10 Least Expensive Cars With Parking Assistance

2020 Hyundai Sonata Silver Side Profile ・ Photo by Hyundai

Parallel parking — with the possible exception of late-braking from 200 mph in a racing car at the end of the Mulsanne Straight, it is the most feared automotive maneuver on the planet. Those about to take their driver’s test for the first time often develop a cold sweat simply contemplating being required to execute a parallel park with an evaluator in the passenger seat. 

Even drivers with 40 years of experience behind the wheel can be intimidated by the task of backing a vehicle into a tight curbside parking place while traffic builds behind them. Is the parking space big enough? How close is my right rear tire to the curb? Am I getting too close to the car behind me? Once I get this car parked, will I ever be able to get it out of here? The opportunities for failure are, if not endless, at least plentiful. But enlightened engineers see problems as opportunities. And in the case of parking, recent engineering advances have lately resulted in computerized systems that will do much of the parallel parking work for you automatically. Here are the least expensive cars with parking assistance. 

1. 2020 MINI Hardtop

The MINI Hardtop isn't just a classic, stylish, fun-to-drive premium small car, but it is also one of the easiest cars in the world to parallel park. First, it is reasonably small, so it easily fits into parking places that require a squeeze in larger cars. As a driver, you can also see all four corners of the car with relative ease, a boon in positioning the car.

With this understood, it is surprising that the 2020 MINI Hardtop is the lowest-priced car in the U.S. market to feature automatic parking assist. The MINI Hardtop has ultrasonic parking sensors mounted on the front and rear, which warn you with a series of audible tones if you’re getting too close to another car or object. But that is just the appetizer to the optional Parking Assistant that automatically scans for appropriate-sized parking places and, once one is located, steers the car into the space while the driver applies acceleration and braking.

Photo by MINI

2. 2020 Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is, of course, the hybrid car poster child. It has been wowing car buyers with mind-boggling fuel economy for two decades. But the current version of the Prius — which like the MINI, is pretty to easy to park “manually” — also features an automatic parking system.

Called "Intelligent Clearance Sonar with Intelligent Parking Assist," it's an integrated series of technologies that helps identify good parking places and then takes care of the somewhat complex steering required to safely deposit the car there. When parallel parking with the system, the driver first pulls alongside the parking space and then creeps forward until the Prius’s rear bumper passes the rear wheel of the car parked in front of the open space. Once the parking space is correctly identified, the driver presses OK on the park guidance button and takes his/her hands off the steering wheel while keeping the foot on the brake pedal. As the driver slowly releases the brake, while keeping the foot lightly on the brake pedal, the car will then begin to back up and steer itself into the parking space.

Photo by Toyota

3. 2020 MINI Convertible

The MINI Convertible is the drop-top version of the MINI Hardtop, and it offers even more fun-to-drive attributes than its hatchback brother. Equally important, it offers a very robust series of parking assistance technologies.

Starting with model year 2018, all MINI vehicles are fitted with a standard rearview camera and with parking sensors whose audio tones guide those who have the courage to park the car themselves. But beyond that, all MINI convertibles with the Technology Package also are equipped with the Parallel Parking Assistant. Drawing upon information from multiple sensors, it steers the car into the parking place while the driver controls acceleration and brakes.

Photo by MINI

4. 2020 MINI Clubman

A four-door MINI station wagon, the MINI Clubman is the most practical of the brand's vehicles. It offers the style and charm of the original MINI, but its two additional doors and added interior space contribute to its added versatility.

Like the other MINIs described here, it features parking sensors that sound an audio tone when a potentially problematic object is detected, plus on-screen guidance lines and red/yellow/green graphics on the rear camera’s video display. But then again, why go to all the trouble of listening and looking when the Parking Assistant will steer the vehicle for you and prompt you when to hit the brakes? It’s all part of an optional Driver Assistance Package.

