Necessity Breeds Invention
But sometimes comfort alone is a good enough reason to innovate, and convenience was definitely the driving factor behind some of these cool features. You might think you don’t need them, and you’re probably right, but just one taste is enough to get you hooked.
Samuele Errico Piccarini on Unsplash
1. Wireless Phone Charging
We all charge our phones while driving to or from work. Sometimes it can be really annoying having to deal with a cable that keeps disconnecting, or someone accidentally moving their leg and disconnecting it. Having a wireless charger inside your car can be a really convenient thing.
2. Remote Start
Starting your car remotely is a very useful feature, especially during very cold or extremely hot days. You can start your car before getting inside, along with the AC to cool or heat the interior. This way, you don’t have to manually go in and freeze or melt inside while the AC ramps up.
3. Dimming Rearview Mirror
It’s always extremely annoying having that one person behind you blast their lights into your eyes, especially if it’s a taller car than yours. This can be very dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Having the option for your car to automatically dim the rearview mirrors so you get less reflection hitting your eyes could quite literally be a lifesaver.
4. Blind Spot Lights
Not checking the blind spot is one of the most common reasons for car accidents. Most newer cars have a light that turns on when there’s a vehicle or pedestrian in your blind spot. This feature is becoming the norm in newer vehicles and is a huge help.
5. Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Leaving the parking lot after a shopping spree or when you’re done with work can spark a sense of urgency to get home. Sometimes we get so excited to leave that we don’t pay as much attention when exiting our parking spot. Luckily, this feature warns you if there is someone behind your car with auditory and visual indicators, making it a lot less likely you’ll hit something or someone.
6. Emergency Brakes
Even if you are the most cautious driver, a quick lack of attention can always happen. You might have looked at your rearview mirror for a split second and the car in front of you hit the brakes. Luckily, many modern vehicles have a feature that activates the emergency brakes for you, preventing a fender bender.
7. Automatic High Beams
Switching between high and low beams can sometimes be annoying and distracting. The Automatic High Beam function helps by doing it for you. It assists you by scanning the road conditions and incoming traffic in front of the car and adjusting accordingly.
8. Heated Seats
As simple as this feature seems, heated seats are a very convenient thing during winter. The inside of the car can get very cold and take long to heat up. With this feature, you can enjoy a warm seat in a matter of minutes.
9. Auto Defog System
Fog on the windows is a dangerous hazard when driving, especially if it’s very cold outside and you have the heating running in the car. The auto defog system helps by clearing up the windows and giving you clear vision.
10. Heated Steering Wheel
A minor but extremely helpful feature in most cars nowadays. Holding onto a freezing steering wheel is not only annoying but also very uncomfortable and distracting. Cars with the heated steering wheel feature make this a thing of the past, heating up the areas where you’d hold it in no time.
11. GPS With Real-Time Traffic
The GPS is always handy and useful to have. What’s even more useful is seeing real-time traffic around you. It adds a layer of security and safety to your driving.
12. Parking Assist
For those who hate parallel or reverse parking, this feature is a revelation. The Parking Assist is exactly what the name indicates—it helps you park your car. Many people are so thankful their car has this, and once you have it, it seems impossible to go without it.
13. Auto Hold
Being stuck at a very long red light is annoying in itself. Having to hold the brakes the entire time can be an added nuisance. Auto Hold gives you the option for your car to stay still by automatically holding the brakes down for you while you wait for that light to turn green.
14. Speed Limit Recognition
A useful feature many new, as well as long-time drivers, need. This scans the road and GPS location for the current speed limit and warns you when you are going too much above it. Speed limits exist for a reason—getting to your destination a minute or two earlier is not worth the dangers to you or your surroundings.
15. Built-In Dash Cam
Dash cams have become almost a necessity in the modern driving world. With the cost of insurance and damage costs in case of accidents, many people invest in a dash cam to have viable proof in such instances. Some modern cars have a built-in one, making this so much more convenient.
16. Adjustable Cup Holders
It might seem silly, but once you have this feature, you can never go back to not having it. It happens way too often where the drink you got at the gas station is slightly smaller than the cup holder size. This can result in spills and distractions when hitting a bump on the road, making adjustable cup holders a very useful feature indeed.
17. Digital Rearview Mirror
Rearview mirrors are extremely important and looked at quite often. However, the older ones are just a reflective surface, nothing more. The newer, more modern digital rearview mirrors come with options and features, such as light reflection reduction, speed limit indicators, dash cams, and many more.
18. Automatic Door Unlock on Approach
Getting to your car and having to unlock it manually or by reaching into your pocket and trying to click the right button can sometimes feel frustrating. Many new cars have a feature where they detect the key is close enough, unlocking the car when you try to open the door. It’s a minor feature but a pretty handy one.
19. Tire Pressure Monitoring System
A very important safety feature, the tire pressure monitoring system is extremely helpful in saving you gas and keeping you safe. It lets you know when and which tire needs to be inflated more. This ensures that you have the safest driving experience every time.
20. Lane Keep Assist
Swerving is a dangerous thing that can happen for a multitude of reasons. This feature can be turned on or off like many others. It makes sure that your car stays within your lane by gently steering it back if you lose your focus.
