Some auto trends have a longer shelf life than others. While consumers appreciate some trends —like the rollout of increasingly advanced safety tech—they wish others would crash and burn. Today’s hot innovations may be tomorrow’s fad. Here are 16 auto trends we hope have limited roadway ahead.
Subscription-Based Features
Consumers don’t like subscription-based services, and who can blame them? Buying a vehicle is one thing, but paying a monthly subscription fee for features that normally would come standard is another. According to one source, late last year, BMW was experimenting with subscriptions by charging a monthly sum for heated seats. Meanwhile, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is available on select vehicles in the U.S. via subscription.
Low-Profile Tires
While low-profile tires might look great on sports cars and other high-end vehicles, looks can be deceiving. If you’re the type of person to squeeze your feet into impossibly tight shoes just because you love how they look, low-profile tires might not bother you too much. They are, after all, easy on the eyes. But if you cringe at tires offering bumpier, stiffer rides, you’ll pray for the day when low-profile tires are no longer a thing.
Touchscreen Controls Overload
It’s not that consumers don’t like touchscreens—many motorists own tablets and smartphones. What consumers don’t like is having to use touchscreens to perform even the most basic functions, like adjusting the fan speed or turning on heated seats. They wish carmakers would include a few buttons to make activating certain features easier.
Larger-Than-Life Grilles
Many consumers don’t want grilles out of proportion to the cars they’re fitted on. Sure, some people like to be different no matter the cost, but most don’t want a grille so prominent that it looks like it would better fit the front of a tank.
Fake Engine Sounds
The novelty of fake engine sounds wore off a long time ago. While some carmakers create realistic fake sounds, most of these manufactured sounds are almost cartoonish. It’s a fad that is not worth the money.
Humongous SUVs and Trucks
Trucks and SUVs are popular, but many consumers wonder how big is big enough. These vehicles seem to be getting bigger and higher off the ground with every passing day. If a vehicle is too big to park in a residential garage or a space at the grocery store, it’s too big, period.
Lack of Physical Buttons
Again, most consumers are okay with touchscreens to some extent. But they don’t want it at the expense of physical buttons. Swiping the touchscreen several times to turn on the MP3 player or another feature gets annoying. Physical buttons, especially when laid out intuitively, can’t be beat. Many motorists wish they’d make a comeback in particular vehicle makes and models.
Chrome Trim Overload
Another auto trend that drives motorists bonkers is going overboard with chrome trim. It’s almost like some carmakers believe that the more chrome, the better the vehicle. But many motorists think going that route makes vehicles look cheap.
Complicated Infotainment Systems
Let’s not kid ourselves. Infotainment systems are great—especially when done right. However, some require such a high learning curve that they frustrate motorists. Some vehicle manufacturers ensure their infotainment systems are jam-packed with features but don’t focus enough on user-friendliness.
Unnecessary Off-Road Trims
Some motorists are tired of carmakers creating long lists of off-road packages, knowing they rarely leave paved roads. Motorists don’t see the point in these show-and-tell off-road trims, believing they’re simply for show.
Cheap Plastic Interiors
Another auto trend motorists hope goes away soon is cheap plastic interiors. Some carmakers are looking to cut costs and cheap out on the interior. It’s especially unfortunate when they do this for luxury brands or higher trim levels. Consumers find this to be unforgivable.
Daytime Running Lights That Are Too Bright
Daytime driving lights are designed to improve visibility on roads and highways during daylight hours. On a bright and sunny day, they hardly seem necessary. But they are godsends when inclement weather creates low-light conditions. However, the problem with daytime running lights is that some are too bright and almost blind other drivers.
Poorly Executed Cupholders
If you love cupholders in your vehicles, you can thank the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager for introducing them to the masses in 1983. Still, it took another decade before cupholders became a standard feature.
While cupholders have been a thing for more than 40 years, some carmakers are messing things up by reinventing the wheel. They’re either making cupholders too small or placing them in odd places that make them inconvenient.
Lack of Cargo Space in EVs
Another issue that bothers motorists is the trend toward EVs offering too little cargo space—often because there’s no or limited room in the trunk. Considering that there’s no internal combustion engine under the hood, there should be more cargo space.
Premium Fuel Requirements
According to one source, the national average gas price for regular is $3.203, while the price goes up to $4.034 for premium. So, it’s no secret that you’ll pay more for premium fuel. But what irks many motorists is when premium gas is required for non-performance vehicles.
Keyless Entry Systems
It’s not that people don’t like keyless entry systems. But motorists don’t like the overly sensitive ones that unlock doors when not intended. It can be a pain to worry about the system being too eager to unlock doors when you want them locked.
These Are Some Auto Trends Motorists Wish Would Go Away
While auto trends come and go, the ones on this list are trends many motorists wish would go away quickly. No two motorists are alike—what bothers one might benefit another. But it’s clear that some trends will be around a lot longer than others.
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