Nearly every major automaker offers its own flavor of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), but the underlying technologies that power them are essentially the same. Honda Sensing is obviously Honda’s branded safety kit, but in early 2021, the automaker announced a more advanced variant of the system called Honda Sensing Elite. The package emerged in Japanese Honda models in 2021 but has not and may not make its way to vehicles destined for the United States.
Honda has a goal of reaching zero traffic-collision fatalities by 2050. It will make several advanced safety features standard in the U.S. to achieve that goal, even if Honda Sensing Elite doesn’t come. The automaker’s current top ADAS package for the U.S.—Honda Sensing 360—will become standard on all Honda models by 2030. The company says that almost 7 million of its vehicles offer Honda Sensing or AcuraWatch advanced driver-assistance tech.
Honda Sensing Elite is an in-house-developed system that builds on traditional ADAS features with an added layer of artificial intelligence (AI). Honda’s homegrown AI enables hands-free driving in specific situations but does not make the vehicles fully self-driving or able to operate without a human paying attention. Honda claims Level 3 autonomy, which is considered conditional autonomy. In Level 3 systems, the vehicle can handle all aspects of driving, and the driver does not have to monitor the car. However, the person must be available to take over if needed, so Hondas won’t be driving themselves anytime soon.
The advanced traffic-jam assist function of Honda Sensing Elite meets conditions for Level 3 autonomy, which enables automated driving in congested highway traffic and other limited scenarios. Honda says the car will pilot itself in certain low-speed situations and does not require driver input, meaning they can watch a movie or mess with the stereo. The hands-free driving system works with adaptive cruise control and the car’s lane-keeping assistance system to center the vehicle in its lane, maintain a proper following distance to other cars on the road, and change lanes.
Currently, no Honda models in North America come with Honda Sensing Elite, and the automaker has yet to express concrete plans to bring the features here. However, the company has said it plans to bring Honda Sensing 360—which includes enhanced collision avoidance and minimizes blind spots—to the U.S. as standard equipment by 2030.
Honda Sensing will also continue to improve. The safety suite currently offers automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. Honda Sensing 360 uses radar in the front and on each corner of the vehicle combined with a camera system that expands the vehicle’s field of vision and reduces blind spots. Honda says it used the knowledge it gained developing the Level 3 technologies to create Honda Sensing 360 and notes that the system will help reduce the driver burden related to driving.
Despite what you may have heard, there is no such thing as a car that can drive itself (aka “full self-driving”). However, other automakers have Level 3 systems in the wild, including Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz. Tesla’s AutoPilot and full self-driving features land between Levels 2 and 3.
Honda Sensing Elite is a promising development for the automaker’s vehicles, even though we may not see it here anytime soon. The company offers several other advanced safety features. Several of its models have earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), so they are among the safest models on the road, even without Honda Sensing Elite. When you’re ready to buy, head to our Shopping Guides section to learn more about the latest makes and models.
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