Photo by MINI

5. 2020 Hyundai Sonata

While most of the vehicles on the list have a parking assistance feature that does pretty much the same thing — it identifies a spot and steers you into it as you work the accelerator and brakes — the parking assistance in the all-new-for-2020 Hyundai Sonata mid-size sedan is something completely different. Its Remote Smart Parking Assist helps you park your car while you stand and monitor the progress outside the vehicle.

Ideal for suburban garages that are so full of stuff that it is hard to open the door of your car inside, the system enables you to use the hand-held Smart Key to drive the car forward or backward. When you release the Smart Key button the Sonata immediately stops. Because its steering range is extremely limited, it isn’t an aid for parallel parking, but it is useful for tight parking lot spots.

Photo by Hyundai

6. 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2020 Volkswagen GTI is one of our favorite low-cost performance cars. It offers aggressive acceleration and sharp handling. What it also offers, at least as an option on SE models, is Parking Steering Assistant. The sophisticated system can automatically steer the car into parallel and perpendicular parking spaces, and in the latter case, it can help you back out as well.

While driving below 25 mph, a press on the Park Assist button will direct the system to scan for parking spots. When the system detects a space, “Parking Space Found” will appear in the multifunction display. Park Assist can automatically help steer the vehicle into the parking space while the driver adjusts acceleration and braking. The driver can override or deactivate the steering assistance at any time by turning the steering wheel or pressing the Park Assist button.

Photo by Volkswagen

7. 2020 Chevrolet Malibu

The Chevrolet Malibu is a roomy, comfortable mid-size sedan that competes with the Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, and Toyota Camry. It is offered in a number of grades, and its top trim level offers General Motors' Automatic Park Assist Technology as part of Enhanced Driver Confidence Package.

This system uses front, side, and rear ultrasonic sensors on the vehicle to detect a parking place and guide steering and braking. When activated by pressing the Automatic Park Assist button, it steers the vehicle into the parking space in forward or reverse when the car is traveling at or below 6 mph. Able to assist parking in both parallel and perpendicular parking spaces, the system provides step-by-step instructions via audio tones and written suggestions displayed in the instrument cluster.

Photo by Chevrolet

8. 2020 Volkswagen Passat

The Volkswagen Passat is a very commodious mid-size sedan that competes with cars like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Subaru Legacy. Its SEL level models feature Park Distance Control, which uses ultrasonic sensors located in the front and rear bumpers to monitor a range of up to approximately 5 feet in front or behind the vehicle. It uses audible and visual warnings when the car starts to approach parked cars or other objects of substantial size. But wait, there’s more.

The pricier Passat SEL also has Park Steering Assistant that can automatically steer the car into parallel and perpendicular parking spaces (the latter in reverse). While driving below 25 mph, pressing the Park Assist button will activate the system, and by using the turn signal indicator, the driver can indicate which side of the road they would like to park. The system can then steer the car into the parking space with minimal assistance from the driver.

Photo by Volkswagen

9. 2020 Audi A3

The Audi A3 is a beautifully finished and fun-to-drive compact luxury car. Among its most recently added attributes is Park Assist, which is now standard on the A3’s Prestige trim level.

Like in most cars, the A3's system uses ultrasonic sensors to locate appropriate parking spots and to detect potential obstacles. Once the system finds a spot, it automatically makes the proper steering-wheel inputs necessary to get into the space. The driver’s responsibility is to accelerate, brake and shift gears appropriately when prompted. In addition, Audi Side Assist is standard on the A3's Premium Plus and Prestige grades. Along with a rear cross-traffic alert, the system helps drivers be more aware of their surroundings.

Photo by Audi

10. BMW 230

The BMW 230 is a small luxury coupe that is filled with upscale features. With a suspension tuned for driving enjoyment, the 230 is satisfying on the road, and now it is also easier to park.

It is equipped with the BMW Park Assistant that BMW asserts can handle the most difficult parallel parking and tight spaces with ease. As with most of the other systems we’ve described, the system controls the car’s steering while the driver retains full control of the accelerator, brakes, and gear choice. When activated, the system looks for good parking places and points them out in a dashboard display. The display also provides directions on the next step.

Photo by BMW