Learn about the top features in new cars that helps to enhance safety, connectivity, convenience, and overall driving experience.
Cars have many features. Some are great, some are terrible. Sometimes we tend to dwell on these questionable features, but this time we're focusing on the best you can get in a car. They are not necessarily definitive, nor are they necessarily that rare. But when we find them in the car, we happily take a look at them and always check the option box if it isn’t enabled in the first place. So, let's get down to business in no particular order.
1. Navigation System
A top feature of a car is the unobtrusive navigation system. Integrated systems have their pros and cons, and if you're a fan of a particular brand or app, you can always choose to use a phone or other standalone system. However, these often rely on mobile phone data to download maps.
So, if you find yourself in the heart of the stunning countryside without a signal or a map, you'll be left without a paddle. You could end up swimming up the proverbial stream. However, the car's system must have all the necessary maps stored in memory. This allows you and your trusty vehicle to easily find your way to civilization without going around in circles.
So, if you find yourself in the heart of the stunning countryside without a signal or a map, you'll be left without a paddle. You could end up swimming up the proverbial stream. However, the car's system must have all the necessary maps stored in memory. This allows you and your trusty vehicle to easily find your way to civilization without going around in circles.
2. Advanced Security Features
Advanced safety features rank as one of the most popular car features in the world. Again, there is a lot of overlap between safety technology and driver assistance devices. In fact, many of them can be installed in any section, with technologies such as adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking assisting the driver and improving safety. Again, different cars have different safety features, so shop around for safety lists and options for items you need, and if in doubt, talk to a consultant to make sure your new car is safe. We recommend that you have the vehicle delivered to you.
3. Connectivity
Connected cars have become the norm and you can hardly see a new car that doesn't have connectivity. Or maybe a wireless connection that allows the car to act like a computer. There are also a range of connectivity options. Most connected cars allow users to access and transmit data, connect to other devices, and use manufacturer-specific apps to unlock/lock the vehicle, open/close the sunroof, and start/restart the engine or air conditioning.
4. Automatic Air Conditioner
Automatic air conditioners are the next step after standard air conditioners. However, the automatic temperature control feature is a little more clever. Simply select the desired temperature inside your vehicle and the automatic climate control will do the rest, automatically heating or cooling your vehicle to maintain the desired temperature.
Dual-zone climate control splits the car in two at the center console. Three-zone mode treats the two front seats as two separate zones and the rear as a third, while four-zone climate control treats the driver, passenger, left rear seat, and right rear seat as four separate zones.
Dual-zone climate control splits the car in two at the center console. Three-zone mode treats the two front seats as two separate zones and the rear as a third, while four-zone climate control treats the driver, passenger, left rear seat, and right rear seat as four separate zones.
5. Infotainment System
The most basic screens allow you to control traditional dashboard functions, and perhaps allow you to connect your smartphone to the screen via Bluetooth, while more advanced systems feature multi-layered controls. Whether you want to stream your favorite Spotify playlist, adjust your seat, set vehicle preferences, or watch movies, premium systems do a lot to keep you connected and entertained on the go.
6. Adaptive Headlights
Adaptive headlights adapt to the road and illuminate your path, leaving no dark corners or holes to hide from the spotlight. The headlights automatically move left and right with your steering wheel, moving the lights to where you're driving so you can see more of where you're looking. Not all adaptive headlights automatically dim the lights, so be sure to check your vehicle for blinding oncoming drivers.
7. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Hands-free calling and texting, as well as other apps like music streaming, make CarPlay and Android Auto great additions to any car. We especially want to highlight the wireless versions, which allow you to benefit from all this convenience, as well as the ability to leave your phone in your pocket or charge it wirelessly if your car is equipped with it. You can also add wireless device charging to this list, but many of these chargers are poorly designed and allow your smartphone to slip off the charging pad.
8. Seat Base Extension
The seat base can be extended on certain vehicles, including almost all BMW products. This allows extra support for the legs, especially the lower back, and for long-legged car bloggers, this is a huge comfort advantage. The lack of this feature is especially noticeable in many modern cars, where the seat cushions are quite short. In many BMW and Basic Mini, the expansion is completely manual, but it is always very effective and actually much faster.
