Is there a benefit to cars with 360 cameras?

When you’re car shopping, you’ve probably got a list of must-have features. Some people want the best safety tech, some people want fuel efficiency, and others want to be able to tow. Whatever you need in your next Orlando Toyota, it’s a good idea to have it in mind before you shop. However, some people don’t take technology into consideration when shopping and today we’re addressing a big but not commonly asked question: is there a benefit to cars with 360 cameras?

What is a 360 camera in a car?

A 360 camera in a car goes by multiple names. For example, in our new Toyotas at Toyota of Orlando, it’s called a Panoramic View Monitor. Some other car manufacturers call it a surround-view camera or a bird’s eye view camera. Whatever you call it, it has one main function: to give you a 360-degree view of what’s around your car.

How does this type of Toyota technology work?

The Panoramic View Monitor (and other cars with 360 cameras) truly gives you a full view of what’s going on around your Orlando Toyota. But how? Here’s how this feature works:

• There are typically at least four cameras in this system to ensure you get the full view of what’s around you. The mirrors are usually located in the rear, on the side mirrors, and in the front grille. Some systems may have more than four cameras.
• What you see when you look at your monitor while using this technology is a composite of the different cameras around your car. The cameras join their images through a software program to create a 360-degree image. This model shows you a true “bird’s eye view” – it looks like there’s a drone hovering over your car, showing you what’s surrounding you.
• This majorly enhances visibility. Rather than relying on a standard backup camera, which only shows you what’s behind you, you can see the entirety of your car’s surroundings.
• Some of these systems are paired with a split-view image to give you even more visibility (typically the backup camera is the other image), and a proximity alert to let you know when you’re getting too close to surrounding objects.

Obviously, there are a lot of perks to having this technology in your car. It gives you a clear view of your surroundings and this makes navigating tight parking spaces, off-road terrain, bad traffic, and other tricky circumstances a good deal easier.

Which Toyotas have 360 cameras?

Thinking you might want a car with a 360 camera in your driveway? Here are the 2024 Toyotas that offer this helpful feature:

• Toyota RAV4 + RAV4 Hybrid + RAV4 Prime
• Toyota Highlander + Highlander Hybrid
• Toyota Grand Highlander + Grand Highlander Hybrid
• Toyota Tundra
• Toyota Sequoia
• Toyota Prius + Prius Prime
• Toyota Sienna
• Toyota Camry + Camry Hybrid
• Toyota 4Runner
• Toyota bZ4X
• Toyota Crown
• Toyota Venza
• Toyota Land Cruiser
• Toyota Tacoma

As you can see, if this feature is on your must-have list, you have many options. It’s also often available as an add-on in a Toyota technology package. While it typically comes on cars that are a bit pricier (you won’t find it on many base-level models), it’s worth the investment. Cars with 360 cameras offer a degree of safety and reassurance that’s hard to match.

Can you install a 360 camera after you buy your car?

Believe it or not, 360 cameras are also sold as aftermarket parts that you can add to your vehicle. Do we recommend it? No. More often than not, you won’t get the same quality and results with an aftermarket system. Further, it’s not an easy DIY project. It requires a lot of adjusting and calibration and a basic knowledge of the technology.

Shop for cars with 360 cameras today at Toyota of Orlando 

Ready to test out this tech for yourself? Head over to Toyota of Orlando today to find it in one of our new Toyotas. We’re ready and waiting at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 across from the Mall at Millenia.

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