Buying a car in 2023? Here’s What to Look For
Some of our favorite features should be in your new car in 2023.
If one of the things on your 2023 to-do list is to buy a new car, now is the time to start making your list of must-have features. Even if you know exactly what you really, really want, there might be variations in trim levels across similar models. It’s helpful to do your research ahead of time and find out what cars will have the bells and whistles you need. If you’re buying a car in 2023, you’ll have your own list of important features. I hope you’ll find this list helpful, too.
Related: Buying a new car? Here’s the checklist you need.
What do we Like?
While 2023 isn’t a planned car purchase year for me, it never hurts to be ahead of things. I polled some of our writing staff to see what was on their list of “gotta have it” features. We were all (mostly) on the same page, and our answers reflect that we spend a great deal of time in our cars. We expect those niceties that make our behind-the-wheel experiences pleasant.
Before anyone chimes in with a conversation about wants versus needs, can we just not? It’s about to be 2023. Women are empowered to do a whole lot of things, including buying the car they want to drive. Who cares if it’s a want versus a need?
Now, let’s knock out that list.
Related: 7 tips for a pain-free car buying experience
1. Plug-in Hybrid
My next car will be a plug-in hybrid. I like the idea of contributing to a greener environment. I’ve test-driven enough PHEVs to know that this works for me and will ultimately save money on fuel without increasing our electric bill (a common myth.)
If I was certain where I was going to be living in five years, I might consider a fully electric vehicle. For now, I’ll continue to watch their presence on the auto scene.
Related: In A Word, The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid SUV is Fun
Apple Car Play/Android Auto Makes Tech Easy
Fortunately, this is a feature that’s easy to find in most new cars because automakers have caught on to the fact that We. Want. This. I recently had a very bare-bones rental car that did not have Apple CarPlay. I didn’t quite know what to do with myself on a trip from Green Bay to Beloit, Wisconsin. It was a lovely drive, but I 10/10 don’t recommend it without CarPlay or Android Auto.
Even though built-in navigational systems and other infotainment system features are becoming more advanced, Apple CarPlay is where a lot of us are comfortable. We manage our life via apps on our phones. Getting in our car is an extension of that. When I climb behind the wheel, I want my familiar maps, my address books, Spotify, and Audible. Anything less than that is…well, less than and not what I want.
You can see how these systems work and the difference between Android Auto and Apple CarPlay here:
Related: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: How to Get the Most Popular In-Car Phone Systems
Wireless charging is a Must-Have
My current car has Apple Car Play (because that was a must in 2019 when I bought my car and is still a must now), but wireless charging wasn’t as widely distributed as a feature just a few years ago. I’ve test driven a car with wireless charging pads, and I would insist on that feature for my next car. While plugging my phone into my dedicated car cable works fine, wireless charging is where we’re going. Cables can fail. We can lose them or forget to put them in our bags, or one kid forgets his cable and then the bickering commences. Please say that happens in your car, too.
Interestingly, some automakers are putting charging pads that won’t let your phone overheat, so keep an eye out for that.
This SUV has a faster-charging, lower heat wireless phone charger: Kia Telluride 3 Row SUV Adds X-Line and X-Pro To the Lineup
If I’m Buying a Car in 2023 I Want All the Charging Ports
I have a list of things you can’t have too many of. If you could see my closet or my makeup drawer, you’d say shoes and lipsticks, which isn’t wrong, but multiple charging ports in a car are a big deal for me. I want at least one USB per seat in the car because everyone has at least one device. I also like at least two electrical outlets, useful for anything from keeping a laptop charged to tailgating.
More charge ports than passengers? 2023 Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L Full Size SUV: L Means More Room and More Muscle in this 3 Row SUV
Also, All the Cupholders, Please
At a minimum, a cupholder for every passenger and a place to put a water bottle or tumbler on the inside of every door. I always have a water when I’m on the go, but I like having space to put a coffee or something else, too. Two tween boys are my regular backseat passengers. If they don’t have a place to put their drinks, they’ll toss their bottles on the floor or the seat, usually causing spills.
The guy who sold us our car kind of snickered at me when I counted cupholders in vehicles we were test-driving. We told him we’d done our research on what was under the hood. We also knew exactly what was in his inventory. The final decisions were made on what was going to be practical and comfortable for our everyday car. And yes, it came down to cupholders and charging ports. Don’t let anyone make you feel silly for wanting what makes your life easier.
