The more advanced our technology gets, the more upgraded features our cars receive. Many vehicles have advanced but less obvious features that most people have yet to discover. These features can increase driving safety and convenience and save time and money. We have researched various online forums and surveys to create a list of 14 car features you didn’t notice you had.
Automatic high beams
This feature dims your headlights depending on the amount of light around. If your car sensors detect an oncoming vehicle, it automatically switches from high to low beams. Cars with high-visibility headlights have 19% fewer single-vehicle nighttime crashes and 23% fewer pedestrian nighttime crashes than those with poorly rated headlights.
Heated Windshield Wipers
Heated windshield wipers can improve visibility and safety, lower maintenance costs, and provide convenience. These wipers are integrated with heating elements that prevent ice from forming on the blades, giving you a clear view during snowy or icy weather primarily experienced in cold climates.
Active Noise Cancellation
Active noise cancellation has become one of the most typical features in some of the latest cars. The embedded microphones in the sound system have sensors that blunt undesirable road noise, thus avoiding a noisy, uncomfortable ride. Active noise cancellation in a vehicle works independently of the audio system. It reduces engine, tire, wind, and road sounds without obstructing crucial sounds from the outside environment, such as sirens or horns that a driver would need to hear to keep safe.
Rain-Sensing Wipers
Rain-sensing wipers automatically start up and change speed based on the quantity of precipitation. Therefore, the windscreen is always clean without repeated manual adjustments. This ensures that, whatever the weather, the person can have proper clarity of vision through the windshield. It is an essential feature from the safety point of view in cold or high-humidity conditions.
Remote start
Remote start technology is one of those features that will allow you to start your car with a key fob or even through a smartphone app from a distance. It warms or cools down your car before stepping out in extreme weather conditions. These remote start systems improve your overall driving experience, save time, and make your life much easier.
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
Rear cross-traffic alert systems identify approaching vehicles when a vehicle is backing out of a parking space. The system provides an audible warning or a visible alert if a potential collision is present. Cars with rear cross-traffic alerts avert 22% of crashes when reversing compared to unequipped vehicles.
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror
Auto-dimming mirrors adjust their brightness to reduce glare from the headlights of cars behind you. Headlight glare is a common factor in nearly 16% of all fatal traffic accidents at night. Still, it mostly comes from other cars’ headlights, especially if they use their high beam. The feature does its best work at night. It helps you see through the window but tames down the intensity of the lights from the vehicle behind you.
Keyless Entry and Start
Nowadays, you can start your car without even taking your key out of your pocket. As long as the key fob is within range, the car recognizes it; hence, the doors unlock once you touch the handle. However, 70% of motorists think keyless entry and start system in cars makes them more vulnerable to theft.
Hidden Umbrella Holder
Some luxury cars, notably Rolls Royce, have a hidden umbrella holder in the door panel. This is to prepare you for quick showers and offers a matching umbrella that perfectly fits within this slot. This is a rather clever addition that keeps your interior car dry and also adds to the convenience factor.
Lane Keep Assist
Lane keep assist is designed to help you maintain your lane by gently steering the vehicle back if it detects any drifting. This can be very useful on long drives or if you start to get tired to avoid the potential for a common type of accident: the accidental drift out of your lane. Lane Keep assists in reducing lane-departure crashes by 11%, making roads safer for everyone.
Built-In Cooler
Luxury cars, especially those from Mercedes-Benz and Bentley stables, come with an inbuilt cooler. This cooler is usually fitted at the center console or the rear seat armrest. This little refrigerator keeps drinks cold during long journeys or summer scorching days. What may look like a regular storage compartment is a fantastic box designed to keep drinks at the right temperature.
Removable Flashlight
Many Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and off-road vehicles have a removable flashlight in the cargo compartment. While in its docking station, it is recharged and ready to use in case of emergency or other outdoor activities. However, it may only be one of those features one appreciates once it shows its utility in a critical situation.
Adjustable Headrest
Adaptive headrests remain a standout feature among many of the latest cars, particularly those targeting the luxury or premium segment. Such self-adjusting headrests automatically adjust according to the occupant’s height and sitting posture to ensure occupants get the best support to avoid whiplash. They may look like normal headrests, but they are very important for improving safety.
Automatic Emergency Braking System
The Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system is one of the essential safety features available in most modern vehicles. It helps avoid accidents by initiating an automatic brake application upon sensing a possible collision. The system has cameras and radar sensors to scan the road ahead and calculate the crash risk. Additionally, vehicles with pedestrian AEB had 27% fewer pedestrian crashes of all severities and 30% fewer injury crashes than vehicles without that feature.
