Consumers bought approximately 15.5 million light vehicles last year, according to research firm Statista.
If you’re in the market for a new or used car this year, you’ll want to find a vehicle with the right features. It’s tempting to go for the model and trim level offering all the bells and whistles. But that could mean spending more money than necessary for features you don’t need or won’t use.
Consider these 16 popular vehicle features that are overrated. Save yourself the money by giving them a pass.
Sunroof
While some drivers swear by their sunroofs, these rooftop windows are a tad overrated. They don’t add to the driving experience — especially if you have yours open when driving. The road noise will also make it difficult to hear the radio or talk to passengers. And, depending on the climate in your area, you might have to keep it closed much of the time anyway.
Voice Command
Voice command seems next-level. If you rely on Alexa, Siri, or some similar voice assistant at home, voice command capabilities for your car might seem like a great idea.
But it’s one thing to give voice commands on the sofa and another thing to do so in a moving car. Depending on the car manufacturer, you might find the feature to be finicky. Do you like repeating commands, only to have the system not understand what you’re saying? You might deal with that scenario more than you think with voice command.
Gesture Control
Many higher-end vehicles have gesture controls. But it can unnecessarily complicate a process that could easily be done with a knob or button. It can also present a safety issue if you’re using the gesture control while you need to focus on the road. You can give this feature a pass.
Proximity Sensors
The case for proximity sensors is strong. If you want to be safer on the road, proximity sensors can help you keep a safe distance from other vehicles. The problem is that the feature — which will give an audible warning when a car or person gets too close to your vehicle — could become irritating if you live in an area with lots of vehicle or foot traffic.
Automatic Headlights
Do you want to pay a premium for something that can be done manually and without much effort? An automatic headlights feature uses a light sensor to switch on your headlights when darkness is detected outdoors. But, again, how hard is it to flick the lights on yourself? Exactly.
Ambient Lighting
Let’s face it. Ambient lighting offers a great aesthetic. But while it packs an oomph factor and can transform the look of your cabin, what does it add to the driving experience? Not only does it offer nothing to enhance the driving experience, but it can be distracting in some situations.
Automatic Windshield Wipers
Another overhyped car feature you can do without is the automatic wipers function. Automatic windshield wipers spring into action when rain is detected. But it’s easy enough to activate the windshield wipers independently rather than pay for automatic wipers.
Faux Roof Rails
Fake roof rails offering no functional purpose are another feature you can safely skip. If you’re mounting anything on your roof, choose roof racks you can use.
In-Car Navigation
In-car navigation is great. It’s just that not all in-car navigation systems are equal in functionality. Do your research and opt for systems that support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration.
Heated Steering Wheel
If you’ve ever jumped into a car on a cold winter’s day and touched the steering wheel, you can appreciate why some people like heated steering wheels. They can be a great feature if you live in an environment that gets cold during the winter. But should you pay a premium for a heated steering wheel when you can wear driving gloves in the winter? Probably not.
Built-in Wi-Fi
If you already pay enough for a smartphone data plan, tap into that data when you need in-car WiFi. Using the Wi-Fi feature built into your car might be overly pricey. It’s the sort of feature that sounds great in theory but is not nearly as useful or cost-effective as you might think.
Power Seats
Yes, power seats can be nice. But are they worth the premium when it’s easy enough to adjust seats manually? Most people are used to adjusting their seats without the aid of technology, so paying for power seats might not be worth it.
Rear Seat LCD Screens
While some higher-end vehicles offer the option of rear seat LCD screens, you should think twice before choosing this feature. Do you go on long trips with your kids? Rather than paying a premium for rear seat LCD screens, let your kids bring their tablets or smartphones.
Automatic Trunk or Tailgate Opener
An automatic trunk or tailgate opener and closer can be a nice luxury. But that’s all it is — a luxury. If you have to pay extra for it, you might want to ask yourself, “Why?” It can be handy if you have bags full of groceries and want to open the trunk or tailgate with the press of a button. But it’s sometimes easier to do it the old-fashioned way.
Head-Up Display
Let’s face it. A head-up display looks cool, and it can be useful. But one reason it’s overrated is the distraction factor. A quick glance at the instrument cluster is usually all you need.
Social Media Integration
Considering the distractions smartphones, social media, and messaging can pose to drivers, you might want to skip in-vehicle social media integration. It’s not worth the risk, especially if you lack the discipline to avoid distractions.
You Can Safely Skip These Overrated Features
You can safely take a pass on these 16 features. While some of them are pretty useful, it’s up to you to decide if they’re worth the premium cost. In most cases, they’re probably not.
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