Localization and passive entry / passive start systems and methods for vehicles

A method comprising:

• establishing, with a communication gateway in a vehicle, a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication connection with a portable device;
• receiving, with a plurality of sensors in communication with the communication gateway, connection information about the BLE communication connection from the communication gateway;
• eavesdropping, with the plurality of sensors, on the BLE communication connection based on the connection information;
• measuring, with the plurality of sensors, signal information about at least one communication signal sent from the portable device to the communication gateway;
• receiving, with a localization module, the signal information from each of the plurality of sensors;
• determining, with the localization module, a location of the portable device based on the signal information from the plurality of sensors;
• receiving, with a passive entry/passive start (PEPS) system, the location of the portable device from the localization module;
• and
• performing, with the PEPS system, a vehicle function including at least one of unlocking a door of the vehicle, unlocking a trunk of the vehicle, and allowing the vehicle to be started based on the location of the portable device.