CARS
Challenge: Self-parking cars
![USA TODAY and Cars.com wanted to see if today's automatic parallel parking systems work better and are easier to use than the original Lexus setup.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/05/xxx-backup-challenge-mercedes-mebz-gl35002-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
USA TODAY and Cars.com wanted to see if today's automatic parallel parking systems work better and are easier to use than the original Lexus setup.
Evan Sears, Cars.com![Four carmakers provided models for our USA TODAY/Cars.com parking challenge, all coincidentally SUVs. From left: Ford Escape, Nissan Pathfinder, Range Rover Evoque and Mercedes-Benz GL350.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/05/xxx-img_4443_001-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Four carmakers provided models for our USA TODAY/Cars.com parking challenge, all coincidentally SUVs. From left: Ford Escape, Nissan Pathfinder, Range Rover Evoque and Mercedes-Benz GL350.
Evan Sears, Cars.com![The Ford Escape averaged 31 seconds to parallel park. That was the longest time (by a smidgen) of our trials of the four vehicles, which includes one without an auto-self-park function.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/05/xxx-backup-challenge-ford-escape09-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The Ford Escape averaged 31 seconds to parallel park. That was the longest time (by a smidgen) of our trials of the four vehicles, which includes one without an auto-self-park function.
Evan Sears, Cars.com![With Nissan Pathfinder, drivers use this surround-view camera system to make it easier to parallel park. It's not auto-park. Other models tested offer cameras, too, in addition to auto-park.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/05/xxx-backup-challenge-nissan-pathfinder06-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
With Nissan Pathfinder, drivers use this surround-view camera system to make it easier to parallel park. It's not auto-park. Other models tested offer cameras, too, in addition to auto-park.
Evan Sears, Cars.com![Pathfinder in action. Our human-controlled, video-assisted parking with this vehicle averaged 30.5 seconds. One of the timed attempts, though, took just 16 seconds.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/05/xxx-backup-challenge-nissan-pathfinder08-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Pathfinder in action. Our human-controlled, video-assisted parking with this vehicle averaged 30.5 seconds. One of the timed attempts, though, took just 16 seconds.
Evan Sears, Cars.com![The Mercedes-Benz GL350 self-parked in an average 27.4 seconds.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/05/xxx-backup-challenge-mercedes-mebz-gl35012-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The Mercedes-Benz GL350 self-parked in an average 27.4 seconds.
Evan Sears, Cars.com![Detail of the GL350 user's guide section on automated parking.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/05/xxx-backup-challenge-mercedes-mebz-gl35005-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Detail of the GL350 user's guide section on automated parking.
Evan Sears, Cars.com![And the winner is . . . The Range Rover Evoque. It was the fastest to self-park, taking only 21.9 seconds, and was our consensus pick for easiest to use.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/05/xxx-backup-challenge-range-rover-evoque24-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
And the winner is . . . The Range Rover Evoque. It was the fastest to self-park, taking only 21.9 seconds, and was our consensus pick for easiest to use.
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