Almost all cars produced after 2023 come with at least one touchscreen, and nearly one in four cars and trucks in the U.S. have a screen measuring 11 inches in length or longer. So, if you don’t like touchscreens, you better get used to it. They’re here to stay.
It’s not that people hate touchscreens. They’re okay with them as long as they work well. While people acknowledge the usefulness of touchscreens, many believe buttons also have a place in their cars.
Here are 16 other car features that leave vehicle owners scratching their heads and wondering, “What were they thinking?”
Overly Sensitive Lane-Keeping Assist
While lane-keeping assist can be useful technology on long trips, some automakers program their systems to be a little too paternalistic. If the system is overly aggressive and constantly alerts you to pay attention—even if you’re paying attention—it can get annoying.
You don’t need to feel like a teenager with mom and dad chirping in your ear to do this, that, or the other.
Automatic Engine Stop-Start
Automatic engine stop and start is a good idea in theory but doesn’t always work seamlessly in practice.
It’s designed to increase fuel efficiency. But in practice, it sometimes feels herky-jerky and can cause delays that frustrate other motorists. It can be a pain in the neck in stop-and-go traffic—especially when dealing with other drivers who might take even the slightest delay as a personal affront.
Complicated Infotainment Systems
A feature-packed, easy-to-use infotainment system is worth its price in gold. But a cumbersome system with complicated interfaces or convoluted menus that force you to hunt for things can quickly become tiring.
Driver Assistance Warnings
Some driver assistance warnings are overly intrusive. While there’s nothing wrong with tech warnings, automakers need to strike the right balance and avoid nagging. Motorists don’t appreciate when warnings for lane departures, forward collisions, and other things are so overly sensitive that they startle or frighten them.
Slow Response Voice Commands
Voice-activated systems that sometimes operate like they don’t understand your language can be frustrating.
The same applies if these systems are inaccurate, slow, or uncooperative. Having a good voice-activated system is great because you can do lots of things without taking your eyes off the road. Otherwise, you’ll probably ignore the feature like the plague because it won’t be worth the trouble.
Complex Climate Control Systems
Many drivers have mixed feelings about touchscreens because some carmakers force owners to access things like climate controls through them. Wading through such systems to adjust the AC can feel like a time-waster.
Small or Misplaced Cup Holders
Depending on your situation, cup holders may be a must. However, some car designers don’t think the placement or size of cup holders matter, which disappoints many buyers.
You might look at your tiny cup holders and wonder how you’re supposed to place cups in them. And even if the cup holder count is okay, sometimes the placement means stretching awkwardly to access them.
Automatic High Beams That Don’t Work Properly
Once again, automatic high beams are one of those features that sound good in theory but don’t always work as intended.
Unless designed and programmed correctly, automatic high beams can switch on when they shouldn’t. Such a mistake can shine high beams into the eyes of oncoming traffic.
Navigation Systems with Outdated Maps
A navigation system is only as good as the maps it uses to give turn-by-turn directions. While someone buying a vehicle should be able to assume that the maps are current, that’s not always the case. You may not get the most precise or accurate directions if your maps are outdated.
Tiny Sun Visors
Another feature motorists wish would disappear is the trend toward small sun visors. If the sun visors are too small or poorly positioned, they may be ineffective at blocking the sunlight.
Parking Sensors that Beep Excessively
Overly sensitive parking sensors can also get on drivers’ nerves. While they can be useful when implemented correctly, they can get annoying if they beep continuously for minor objects or chime incessantly for phantom objects that aren’t even there—false positives.
Delayed Backup Camera Display
How responsive is your backup camera? Depending on the one in your car, it might take a while to activate. This can make parking or backing out of a space stressful, especially if the area is busy with other drivers and foot traffic.
Lack of Spare Tire
This entry is a bit different since it’s about what some cars don’t have as opposed to what they do have. And that’s the lack of a spare tire. Some carmakers save space—and money—by including a tire repair kit instead of a spare tire. That can make things dicey for motorists who’d rather have a spare tire and a repair kit than a repair kit but no spare tire.
Non-Intuitive Mirror Controls
Vehicle owners like it when carmakers keep things simple. There’s no need to introduce unnecessary complexity for basic functions.
Consider mirror controls, for example. It should be easy to adjust the mirrors to reduce or eliminate blind spots and feel safer on the road.
However, some car manufacturers make things harder by using complicated controls and placing them in odd locations.
Automatic Seat Adjustments Offering Minimal Customization
Automatic seat adjustment is great if you want the perfect seating position. But for it to be useful, it needs to offer maximum customization. Otherwise, the feature won’t be worthwhile.
Non-Removable Third-Row Seats
Some drivers need vehicles with three rows of seats. If that sounds like you, you probably want a way to remove the third row as needed for extra cargo room. While some automakers accommodate owners by including removable third-row seats, others do not.
Some Car Features Are More of a Curse Than a Blessing
When spending tens of thousands of dollars on a vehicle, you want features that simplify your life rather than complicate it. And there are plenty of great features available to do just that. But some features are duds that are underwhelming and disappointing.
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