A vehicle object detection system includes a vehicle body structure, a sensing device, a video display and a controller. The vehicle body structure defines a passenger compartment and has an outer surface. The sensing device is configured to detect an object within a prescribed area adjacent to the outer surface of the vehicle body structure. The video display is viewable from within the passenger compartment and is configured to display images representing the prescribed area adjacent to the outer surface of the vehicle body structure. The controller is configured to process object information received from the sensing device, determine the distance between the outer surface of the vehicle body structure and the object, and display on the video display a representation of the object and a numeric representation of the distance between the outer surface of the vehicle body structure and the object.