Honda ahead in Active Safety

Our customers view precise steering, taut handling and superb braking as features that make our vehicles fun to drive. And Honda's racing heritage contributes to these great dynamic qualities.


But to Honda engineers, those same "go-stop-turn" characteristics are where safety begins, providing each vehicle with the dynamic ability to help our customers avoid collisions.

At Honda, these "active" safety measures traditionally include advanced suspension, brake and steering technologies, a clear field of vision for the driver—even displays, knobs and switches are located for easy operation to minimize distraction.



Honda and Acura vehicles achieve excellent handling and stability based on the fundamental design of our vehicles. Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control enhances handling stability and predictability especially in poor traction conditions (rain, snow, ice), to help you keep control during acceleration, cornering, and sudden collision-avoidance maneuvers. With minimal intrusion to the driving experience, many drivers may not even notice when VSA® is working.



Anti-lock brakes are standard equipment on all Honda and Acura models, to provide enhanced steering control under hard braking and in low-traction conditions. All Honda vehicles except the S2000 also come equipped with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), which automatically distributes brake forces to the wheels with the most stopping traction. Plus, Brake Assist Systems help recognize emergency braking situations and momentarily help apply brake force in a "panic stop" or until the driver releases the brakes.



Honda brought a sophisticated level of sporty handling and active safety to affordable passenger cars with independent suspensions that help control body movement in cornering and on bumpy surfaces. We apply this know-how to Honda and Acura light trucks as well.

The Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) system on the Acura RL, MDX and RDX provides unprecedented handling and stability.

In straight-line driving, SH-AWD® offers dramatically improved traction, control and acceleration in all weather conditions—varying the distribution of engine torque between the front and rear wheels by up to 70 percent either way. Rear torque can also be apportioned between the left and right rear wheels by up to 100 percent on either side.

When cornering, SH-AWD® also distributes torque instantly and seamlessly between the left and right rear wheels. In a corner, the outside rear wheel (as illustrated) receives more torque than the inside rear wheel.

The superb handling of the Honda Accord provides the driver with outstanding control.