Cupholders, cupholders everywhere: Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid: 8 Reasons to Love It
Heated/Cooled Seats
I live in South Texas, which means that I’m likely to use my air conditioner at some point during all 12 months of the year. We have periodic cold spells and chilly winter mornings – our 2021 freeze made national news, so we all know it’s not hot here all the time – but for the most part, it’s hot, warm, or really hot.
My car has both heated and cooling seats. Although the cool setting gets more of a workout than the heat one, both are a must for me. I also have a heated steering wheel, which is nice to have for me. I don’t get a ton of use out of it, but there are those really cold mornings when I don’t have time to warm up my car. The heated steering wheel comes in handy. And when I say really cold mornings, I mean anything below 60. If I lived further north, a heated steering wheel would be non-negotiable. My friends that live in colder climates agree with me.
Now everyone can have heated seats: 2022 Lincoln Navigator Review: This Big Boy Will Wow You
Pump up the Jams
If you’ve never driven a car with upgraded audio, then you might not know what you’re missing. If you spend a lot of time in your car and love your tunes, you might want to look at options packages or aftermarket upgrades that give you better sound. “I love my rock, and a car that doesn’t have a great stereo and amazing speakers is a deal stopper,” says A Girl’s Guide to Cars contributor and frequent road tripper Adeina Anderson.
I spent more time in the car in 2022 than I have in previous years – the pandemic has turned me into more of a road tripper than I used to be, and my daughter moved from Spain to Florida – so this is a feature I would look more closely at if I were buying a car in 2023.
Premium sound makes all the difference: Listen Up, Everyone! Revel Speakers Shows Us How to Get The Best Sound in the Car
Leather or Leatherette Seats
“No cloth interiors ever,” firmly says A Girls Guide to Cars founder and Editor in Chief Scotty Reiss. I’m with Scotty on this one. Although cloth interiors are cheaper, leather seats are easier to maintain and have a higher resale/trade value. Leather or leather-like seats can be wiped clean and are more durable than cloth. “And they don’t absorb all the smells in your car, like sweaty soccer players or spilled Gatorade,” Scotty points out.
The downside to leather seats is that they hold heat and can be painful to sit on with bare legs when it’s hot outside. This can be easily mitigated with a sunshade, seat pad, or just waiting a few minutes to sit down.
Leather seats don’t have to be expensive: Five things I love about the 2022 Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid Electric 3 Row SUV
Remote start
I’ve never had a vehicle with remote start, but I remember the first time I learned that feature existed. I was living in Illinois and going to lunch with a coworker on a cold, snowy day. She walked over to the window of our shared office and aimed her key fob at her car in the parking lot.
“Just getting things warmed up,” she smiled at me. “Let’s go.”
My mind was blown, and I’ve wanted this feature ever since. Remote start is becoming an increasingly common option on newer cars. That said, it’s easy enough to get an aftermarket upgrade. Even if you’re not buying a car in 2023, this is still a feature you can add. If you want to heat or cool your car a bit before getting inside, this is a handy shortcut. It’s also ideal for a parent with young children who have more steps to follow when getting into the car.
Related: The best family cars for moms – And it’s not just about the kids
360-Degree Camera
Contributors Danyel Buie and Kim Smith both listed a 360-degree camera as a priority feature for buying a car in 2023. This technology projects a view as seen from above your car and the surrounding area. If there were a drone flying directly above your car, this camera projects what it would see. I have this feature on my car, and it helps immensely when parking my car or backing into a space. It allows me to correct a bad parking job while I’m still behind the wheel without having to get out to visually confirm some questionable parking. It happens.
I also really like the camera feature some cars have to see into the second and third-row seats. I tested a Chrysler Pacifica minivan that had this feature and think it’s a great addition for young families. As a mom to 12-year-olds, I really don’t want to know what’s happening back there.
This truck has crazy good cameras: 2022 GMC Hummer EV Review: Is it Silly To Like an Electric Truck This Much?
Making a List
While my must-haves may not be the same as yours, it’s important to list out what features you can’t live without. It’s easy in the car-buying process to forget some of the things that will improve life in the car. During a test drive, it’s smart to test not just the performance but also features that you’ve never had before. Maybe one or two will become your new must-have.
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