What year did Honda add safety features?
There isn't a single year to cite; Honda added safety features gradually over decades, with a landmark rollout of the Honda Sensing safety suite beginning in 2014–2015.
Historical safety milestones (1960s–1990s)
Below is a decade-by-decade summary of how passive and active safety features expanded across Honda's lineup, noting that exact years varied by model and market.
- Late 1960s–1970s: Seat belts become standard on many Honda models, establishing the baseline for occupant protection.
- Late 1980s: Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) begin appearing on select Honda models to help maintain steering control during hard braking.
- 1990s: Airbags (driver and passenger) become widely introduced on Honda vehicles across major markets; side and curtain airbags follow in later years.
Honda's safety progression during these decades laid the groundwork for more advanced protection and assistive tech in later years.
Honda Sensing era: The modern safety suite
The major shift toward driver assistance came with the introduction of Honda Sensing, a bundled safety suite that first appeared on select models in 2014–2015 and expanded to most new Hondas in subsequent years.
- 2014–2015: Honda Sensing debuts on select models, introducing features such as Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM).
- Mid-decade expansion: Honda Sensing becomes available on more models and trims, with Blind Spot Information System (BSI) and Lane Change Assist added in various markets.
- Late 2010s–early 2020s: Additional capabilities such as Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), improved pedestrian detection, and enhanced cross-traffic monitoring are integrated into Honda Sensing on newer models; some markets also get camera-based LaneWatch features.
Today, Honda Sensing is widely offered and has become a standard or near-standard feature on many new Honda models, reflecting the brand's ongoing commitment to active safety.
Regional variations and ongoing updates
Because safety features are rolled out differently by region and model year, availability can vary. Honda continues to update its safety technologies with each new generation, including enhancements to sensor suite, AI-based perception, and integration with other active safety and convenience features.
In practice, the trend is clear: safety at Honda evolved from passive protections to proactive driver assistance, with the biggest leap occurring in the mid-2010s through Honda Sensing.
Summary
Honda's approach to safety has grown steadily over more than half a century. Early steps included seat belts, ABS, and airbags; the major shift to proactive safety came with Honda Sensing in 2014–2015, followed by ongoing enhancements across models and markets. There is no single year to cite for “when Honda added safety features” — it is a continuous evolution tied to model and market cycles.
