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Sometimes the biggest selling point for car shoppers is what features a car has. Here are some of the best car features in 2021.
New Features That Every Car Should Have
Remember when having air conditioning or a CD player were the biggest car features to look for? Today, car shoppers are graced with an abundance of available entertainment and safety features in even some of the cheapest new cars available. There are tons of great car features sold as standard equipment for some brands like Toyota and Hyundai, while there are other more luxurious car features available if you’re willing to splurge. If you’re in the market right now for a new or used car, be sure to look out for these great car features we’ve gathered for you below, because why would you want to drive a car without any of these options?
Backup Camera
Backup cameras were once a glimpse into the future only found in concept cars, but now it’s crazy to think that there are still some cars for sale without a backup camera. This simple piece of integrated camera technology has made entering and exiting a parking spot not only easier but safer too. Further advancement of backup camera technology has given us safety features like cross traffic alerts, rear automatic braking, and even just that simple beeping noise keeping us from bumping those bikes against the garage wall.
Heads Up Display
Heads up displays, or HUDs, have slowly become a more widely available car feature for the average consumer. This nifty little car feature displays a reflected graphic in front of the driver on the windshield so that they don’t have to take their focus off the road. Vehicle speed, navigation notifications, connected phone notifications, and even entertainment settings can all be found displayed on HUDs. Some popular brands that offer a HUD on their vehicles are Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, and Volvo.
Semi-Autonomous Driving
I like being in control of my car just as much as the next guy, but those long road trips across the US would be a lot more enjoyable if the car did all the work and I could take a nap or watch a show. The automotive world isn’t fully to the point I envision, but semi-autonomous driving is available for some models. Semi-autonomous driving can control the car’s speed, bring it to a complete stop, remain in its lane, and park itself, but for the most part the driver must remain at the wheel and attentive to the functions being performed. Tesla kickstarted this car feature with their Autopilot, but cars like the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Outback can also be found with some form of semi-autonomous driving.
Automatic Start/Stop Technology
Automatic start/stop technology in cars still feels a little odd to me since it basically turns the car off at stops and runs on battery until the driver hits the accelerator, but it actually is a nice car feature to have in some of the road behemoths we have today. Full-size trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado have used start/stop technology to help boost their miles-per-gallon numbers a bit giving them an edge against the competition or enticing the fuel conscious car buyer. While the actual savings is only about 1 or 2 mpg better than the same vehicle configured without start/stop technology, it’s still something.
Panoramic Sunroof
Why do car manufacturers bother with the dinky, classic style sunroofs anymore when panoramic sunroofs are an option? Panoramic sunroofs turn an alright SUV experience into a bright and inviting experience for passengers in the front and the back. When this car feature is opened, passengers get to enjoy a convertible-like experience in the comfort of a spacious SUV. You can find panoramic sunroofs available on affordable SUVs like the Hyundai Palisade, Subaru Ascent, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Heated/Cooled Seats
There’s nothing quite like having some warm heated seats in the winter, that is unless you’ve tried cooled seats in the summer. The heated seats feature has slowly approached the standard options list for some manufacturers with all but the base model including them, but cooled seats are still only available for some top trim levels. Affordable vehicles like the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Tucson, or Buick Envision all have heated and cooled seat options available.
Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto
If you had to pick just one car feature to live with on this list, it has to be having integrated Bluetooth along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Today’s world is almost entirely centered around that smartphone in your pocket, and car manufacturers realize this. Connecting to your car with Bluetooth allows the driver to play their own music or podcast, take phone calls without touching the phone, and even audibly notify directions from a GPS app. That functionality is taken to a whole other level with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which basically puts your phone’s apps on the car’s infotainment screen.
Connected Phone App
If the car can connect with the phone, why not have the phone connect with the car? Car connected phone apps are the one of the latest car features popping up all over the market. There’s Hyundai’s BlueLink, Kia’s UVO, Ford’s FordPass, Chevrolet’s myChevrolet, Honda’s Hondalink, and the list just keeps on going. These apps give smartphones the ability to locate a vehicle’s location via GPS, remote start the vehicle, lock/unlock the vehicle, keep up to date on the health of the vehicle, and be notified if something was left unlocked or if someone is trying to get into the vehicle.
Blind Spot Monitoring
Blind Spot Monitoring may just be a little light that pops up on your side mirrors, but it has made lane merging less of a stress for some. This safety feature uses multiple sensors along the sides and rear of the vehicle to detect nearby objects like other cars. The little lights on the side mirrors appear once the system notices an object in the blind spot, and if you still try to merge the system will alert you in a more dramatic matter and for some cars may even divert you back into your lane rather than collide with another vehicle. Blind Spot Monitoring is a standard car feature on almost every new car, but keep an eye out when shopping used.
Multi-Zone Climate Control
The age-old conundrum for couples, you feel hot but your significant other feels cold. Worry not (and quit arguing), multi-zone climate control is available as a car feature now. The driver can experience a mild 70 degree setting while the passenger can have their side set to full blast cold. There’s dual-, tri-, and even quad-zone climate control in some vehicles, so even the people in the back can enjoy a separate temperature from the front passengers. Now, if only they could get the bed covers to stay on both sides of the bed, we’d be set.
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