With just a momentary blip in concentration, you might scrape a beautiful new alloy wheel, which is the main reason more cars are hitting the market in 2024 that take the stress out of the process for you.
It happens to all of us - whether we’re distracted by traffic or young kids screaming in the back seats - it’s incredibly easy to mess up a park, hit another car or scrape a wheel.
Join us as we take a look at how parking assistant systems work and list ten of our favourite cars on sale with a clever parking assistance system that can help save you from a costly headache.
How Does Parking Assist Work?
To keep things short, a vehicle’s parking assist system combines data taken from onboard cameras, as well as ultrasonic sensors that map out your surroundings.
The combined information from cameras and the sensors detect and map out objects like a kerb and other vehicles while measuring the size of the vacant space to make sure you can fit in there in the first place.
The data is crunched by an onboard computer, which then takes command of the vehicle’s throttle, steering and brakes as you magically glide into a parallel or perpendicular car space.
Now that we’ve got an understanding of how the technology works, let’s take a look at ten of our favourite vehicles hitting the market in 2024 with a parking assist system, alongside some other models that offer added peace of mind while parking.
Let’s take a look at the best cars with park assist for sale here in Australia this 2024.
Audi Q4 e-tron
Audi’s futuristic midsize battery-electric SUV, the Q4 e-tron, is hitting the Australian market with a long features list that includes parking assist as standard.
Audi is particularly generous when it comes to equipping its vehicles with parking assist, with all members of the MY24 lineup, from the A1 through to the flagship Q8 coming packaged with the tech.
Other Audi Models Available with Parking Assist: All MY24 models and variants
Kia Sorento GT-Line
Kia’s seven-seat family hero, the Sorento, not only packs a mean punch when it comes to accommodating large families, it’s also a heavy-hitter with entertainment and safety equipment.
In order to get your hands on Kia’s remote smart parking assist system, you’ll need to upgrade to the Sorento GT-Line variant, which also receives a surround-view monitor and the ability to remotely control the vehicle, in case someone has parked you in.
Other Kia Models with Parking Assist: Sportage, EV6, EV9, Niro)
BMW 1 Series
BMW’s updated 1 Series makes for a great compact car with a premium nature, feeling great behind the wheel and receiving a generous range of features that includes a parking assist system.
To make things even better for buyers here in Australia, the entirety of BMW’s 2024 lineup comes fitted with a smart parking assist system as standard.
Other BMW Models with Parking Assist: All MY24 models and variants
Ford Everest Platinum
The Ford Everest’s massive footprint makes it a great option for large families, though all this space does come with some catches, particularly when it’s time to navigate your way into a tight car space.
Thankfully, Ford offers the Everest, as well as several models with its active park assist 2.0 system, but you’ll need to upgrade to the Everest in Platinum form to enjoy the benefits.
Other Ford Models with Parking Assist: Ranger, Mustang Mach-E, Puma, Escape)
GWM Tank 300 Ultra Hybrid
The GWM Tank 300 has been quick to make an impression with Australian buyers, with its rugged nature backed by some creature comforts that make city driving a more enjoyable process.
While you’ll need to upgrade to the range-topping Tank 300 Ultra Hybrid, you can get GWM’s clever parking assist technology in other models like the battery-electric Ora, the entry-level Tank 500, as well as the Haval H6 and H6 GT.
Other GWM Models with Parking Assist: GWM Tank 500, H6 & H6 GT, Ora
Hyundai Santa Fe Elite
The Hyundai Santa Fe is one of Australia’s go-to options for large families in need of a practical seven-seater and, thanks to a recent upgrade, it’s more efficient and stylish than ever before.
To get parking assist on the Santa Fe’s equipment list, you’ll need to upgrade to the premium Elite variant which also adds luxurious touches like leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel and a BOSE sound system.
Other Hyundai Models with Parking Assist: Tucson, Kona, Palisade, IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6
Nissan Qashqai Ti
The Nissan Qashqai is a wonderful little compact SUV, proving itself as one of the most practical in the pint-sized segment.
