Rear Trunk 'Window'

[Insighter]

I agree; I originally thought the resolution would be an issue, but comparing to our 2015 Highlander which has a sharper but narrower view, I find the Clarity camera on wide view is better much of the time; it's nearly a 180 degree view. I make it a point to check edge to edge when backing out of a parking spot, and I'll often see a pedestrian walking up the aisle right next to the cars that I definitely wouldn't see either in the Highlander's camera or directly past most taller cars parked on either side. Yeah, the Highlander has rear cross-traffic alerts, but that doesn't always trigger on people; I trust looking through the Clarity's camera more.

And yeah, the birds-eye all-around cameras are cool; test drove a Bolt with that and could see really enjoying parallel parking it, but it was otherwise an unpleasant car for me at least, between the short wheelbase and "bucking" feeling and Chevy's idiotic non-adjustable seatbelt digging into my neck.

The thing I like least about all backup cameras I've seen is that screen image just isn't good enough to see if someone's reverse lights are on, so, if I'm backing out of a parking spot with parked cars behind me, the camera is of limited use (basically just seeing cross-traffic). Of course, part of the problem is that the reverse lights on cars just aren't bright or noticeable enough.

I have a friend who insists that if your car has a backup camera, you should be using it and almost it alone when you're backing up. I disagree completely. With current screen sizes and image quality, the camera is only an additional tool to use while primarily relying on your mirrors and looking out your windows.