one of the advantages of a small SUV, which is the ability to park in small parking spots, the top-down camera lets you squeeze into the tightest ones. There are many reasons to consider the QX30 besides the camera suite. This is a good-looking compact SUV that’s fun to drive and aggressively priced.

Photo by Infiniti Media

2018 Kia Optima

It’s been just 25 years since Kia started selling cars in the United States, and the transformation the brand has made has been nothing short of amazing. They were originally a purveyor of bargain-basement cars, but today Kia builds mainstream vehicles that match the competition in terms of quality, features, and driving experience. One of their success stories is the Optima, a roomy, slick-looking mid-size sedan that packs lots of useful features, and that includes a surround-view camera, which is optional on the top-of-the-line SX models.

Photo by Kia

2018 Land Rover Range Rover

The legendary Range Rover is known for its good looks, classy interior, and incredible off-road abilities (which have to be experienced to be believed,) but few owners experience the latter. After all, who would drive an SUV this expensive (and this nice) on a boulder-strewn trail? That’s where the Range Rover’s suite of cameras comes in handy. Sure, it can help you keep from scraping the wheels on a curb, but it can also help you tip-toe around boulders and tree stumps that threaten the Range Rover’s finish. The Rover doesn’t have a traditional 360-degree view, rather, its cameras offer detail shots that can be enlarged, which is arguably better for off-road use. As for parking, don’t worry, the optional self-parking system will squeeze the Range Rover into a stop without scuffing the rims.

Photo by Newspress USA

2018 Nissan Rogue

We mentioned earlier that Infiniti was the first automaker to offer a surround-view camera, and it’s no surprise that the technology has trickled down to parent brand Nissan, and you can even get it on the volume-selling Rogue SUV. Best yet, you don’t have to pop for the high-end version of the car to get this nifty feature, as it is optional on the volume-selling mid-level Rogue SV (and standard on the top-of-the-line Rogue SL.) Nissan also offers their Around View Monitor on the Rogue’s slightly-smaller sister, the Rogue Sport.

Photo by Nissan

2018 Nissan Versa

It wasn’t long ago that a 360-degree parking camera was only offered on top-of-the-line luxury models, and for some automakers, that’s still the case, but not Nissan. They offer their Around View Monitor on just about every vehicle in their lineup, including the entry-level Versa sedan (as well as its hatchback counterpart, the Nissan Versa Note.) And as with other Nissan models, you need not pop for the top-of-the-line version to get it. Nissan offers the 360-degree camera on the Versa SV Special Edition, which lists for right around $17,000. That makes the Nissan Versa one of the most affordable cars to offer a surround-view camera.

Photo by Nissan

2018 Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 was one of the first compact SUVs on the market, and it remains one of the best sellers in the segment. Toyota retains their market dominance by keeping their products fresh, and the RAV4 can be had with this handy feature, which Toyota aptly calls the Bird’s Eye View Camera. Toyota’s system has guide lines that move with the steering wheel, showing not only where the back of the vehicle will go, but where the front fenders will swing when backing up, very handy for parking in tight spots near support posts or solid walls.

Photo by Toyota

2018 Volvo XC60

Volvo is in the midst of revamping all of their products, and the latest new vehicle is their mid-size XC60 SUV. We love the cool Scandinavian design of Volvo’s new interiors, and one of our the coolest features of Volvo’s new interiors is the portrait-style center screen. It makes for a perfect display for Volvo’s surround-view camera. With the picture oriented vertically, you can see the ground around the XC60 in great detail, which makes for dead-easy parking and maneuvering. Of course, there’s plenty to like about the 2018 Volvo XC60 besides the center screen and the cameras. This is a handsome, smooth-riding SUV with plenty of room and a great choice of powertrains.

Photo by Volvo