Which Cars Have Power Steering in 2025?

Nearly every new passenger car on sale today—sedans, SUVs, pickups, and EVs—has power steering, and in most cases it’s electric power steering (EPS). Outside of a few lightweight sports cars and older or very basic models, power assistance is now standard across the global market. Below, we explain what that means, provide examples, note the rare exceptions, and show you how to confirm whether a specific car has it.

What “Power Steering” Means Today

Power steering reduces the effort needed to turn the steering wheel, especially at low speeds and when parking. Historically, most cars used hydraulic power steering (HPS) driven by an engine belt and fluid pump. Over the past two decades, manufacturers have shifted to electric power steering (EPS), which uses an electric motor and sensors to provide assist, improving efficiency and enabling advanced driver-assistance features like lane-keeping.

Do Most Cars Have It?

Yes. Power steering spread through mainstream cars in the 1970s–1990s and became effectively universal in mass-market models by the early 2000s. Since the mid‑2000s, EPS adoption has accelerated for efficiency and packaging reasons, and by 2025 virtually all new cars, crossovers, pickups, and EVs use EPS. A small minority of enthusiast-focused, lightweight sports cars retained unassisted steering by design, and some older or very basic models in emerging markets went without it.

Examples of Popular Models With Power Steering

The following examples illustrate how widespread power steering is and how many models transitioned from hydraulic to electric systems over time.

• Toyota Corolla: Hydraulic in older generations; widespread switch to EPS from late 2000s onward (varies by market and year).
• Honda Civic: Mostly hydraulic through the late 2000s; EPS broadly adopted from the 2012 model year onward in major markets.
• Ford F‑150: Hydraulic in earlier generations; electric power‑assisted steering (EPAS) widely introduced starting with the 2011 model year.
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500/GMC Sierra 1500: Predominantly hydraulic before; EPS adopted in the 2014+ half‑ton generation.
• BMW 3 Series: Hydraulic through the E90 era; EPS from the F30 generation (2012+) onward.
• Volkswagen Golf: Electro‑mechanical assist introduced with Mk5 (mid‑2000s) and continued thereafter.
• Tesla lineup (Model 3, Y, S, X, and Cybertruck): All use electric power steering by design.
• Toyota RAV4, Honda CR‑V, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue/X‑Trail, Mazda3, Subaru Forester: Recent generations use EPS as standard.

These examples reflect the broader industry shift: older models tended to use hydraulic systems, while current generations rely on electric assistance for efficiency and integration with driver-assistance tech.

Notable Exceptions: Cars Without Power Steering

While rare, a handful of vehicles deliberately forgo power assistance to save weight and preserve steering feel, and some older or entry-level cars in certain markets lacked it.

• Lotus Elise/Exige (many model years): Famous for unassisted steering through much of their production.
• Alfa Romeo 4C: Unassisted steering to emphasize feedback and lightness.
• Caterham Seven, Ariel Atom, track-focused kit cars: Typically unassisted by design.
• Some budget city cars in developing markets (e.g., early Tata Nano before the “Twist” update): Manual steering on lower trims.
• Classic cars (pre‑1980s mainstream, earlier sports cars): Frequently manual steering unless upgraded.

If you’re considering a lightweight sports car or a very basic older model, check the specifications: unassisted steering can be a feature rather than a cost cut, but it requires more effort at parking speeds.

How to Tell if a Specific Car Has Power Steering

If you’re unsure about a particular vehicle—especially an older or base-trim model—use the following checks to confirm whether it has power steering and which type it uses.

1. Owner’s manual or window sticker: Look for “power steering,” “EPS,” “EPAS,” or “hydraulic power steering.”
2. VIN lookup: Dealer service departments or reputable VIN decoders can reveal steering equipment.
3. Under the hood: A hydraulic reservoir, pump, belt, and hoses indicate hydraulic power steering; their absence often suggests EPS.
4. Instrument cluster: An EPS warning light (often a steering wheel icon) is a clue that the car uses electric assist.
5. Test drive: Very light steering effort at a standstill or parking speeds usually indicates power assist; heavy effort suggests unassisted or a failed system.
6. Service records: Notes on “power steering fluid,” “rack and pinion,” “EPAS module,” or “steering pump” provide system type and maintenance history.

Combining a visual check with documentation (manual, VIN, or service history) is the fastest way to verify power steering and identify whether it’s hydraulic or electric.

Types of Power Steering and Their Trade‑offs

Manufacturers choose among three main approaches, each with pros and cons for feel, efficiency, and complexity.

• Hydraulic Power Steering (HPS): Uses engine-driven pump and fluid. Pros: often praised for natural road feel; robust in older designs. Cons: parasitic engine load, fluid maintenance and potential leaks.
• Electro‑Hydraulic Power Steering (EHPS): Electric motor drives the hydraulic pump. Pros: reduces engine load vs. HPS; transitional step. Cons: still has fluid and hydraulic components.
• Electric Power Steering (EPS/EPAS): Electric motor on the column or rack provides assist. Pros: improved efficiency, tunable feel, integrates with ADAS; common in hybrids/EVs. Cons: steering feel depends on calibration; some enthusiasts prefer hydraulic feedback.

By 2025, EPS dominates due to fuel economy, packaging benefits, and compatibility with driver-assistance features, while high-performance tuning seeks to refine feedback.

Regional and Market Variations

In most major markets, power steering has been standard for years. However, base trims in some regions, especially in the early 2000s and earlier, could lack it to reduce costs. Used imports may reflect those spec differences. There’s no universal legal mandate for power steering, but efficiency standards and consumer expectations have effectively made it a default feature.

Summary

Answer: Almost every modern car has power steering—now predominantly electric. Mainstream models across all categories include it as standard, while only a few lightweight sports cars and older or ultra-basic vehicles go without. If you’re unsure about a specific car, check the manual, VIN, under-hood components, or instrument panel for EPS indicators to confirm the system type.

What cars have power steering?

Electro-hydraulic systems can be found in some cars by Ford, Volkswagen, Audi, Peugeot, Citroën, SEAT, Škoda, Suzuki, Opel, MINI, Toyota, Honda, and Mazda.

How do I know if a car has power steering?

So the way I like to tell people to check this is when the engine’s off the steering should be really stiff. It’s not locked. It’s just this hard to move.

Which car has electric power steering?

The most popular cars with Power Steering in India are Maruti Swift (Rs. 5.79 – 8.80 Lakh), Tata Nexon (Rs. 7.32 – 14.50 Lakh), Tata Punch (Rs.

Do all cars come with power steering?

No, not all cars have power steering, but it is standard on virtually every modern mass-market vehicle. While historically manual steering was the norm, power steering technology became standard in the 1970s, significantly easing the physical effort of turning the wheels and becoming a crucial feature for drivers. 
Why Power Steering Is Standard

• Ease of Use: Power steering systems assist the driver by augmenting the force needed to turn the steering wheel, making it much easier to maneuver a vehicle. 
• Customer Demand: Because of its convenience and the improved driving experience it offers, power steering has become a highly demanded feature, leading to it being standard on virtually all new vehicles. 
• Accessibility: It enables individuals who may have less physical strength to easily operate a car, making driving more accessible. 

Exceptions to the Rule

• Older Vehicles: Many older cars from before the 1970s were equipped with manual steering. 
• Specialized Vehicles: While rare, some niche or high-performance vehicles, like the Alfa Romeo 4C, have been exceptions to the standard, as some manufacturers opted for manual steering systems for specific driving characteristics.