What is the assist button in a car?

[OWeston]

The assist button in a car refers to the auxiliary brake. When 'assist-plus' appears on the car dashboard, it indicates a system assisting during parking. Definition of auxiliary brake: An auxiliary brake is a safety assist device used when parking or reversing a car. Currently, the mainstream system consists of a reversing camera and an in-car display forming the parking assist system. Function of auxiliary brake: When reversing, the front display can show real-time video from the rear reversing camera, making reversing safer. The system is composed of ultrasonic sensors (commonly known as probes), a controller, and a display (or buzzer).

[ClaireRose]

When I first bought the car, I was also puzzled about what the ASSIST button was for. Later, I discovered it's actually the master switch for the vehicle's driving assistance system. My car has an ASSIST button with a steering wheel icon on the left side of the steering wheel. Pressing it brings up the entire suite of assistance functions on the central display. Things like lane keeping and automatic braking can all be toggled here. Once when I was drowsy on the highway and the car drifted out of lane, the steering wheel suddenly vibrated to alert me - that was this system at work. The manufacturer recommends turning off lane keeping in the city, otherwise the steering wheel keeps resisting you during frequent lane changes. For custom settings, just long-press the button to enter the detailed menu where you can adjust sensitivity and other parameters. This feature really makes long drives much less tiring.

[LeAlexis]

The ASSIST button is essentially the control hub for the vehicle's intelligent assistance functions. The system defaults to activating basic features each time the vehicle is started, and pressing it quickly disables all driving assistance functions. I frequently drive at night and particularly rely on this button to control the automatic high beams. It also allows real-time monitoring of subsystem statuses, such as whether the pre-collision system has detected any obstacles. Interfaces vary slightly between brands—German cars often integrate it into the steering wheel menu, while Japanese models typically feature a dedicated physical button. Note that when assistance functions are active, a green icon will appear on the dashboard, and the system emits an alert tone upon deactivation.

[DeVivienne]

When I first started learning to drive, my instructor taught me about this button, saying it's a life-saving feature in critical moments. Pressing ASSIST activates assistance systems like blind spot monitoring. When the rearview mirror is blurry after rain, a yellow light will illuminate if a vehicle approaches from the side or rear. The most practical feature is automatic braking—last time an electric scooter suddenly darted out in my neighborhood, the car stopped on its own, preventing an accident. Now, newer models even allow you to set the following distance via this button, so you don’t have to constantly adjust the throttle on the highway. I recommend new drivers make full use of these assistance features.