Do all Hondas have blind-spot monitoring?
No. Blind-spot monitoring is not universal across every Honda model. While Honda Sensing, which includes Blind Spot Information System (BSI), has become common on many new Hondas, some base trims or older models may not offer it. Availability varies by model year, trim level, and regional market.
To understand whether a specific Honda has blind-spot monitoring, it helps to know how Honda packages its safety features, what to look for in official specifications, and how to verify this on a used vehicle. This article explains the basics, how to check your current car, and what to consider when shopping for a Honda with BSI.
Understanding what counts as blind-spot monitoring in a Honda
The term blind-spot monitoring often appears as part of Honda Sensing. In most Hondas, BSI uses radar sensors in the side mirrors to track vehicles in adjacent lanes and provide warnings when a lane change may be unsafe. It is frequently paired with other driver-assist features such as Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Not every trim includes this system by default, and some markets may require it as part of a package or as an option.
Is it standard on all models or trims?
Availability depends on the model year, trim level, and market. In practice, newer Hondas are more likely to include BSI as standard or as part of Honda Sensing on higher trims, while some base trims may not include it unless you opt for a technology or safety package. Always confirm with the official specifications for your exact vehicle.
To determine whether your specific Honda has BSI, use the following checks and references.
Before checking the items below, note that manufacturers sometimes rename or reorganize safety packages, so cross-reference with the current model’s official spec sheet for accuracy.
- Check the Monroney (window) sticker or the official product sheet for Honda Sensing or Blind Spot Information System.
- Look for a BSI indicator in the side mirror or a BSI notification in the instrument cluster when the vehicle starts or when signaling a lane change.
- Consult the owner’s manual or the vehicle’s online specification for your model/year to confirm BSI availability.
- Ask a dealer or verify via Honda’s official configurator or service portal using the exact trim and year.
In practice, if you see a Honda Sensing badge on the vehicle or a dedicated Blind Spot Information System indicator, you’re likely equipped with BSI. If not, you may be looking at a base trim or a model where BSI is not included by default. Note that BSI is often bundled with other safety features and may appear under different naming in certain markets.
What to know when shopping for a Honda with BSI
Shoppers should pay attention to trim levels, year of manufacture, and regional availability. The following patterns help guide decisions without assuming every Honda model has BSI.
- Most newer Hondas released in the mid-2010s and later offer Honda Sensing in some form, with BSI commonly included on higher trims or as part of a safety package.
- If BSI is important to you, verify it specifically for your chosen trim and year, because base trims may omit it in some markets.
- Availability can vary by country or region. European and some other markets may have different safety packages or naming conventions for the feature.
Bottom line: For certainty, check the latest official specifications for your exact model, year, and market—whether you’re buying new or used—to see if blind-spot monitoring is included.
Summary
Blind-spot monitoring is not universal across all Honda vehicles. It is widely available as part of Honda Sensing on most newer models and trims, but base models and some older generations may not include it. To know for sure, review the vehicle’s official specifications, window sticker, owner’s manual, or confirm with a dealer. When present, BSI works with side-mirror sensors to warn you of vehicles in adjacent lanes and is often bundled with other safety systems such as Rear Cross Traffic Alert and lane-change assistance.
For readers shopping today, the takeaway is simple: don’t assume every Honda has blind-spot monitoring. Check the exact model, year, and trim, and verify with official sources or the dealership to ensure your safety equipment matches your needs.
Which Honda models have a blind spot monitor?
- Honda HR-V with BSI. Find the Blind Spot Information System on both the 2024 Honda HR-V Sport and HR-V EX-L.
- Honda CR-V with BSI. From EX to Touring, nearly every 2024 Honda CR-V trim comes with the Blind Spot Information System.
- Honda Passport with BSI.
Why did Honda remove blind-spot monitoring?
Honda removed the LaneWatch camera system primarily due to cost and a strategic shift towards more traditional blind spot monitoring systems that use radar sensors. Supply chain issues, particularly a chip shortage in 2023, also led to its temporary removal on some models. The shift to radar-based systems offers a cost-effective way to monitor both sides of the vehicle, unlike LaneWatch which only monitored one side.
Reasons for the removal
- Cost: Radar-based blind spot monitoring systems have become cheaper to implement than the camera-based LaneWatch system.
- Strategic Shift: Honda is phasing out LaneWatch and focusing on its other advanced driver assistance features, such as the Blind Spot Information System (BSI) which uses radar sensors to monitor both the left and right blind spots.
- Limited Scope: The LaneWatch camera only covered the passenger side of the vehicle, and some owners and reviewers found it less useful than a radar-based system that covers both sides.
- Chip Shortage: A major chip shortage in 2023 temporarily led to the removal of blind spot monitoring on certain models, like some trim levels of the CR-V and Accord, to maintain production and lower costs.
- Integration with other systems: LaneWatch was replaced by other features within the Honda Sensing® suite, such as the Blind Spot Information System (BSI) and Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS).
Do all new cars come with blind-spot monitoring?
Since then, blind-spot monitoring has become widely available. For the 2022 model year, nearly all new vehicles either include it as a standard feature or offer it as an option. Does Blind Spot Monitoring Increase Safety? This driver-assistance feature can make a big difference when it comes to safety.
Which Honda Accord has blind spot detection?
The Feature: Accord EX and above trims make available an innovative and useful blind spot information system (BSI)14. The system works when your vehicle is moving forward at about 20 mph or above. A pair of sensors, one on each rear corner of the vehicle, can detect a vehicle in an adjacent lane.
