When you’re buying a car, it’s easy to get dazzled by all the flashy features car manufacturers love to show off. But not every shiny gadget or high-tech option is worth your money. In fact, some of them are just plain useless.
Here are 12 car features that sound cool but, in reality, you’re probably never going to use.
Voice Control
This one is a personal issue! I cannot count how many times I have tried voice control for maps or to change the radio channel, only to have my request ignored. I know some of you can relate. Voice control sounds convenient, letting you make calls or adjust settings hands-free. But in reality, it often mishears commands, especially in noisy environments, leading to frustration. It’s usually quicker and easier to press a button or use a touchscreen.
Many drivers find that voice control slows them down rather than helping, making it more of a distraction than a useful tool. In the end, it’s a feature most people end up ignoring. We hope this feature does get better though as it can be useful – if it actually worked.
Lane Departure Warning
This feature sounds like a great safety tool, but in practice, it’s often more annoying than helpful. Lane departure warnings can be overly sensitive, beeping at the slightest drift, even when you’re just avoiding a pothole.
Many drivers end up turning this feature off because it’s too distracting. It’s one of those things that sounds good on paper but doesn’t add much value in real-world driving.
Rear Seat Entertainment Systems
With everyone carrying a smartphone or tablet these days, rear-seat entertainment systems have become pretty outdated. These systems are usually clunky, limited in features, and expensive to repair if something goes wrong.
Instead of shelling out extra cash for built-in screens, you’re better off letting your passengers use their own devices. It’s cheaper and offers more flexibility. The 2025 Lincoln Navigator will include a 48″ infotainment screen that will run across the front seating row. These are the kinds of innovations manufactures think people want, but do they really?
Automatic High Beams
Automatic high beams are supposed to make nighttime driving easier by adjusting your lights based on oncoming traffic. But in reality, they often get it wrong, either blinding other drivers or leaving you in the dark.
You’ll find yourself overriding the system more often than not, making this feature more of a hassle than a help. Stick to controlling your high beams manually for a smoother ride.
Eco Mode
Eco mode is supposed to help you save gas, but it often makes your car feel sluggish and unresponsive. The minor fuel savings you might get aren’t worth the trade-off in performance. Having had a 2019 Ford Fusion for a few years, I can attest that eco-mode did not offer that big a savings in fuel costs. Living in NJ, I need to have the performance more than the minimal savings in gas costs so I typically drove without it on.
Most drivers end up switching out of eco mode after realizing it makes their car less enjoyable to drive. If you want to save gas, just drive more smoothly—no need for a special mode.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
A head-up display projects your speed and other info onto your windshield so you don’t have to look down. But in reality, it can be distracting and hard to read, especially in bright sunlight.
Most of the information it shows is already on your dashboard, so there’s no real need for it. Save your money and stick with the tried-and-true gauges in front of you.
Rain-Sensing Wipers
Another personal rant. I have yet to see these work properly in any car I have been in that has had them Rain-sensing wipers are supposed to kick on automatically when it starts raining, but they’re often too sensitive or not sensitive enough. You might find them wiping furiously in a light drizzle or not turning on at all in a downpour.
Manually controlling your wipers is far more reliable and doesn’t require any fancy sensors. This is a feature that adds complexity without much benefit.
Wireless Charging Pads
Wireless charging pads in cars seem like a great idea until you realize how slow they are. They also tend to overheat your phone, which isn’t great for battery health.
You’re better off using a traditional charging cable, which is faster and more efficient. Plus, a wired connection lets you use features like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which you can’t do with wireless charging alone.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Regular cruise control is great, you set a speed and travel at that speed until you turn it off. But, more manufacturers are investing in adaptive cruise control technology these days. Adaptive cruise control adjusts your car’s speed to match the traffic in front of you, but it often reacts too slowly or too aggressively. This can lead to sudden braking or acceleration that feels jarring.
Many drivers end up switching back to regular cruise control or just controlling their speed manually. It’s a feature that sounds good but doesn’t always work well in real-world conditions.
Automatic Parking Assist
Automatic parking assist is supposed to help you squeeze into tight spots, but it’s usually more trouble than it’s worth. The system can be slow, and it often requires more space than a skilled driver would need.
You might find yourself waiting for the car to finish parking when you could’ve done it yourself in half the time. For most drivers, this feature is more of a novelty than a necessity.
Electronic Parking Brake
The electronic parking brake replaces the traditional handbrake with a button, but it’s not as convenient as it sounds. It can be slow to engage or disengage, and if the system malfunctions, you’re stuck.
A traditional handbrake is simpler and more reliable, making the electronic version feel like an unnecessary complication. It’s a feature you can easily live without.
Heated Steering Wheel
A heated steering wheel might sound like a nice luxury, but unless you live in a really cold climate, it’s hardly ever used. The heat doesn’t distribute evenly, and it can take a while to warm up.
Most people end up turning it off because it’s either too hot or not warm enough. It’s a feature that might sound nice in theory but doesn’t add much to your driving experience.
Given the cost of adding these features, we wonder if the car manufacturers will backtrack on some fo them if consumers state they are not using them. What do you think?
13 Car Features Todays Kids Will Never Get To Enjoy
Cars have seen a lot changes over the last 100 years, but in recent years they are changing faster than ever. Those of us that grew up with t-tops and cassette players in our cars are the lucky ones! Our kids will never get to see these car features and more! Well, unless your mom or dad is a car collector of course. For the record, I loved my t-tops on my Trans Am and wish they would come back!
Car Features Manufacturers Tried That Never Took Off
Maybe one of the features that manufacturers are including in cars now may make it into the list of car features that consumers never accepted! From glowing tires to rotating seats, the list is filled with atrocities that manufacturers decided to not move forward with.
