Being able to see out and around a vehicle from the driver’s seat can directly impact your safety and those around you. Vehicles with big blind spots make it harder for driver’s to see other vehicles approaching, and even children or pets behind the vehicle. When a driver can’t see, it can be a recipe for disaster. Backup cameras and sensors can be helpful aids for those vehicles with poor visibility.
Our scores are a composite of how well drivers of different sizes can see forward, to the rear, to the sides, and while using inside and outside mirrors.
Infiniti G (sedan)
Visibility on the G sports sedan is very good to the front and sides, but only mediocre to the rear due to wide rear roof pillars. Standard on later models, the rear-view camera helps with safety while backing up.
Nissan Altima
Visibility is very good overall on the Altima, with large windows all-around and moderately sized front pillars. Typical for a sedan, a high rear deck limits visibility out the back and the rear roof pillars create a blind spot, but a small quarter window helps. A rear camera is not available on the 2.5 S and lower trim levels, but the one in our 3.5 SL worked well.
Subaru Forester
Big windows, a square greenhouse, and thin roof pillars bring outstanding visibility to the Forester. Bucking the modern styling trend for sleek profiles and a badly crimped view out, here you sit surrounded by glass and with a conveniently low windowsill. There's a small blind spot at the rear corner but it's not too bad, and the big side mirrors help. All except base-level Foresters have a backup camera, which is handy, even though its display is a little small
Subaru Outback
Visibility is excellent on the Outback, with large windows, low sills, big mirrors, and roof pillars that aren't too wide. A large backup camera display comes with the navigation system as well.
Chevrolet Camaro
While low design of the Camaro is appealing, visibility is poor, with short windows; a long, bulging hood; and thick roof pillars. The rear-view mirror blocks a portion of the windshield, the low roofline limits the view to the sides, and the high rear deck obstructs rear visibility. A rear-view camera is a necessity for this vehicle.
Mini Cooper S (convertible)
Visibility is decent to the front and sides but poor to the rear. The windshield is slightly short, impairing your view of overhead traffic lights. Shorter drivers couldn't see the hood over the high dashboard. The glass rear window is small and up high, and the rear head restraints block much of the view to the rear.
Nissan Z
The view straight ahead is OK in the Z, but it is poor to the rear quarters and straight back. Large door mirrors help, but the car could really use blind-spot detection or bigger windows. At least a rear-view monitor is available, which helps.
Porsche Boxster
The low seating position, high dashboard and rear deck can make rear visibility difficult especially for smaller drivers of the Boxster. But thin front pillars and good sized windows make for adequate visibility to the front and sides. The sides of the fabric roof create large blind spots when it is up, but even with the top down the screened wind blocker, high rear trunk deck, and roll hoops impede the view to the rear.
Toyota FJ Cruiser
The wide rear roof pillars and rear-mounted spare tire severely limit outward visibility in the FJ Cruiser, creating large blind zones that can be a problem when backing up or changing lanes. A rear-view camera is optional.
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