The 2020 Toyota Corolla Sedan Sets the Standard for Safety Tech

The Toyota Corolla Sedan has long been a torchbearer in the compact four-door segment, and the latest 2020 model year continues that tradition with a long list of standard safety technology features as part of the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite. Read on for details on what makes the Corolla a leader in this space, and how the competition stacks up.

What Safety Tech Is Standard In The 2020 Toyota Corolla Sedan?

Note: 2020 Toyota Corolla Sedan pictured here.

As you’d expect, the 2020 Toyota Corolla Sedan comes standard with traditional electronic aids like Vehicle Stability Control, an Anti-lock Brake System, and Electronic Brake-force Distribution. However, to complement this, the Corolla also comes with the latest Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 tech suite as standard across the range.

One of the highlight features in this suite is a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, plus low light pedestrian detection and daytime cyclist detection.

Here’s a clip of the Toyota Safety Sense P pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection in action on the 2016 Toyota Prius. While the 2020 Toyota Corolla comes with a more-advanced evolution of the tech you’ll find on the 2016 Prius, the clip is still a good illustration of how the system will automatically stop the car when it detects an imminent forward collision:

Note: 2016 Toyota Prius with Toyota Safety Sense P pre-Collision System plus Pedestrian Detection pictured here.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla Sedan also comes standard with Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and road edge detection with Sway Warning System, Auto High Beam headlights, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Road Sign Assist, and Lane Tracing Assist.

Note: 2020 Toyota Corolla Sedan pictured here.

What’s more, the latest Corolla gets a standard integrated backup camera, while a Blind Spot Monitor is standard on the XLE and XSE models, and optional on the LE and SE CVT models. You could add the guest driver feature to the list of safety gear as well, as it provides a geofenced area limiter and a speed limiter, both of which are useful for parents of teenaged drivers.

Finally, Toyota’s Safety Connect system is standard across the range, and includes Emergency Assistance, a Stolen Vehicle Locater, Roadside Assistance, and Automatic Collision Notification.

Pricing for the 2020 Toyota Corolla Sedan starts at $19,500 for the entry-level L grade.

How Does The 2020 Toyota Corolla Sedan’s Safety Tech Compare To The Competition?

Note: 2019 Honda Civic Sedan pictured here.

Without a doubt, the 2020 Toyota Corolla Sedan’s biggest rival is the 2019 Honda Civic Sedan, especially when it comes to safety tech. This latest from the H badge is equipped with Honda Sensing as standard, which includes features like a Collision Mitigation Braking System, a Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Keeping Assist, each of which offers capabilities similar to Toyota’s corresponding systems.

We’d love to do a side-by-side test to see exactly how the Toyota suite compares to the Honda suite, but for now, it’s worth pointing out that Auto High-Beam Headlights is an option with Honda, but standard on the Toyota, giving the advantage to Toyota in that regard.

Note: 2020 Mazda 3 Sedan pictured here.

The rest of the Corolla’s competition can’t even get close in terms of standard safety features. For example, the 2019 Mazda 3 Sedan offers High Beam Control, an Adaptive Front-lighting System, Lane Departure Warning System, Lane Keep Assist, Radar Cruise Control, Smart Brake Support, and Traffic Sign Recognition, but you have to buy into the top-trim Grand Touring grade level to get it all.

Note: 2020 Hyundai Elantra Sedan pictured here.

Meanwhile, a similarly priced 2019 Hyundai Elantra Sedan (the Limited grade level) gets a Blind-Spot Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, Forward Collision Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, and Automatic High Beam Assist as standard, but Pedestrian Detection, Safe Exit Assist and Smart Cruise Control are all optional.

Note: 2020 Nissan Sentra Sedan pictured here.

Then there’s the 2019 Nissan Sentra, which competes with the Corolla at the SV grade level in terms of pricing. The 2019 Nissan Sentra SV comes standard with only Automatic Emergency Braking. Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are only added as standard higher in the range.

Conclusion

Long story short, Toyota is leading the pack when it comes to standard safety tech features. And that’s a smart place to be as customers become more and more accustomed to the benefits and added peace of mind that these systems provide. If cutting-edge safety technology is at the top of your priority list, then the 2020 Toyota Corolla Sedan is definitely worth a hard look.