Toyota Safety Sense, Lexus Safety System+ Pricing Announced

NEW YORK — The optional Toyota Safety Sense system, which initially rolls out on the Toyota RAV4 and Toyota Avalon this year, will be priced from $300-$500, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A said on Monday ahead of the 2015 New York Auto Show.

Three additional Toyota models will also be available with the Toyota Safety Sense system. The models will be announced later this year.

The optional Lexus Safety System+ will be priced from $500 to $635. It initially will be offered on the Lexus RX 350 and four additional models to be announced later this year.

The two systems have features that address three key areas of accident protection. They are preventing or mitigating rear collisions, keeping drivers within their lane and enhancing road safety during nighttime driving.

Toyota said the new systems are "offered at a price dramatically below comparable systems across the auto industry."

They will be introduced across nearly all U.S. Toyota and Lexus models and trim levels by the end of 2017.

"Pushing these systems across our lineup, as quickly as possible, can help protect people in the event of a crash," said Jim Lentz, president and CEO of Toyota Motor North America, in a statement.

The Toyota Safety Sense C system will be available for compact cars. It includes a pre-collision system, lane-departure alert and automatic high beam headlights.

The Toyota Safety Sense P system will be available for midsize and premium vehicles. It bundles the aforementioned features with a pedestrian detection function. It also offers radar cruise control to detect preceding vehicles and determine their speed.

The Lexus Safety System+ includes a pedestrian pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, automatic high beam headlights and radar cruise control.

Edmunds says: Car shoppers who have placed safety high on their list of priorities will appreciate this latest effort by Toyota, as it brings affordable technologies to the mainstream market.