Volkswagen Widens Availability of Advanced Safety Features

Advanced safety features aren't just for big spenders anymore. For the 2016 model year, Volkswagen is bringing a host of driver-assistance technology — including forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, park assist, blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning — to many different vehicles and trim levels.

Related: Subaru's EyeSight System Makes Active Safety Features More Affordable

Once only available on the Touareg SUV, which for the 2015 model starts at nearly $46,000 with destination charge, these features (depending on model and trim) will now be offered on the Beetle, CC, e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen and Jetta. These cars in their current model years start at prices ranging from about $17,000 to $37,000, including destination. The German automaker is touting it as "democratizing high-end driver assistance features."

In addition to those expanded offerings, all 2016 Beetle, Beetle Convertible and Jetta models will add post-collision braking, which uses information from airbag sensors to prevent secondary collisions. Meanwhile, backup cameras will now be standard on more than 85 percent of Volkswagen cars, the automaker stated.

Here's how it breaks down:

• Adaptive cruise control will be standard on the CC V6 4Motion Executive and Touareg Executive trims, and optional on the Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Jetta TSI/TDI and Touareg Lux/Sport with Tech.
• Forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking also will be standard on the CC V6 4Motion Executive and Touareg Executive, and optional on the e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Jetta TSI/TDI and Touareg Lux/Sport with Tech.
• Blind spot monitoring with rear traffic alert will be standard on the CC V6 4Motion Executive, Beetle and Beetle Convertible SEL, Jetta GLI and Hybrid SEL, and Touareg (except the Sport trim), and optional on the Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen and Jetta TSI/TDI.
• Lane departure warning will again be standard on the CC V6 4Motion Executive and Touareg (except Sport), and optional on the Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R and Golf SportWagen.
• Park assist will be available on the e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI and Golf SportWagen.
• Park distance control will be standard on the CC V6 4Motion Executive, e-Golf SEL Premium, Jetta Hybrid, Jetta GLI, and Touareg Lux and Executive, and optional on the Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen and Touareg Sport with Tech.
• Post-collision braking will be standard on the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Jetta and Touareg.