The display for the digital side mirror on the Audi A6 e-tron.Kunal D'souza/The Globe and Mail
The 2019 Lexus ES was the world’s first vehicle to replace its side mirrors with cameras. A few months later, Audi introduced its digital mirror system, called “virtual” mirrors. More automakers have since equipped their cars in overseas markets with side-mounted, rear-view cameras. These include the Genesis GV60, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the Kia EV9 SUV. But you won’t find them offered in North America, since the technology doesn’t meet current regulations in Canada or the United States.
While Canadian and American auto regulations largely align, they haven’t kept pace with the rest of the world, especially when it comes to new mirror and lighting technology. Digital mirrors are legal in many overseas markets, including Japan, the U.K., and the European Union. After I used them on an Audi A6 e-tron in Spain, I can see there are some clear advantages but, as with any new technology, there’s a learning curve.
The camera is mounted on a thin stalk where a traditional mirror would be on the Audi e-tron.Graeme Fordham/Courtesy of manufacturer
Side-mounted rear-view mirrors have been used on automobiles since the 1920s and are the most reliable way to see what’s coming up from behind. But to provide a useful field of view, they are relatively large compared to cameras and obstruct more of the view out the side window.
Cameras are more aerodynamic than mirrors, and automakers are incorporating them into the designs of many new electric vehicles.
The rear-facing cameras on the A6 are positioned at the end of a spindly stalk, mounted in about the same spot as a traditional mirror. Screens near the top front portion of the interior door panels display a live feed of what the cameras capture. Audi says the screens are positioned in the same place you would naturally look for a traditional mirror. You can pan the view, or zoom in or out; there’s a highway view that shows more of what’s behind you and a parking view that makes it easier to see curbs. Blind-spot information and turn signal indicators are also integrated into the display.
It feels a bit unnatural at first, but you get used to it, and the wider field of view lets you see more than a traditional mirror would show.
The cameras also provide better visibility during bad weather and reduced headlight dazzle at night. The camera glass is heated to prevent it from fogging up or freezing. Worries about the expense of replacing these cameras are also misguided. Most car mirrors today are powered and heated, and auto-fold when you park. A fixed camera mounted to a stalk isn’t nearly as complex or expensive to replace.
Auto parts website Audi OEM parts online lists the price of a traditional mirror assembly for a 2024 Audi A6 Quattro at US$1,915.57, which includes the cover and the mirror glass. Replacing the Audi digital mirror ranges from US$571.65 to US$795.45.
Transport Canada specifies the requirements for mirrors and rear visibility systems in section 111 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (MVSR). From time to time, amendments are proposed to update the regulations. For example, backup cameras became mandatory equipment for all passenger cars in Canada manufactured on or after May 1, 2018.
In an e-mail, Transport Canada said it published a proposed amendment to section 111 of the MVSR in October, 2016. The proposal requested feedback from the automotive industry, public safety organizations and the provinces and territories concerning the potential to harmonize with UN Regulation 46, published in September, 2016, which allows side mirrors to be replaced by camera systems.
Transport Canada said there was no support from stakeholders and as a result the proposal wasn’t included in the regulatory update in November, 2017.
According to Transport Canada, even though these cameras aren’t currently allowed in the regulations, an exemption can be granted if a company applies for one and is approved. “Should a manufacturer or importer install a camera system in lieu of side view mirrors proving that it would not substantially diminish the overall safety performance of the vehicle, then Transport Canada could consider issuing an exemption,” said Hicham Ayoun, a senior communications adviser at Transport Canada.
Audi Canada spokesperson Cort Nielsen said “The mirrors can be applied for a federal exemption, but are not approved by all provinces and we cannot control which province the unit would be retailed in.”
Transport Canada said it is continuing to watch for developments in this area.
To date, Transport Canada has granted two exemptions for camera-based monitoring systems, he added. Both exemptions were for large passenger buses, which require several large mirrors to provide an adequate rear view, making them ideal candidates for camera systems.
The problem with a camera system, like all new technology, is that it’s just another thing to potentially go wrong and it replaces something perfectly reliable. Mirrors, after all, are just a piece of reflective glass and can never really fail unless physically damaged.
There’s also the issue of reduced depth perception, which makes it more difficult to judge the speed and distance of other cars. Mirrors work by reflecting light from objects, making it feel as if you’re looking directly at them, while a screen shows a projected two-dimensional image, which can be harder to interpret for people with vision problems.
Digital mirrors aren’t perfect, but they can provide enhanced visibility, improved aerodynamics and better integration into vehicle safety systems. They are a promising new technology and updating regulations to allow consumers more choice would be a good thing.