Atop its size advantages over other small SUVs, the Qashqai is well-behaved around town and features a clever parking assist system in the range-topping Ti variant that takes the hard work out of parking in the urban jungle.
Peugeot 508
The Peugeot 508 is a great option for those looking for a stylish alternative to the typical SUV crowd, with its charming nature and fuel efficiency underpinned by some clever safety tech and a smart parking assist system.
Thankfully, the practicality king of the 508 range, the Sportswagon also picks up the all-important parking tech, as well as Peugeot’s compact and midsize SUV lineup and the 308 hatch.
Other Peugeot Models with Parking Assist: 508 Sportswagon, 308, 5008 and 3008
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Atmos
The Corolla Cross hasn’t wasted any time here in Australia, proving to be one of the most user-friendly, practical and efficient vehicles in the compact SUV segment.
In order to get behind the wheel of a Corolla Cross with parking assist, however, you’ll need to upgrade to the range-topping Hybrid Atmos variant, which also adds a 3D surround-view monitor with a transparent view and rear autonomous emergency braking - all of which are great features for the city.
Other Toyota Models with Parking Assist: C-HR, bZ4x
Volkswagen Amarok Style
Volkswagen’s updated Amarok lineup has received a long list of upgrades encompassing everything from the styling, engine lineup and safety equipment list that make it the best we’ve seen yet.
To help keep things under control for the large platform, Volkswagen is bundling park assist with the mid-range Amarok Style and above, which can prove a godsend in tight car parks.
Other Volkswagen Models with Parking Assist: Tiguan, Arteon, Golf, Tiguan AllSpace, Passat)
Renault Arkana
The Renault Arkana is a great-looking compact SUV that blends sleek coupe styling with a more practical SUV bodyshape for one of the most unique visual packages in the segment.
Better yet, the sleek looks have been matched with a healthy equipment list that bundles a parking assist system on all variants, even the base model, which is a particularly nice thing for price-conscious buyers.
Other Renault Models with Parking Assist: Koleos Zen & Intens, Captur RS Line
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If you’re looking for a car that can help take the stress out of parking in the city, be sure to reach out to one of our car buying specialists who can help find you a great price.
Get in touch with one of our Car Buying Specialists today.
Request a quoteFAQ: is Park Assist Worth it?
Whether or not intelligent parking assistance is worth it depends on a few things, namely your confidence behind the wheel while parking, and just how often you plan on using the system.
If, for example, you’re going to use it multiple times a day, parking assistance can save you some time and stress while parking in tight spots, making it a worthwhile investment.
FAQ: Does Park Assist Work at Night?
While Parking assistance systems use some data from onboard cameras, they rely far more on the data provided by the ultrasonic sensors that can accurately measure just how close your vehicle is to another.
Ultrasonic sensors use sound waves to measure distance, emitting a frequency that bounces off a nearby object which is converted from a time interval into an accurate measurement of distance.
As a result, parking assist systems have no problem working at night time or in zero visibility situations, due to their use of ultrasonic sensors, rather than visual instructions from the rear-view camera.
Bad weather, including heavy rainfall, snow or even fog can interfere with ultrasonic sensors, which is something to keep in mind.
FAQ: Can Park Assist be Added to a Car?
While you can add a rear-view camera and even parking sensors to your vehicle after your initial purchase, it’s not possible to add a parking assistant after your purchase unless it’s an OEM addition directly from the manufacturer.
Considering the fact that the sensors must communicate with the onboard computer, which in turn controls the throttle, brakes and steering, this isn’t a DIY task.
It is possible to add parking assist to your car if the manufacturer supports it, though. For example, some entry-level models might miss out on the system while mid-spec and flagship variants come packaged with park assist as standard.
In limited cases like these, you may be able to contact the manufacturer and request park assist be added to your vehicle after the initial purchase, but this is up to the manufacturer, and isn’t possible in all cases.
Get in touch with one of our Car Buying Specialists today.
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