9. Heated Steering Wheels
Warming up one's hands immediately after getting into the car during winter feels very good. Heated steering wheels and seats are also important for other reasons. Heating the point of contact directly is more energy efficient than heating the air to obtain heat. This is especially important for electric vehicles. With an electric car, you can avoid too aggressive climate settings and rely on heated seats and wheels.
10. Heated and Ventilated Seats
Heated steering wheels are great, but heated seats are more important for overall comfort, at this point, they are still not as widespread as one would hope. Although less common, seat ventilation circulates air from behind to provide some cooling capacity. Offices disagree about which features are best, and your location may help determine your preference. This allows both heat and ventilation to operate more drying at the same time.
11. Remote /Climate Launch Function
Continuous climate comfort, we have experienced remote start and climate control on this list. If you browse a part of the winter (northeast or the entire Midwest) in Michigan, you can get a little heat in your car before going out. It is also great to start degreasing and thawing. It also helps keep the inside of your car as cool as possible in the summer.
Electric cars are also smarter and more environmentally friendly because you can pre-program time and temperature, they work safely in your garage, and they run when plugged in so they don't drain your battery. You can sit on the road or cool down/warm up. Some cars even allow you to remotely open all windows on hot days by holding down the unlock button on the key fob. This is also great for summer, but we haven't seen or tried it yet.
Electric cars are also smarter and more environmentally friendly because you can pre-program time and temperature, they work safely in your garage, and they run when plugged in so they don't drain your battery. You can sit on the road or cool down/warm up. Some cars even allow you to remotely open all windows on hot days by holding down the unlock button on the key fob. This is also great for summer, but we haven't seen or tried it yet.
12. Adaptive Cruise Control
More than just highway driving aids, including lane-keeping and easy direction changes, simple adaptive cruise control can make long highway journeys calmer and easier. The cruise control itself is good, but it's a bit annoying to have to adjust it regularly if the speed of the car in front of you keeps fluctuating or differs slightly from your own car's speed.
Adaptive cruise control solves this problem, making cruise control even more useful on highways where traffic jams can cause large speed changes. Some even have a stop-and-go feature, so you can use them in situations where you're stuck.
Adaptive cruise control solves this problem, making cruise control even more useful on highways where traffic jams can cause large speed changes. Some even have a stop-and-go feature, so you can use them in situations where you're stuck.
13. Head-Up Display
We often talk about putting information and controls closer to the driver's line of sight out the window. This minimizes the amount of time you take your eyes off the road. And there's nothing like a heads-up display. It's great to have important information displayed at a glance on your windshield.
They are typically configured to focus your line of sight further away than a standard instrument cluster, which is both practical and provides added security. The more information you include, the more complex and extensive it becomes, but even the simplest information can be useful. It's not the worst thing to keep only the most important information to avoid clutter.
They are typically configured to focus your line of sight further away than a standard instrument cluster, which is both practical and provides added security. The more information you include, the more complex and extensive it becomes, but even the simplest information can be useful. It's not the worst thing to keep only the most important information to avoid clutter.
14. Versatile Camera and Parking Sensors
A parking sensor is a popular car feature that has existed for a long. It's even used more these days. It is very effective for front and rear positioning. Recently, 360-degree cameras have been introduced that simulate an aerial view of a car, making it easier to position it in hard-to-reach areas. Both of these cameras are nice to have and often accompany other useful cameras such as front off-road cameras and rear trailer assist cameras.
Conclusion
Finding the perfect car can be difficult. Search is often slowed down by required or hard-to-find features. Look, I understand. Who doesn't want the ease of cleaning leather seats, the vitamin D from the sunroof, and the comfort of heated seats on freezing winter mornings?
The importance of these features may outweigh reliability, cost, brand loyalty, or common sense -- sure, this car has 200,000 miles and no service history, but look at that sunroof. These are our thoughts on the top 15 car features you can be able to purchase now. So, go ahead and make your choice. Also, you can share your thoughts on our choices and inform us about the ones you believe should have been included in the list.
The importance of these features may outweigh reliability, cost, brand loyalty, or common sense -- sure, this car has 200,000 miles and no service history, but look at that sunroof. These are our thoughts on the top 15 car features you can be able to purchase now. So, go ahead and make your choice. Also, you can share your thoughts on our choices and inform us about the ones you believe should have been included in the list.
