The Future of Driving: 10 Technologies You Need in Your Next New Car
Scotty Reiss
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These Features Will Make You a Better, Less Stressed Driver
If it’s been a minute since you bought your last new car, you’ll no doubt be surprised at all the tech offerings and how advanced they can seem. Cameras, navigation, safety systems and driver assistance have all advanced dramatically since they were first introduced. They are the standard now and give us a peek at the future of driving.
Many of these tech features can be confusing if you’ve never used them, and they are becoming the standard, so they are included or optional in most new cars. These systems often are seen on dashboards, as buttons with unfamiliar symbols or beeping notifications. Many drivers find them annoying and turn them off (most can be accessed via the multimedia system) or simply overlook these features, but the assistance they provide make driving not only safer, but more pleasant and less stressful.
And then, it would be a shame to buy a new car and not get the tech that is the standard — penalizing your future driving and resale value. Since some of these features can be combined in option packages — or, simply missing from some budget-focused trim levels — it can be a bit of a treasure hunt to know if they are included.
These are the features that we recommend you have in your next car to ensure you have the most current technology and that you’re set for the next decade with your new car.
Connecting to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is simple enough with this large 14-inch infotainment screen. Photo: Allison Bell
1. Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (Sometimes Called Projection Phone)
What it Is: Your Apple or Android phone provides text, navigation, music apps and more on the multimedia system
How it Works: Connect via Bluetooth the first time, then your phone will connect automatically each time you get into the car
Why You Need It: Most cars that have this also have a wireless charge pad, too; just drop your phone on the pad and you’re both connected to the system and charging your phone without cables
Some of our Favorite Cars That Have It: Honda Pilot, Lexus RX, Volkswagen. Note that some Hyundai, Genesis and Kia models have this feature, but not all of them do
One of my favorite tech features is brake hold, seen here in the Honda CR-V Hybrid. Photo: Scotty Reiss
2. Brake Hold (Sometimes Called Auto Hold)
What it Is: A temporary parking brake for use at traffic lights or drive through lines; you can take your foot off the brake without moving the car
How it Works: Activate by pressing the brake hold button and use it by pushing the brake pedal to the floor; when you do, the system will hold your car in the brake position until you tap the accelerator
Why You Need It: Who knew that holding the brake for minutes at a time could be so exhausting!
Some of our Favorite Cars That Have It Audi Q5, Honda CR-V Hybrid, Toyota Grand Highlander
The large, clear rear view camera, and the choice of multiple camera angles, in the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Photo: Scotty Reiss
3. HD Rear View Camera with Motion Detection
What it Is: High definition rear view camera
How it Works: With much clearer, crisper images and wider angles, these rear view cameras allow you to see more of the road behind you as well as approaching pedestrians, vehicles and more
Why You Need It: These systems can see things you can’t and will alert you when something or someone is approaching your car while you’re in reverse
Some of our Favorite Cars That Have It: BMW 5 Series, Mazda CX-90, Kia Telluride, Infiniti QX60
Pack your cargo area to the roof if you want to — the Chevy Tahoe’s rear camera mirror gives you a crystal clear view of what’s behind you. Photo: Allison Bell
4. Digital Rear View Mirror
What it Is: A rear view mirror that doubles as a rear view camera
How it Works: A camera mounted on the car’s roof captures a wide angle view of the road behind you
Why You Need It: These cameras have a much wider angle than a car’s rear window, giving you a much better view of the road and traffic. At night the digital rear view camera also provides a much brighter, crisper view, making things much easier to see
Some of our Favorite Cars That Have It: Hyundai Palisade, Toyota Prius, Chevy Blazer EV
Head up display in the Mazda CX-90. Photo: Scotty Reiss
5. Head Up Display
What it Is: A driver display featuring key information such as speed, road signs, radio stations, navigation and more
How it Works: An image is projected on the windshield in front of the driver; controls on the driver display or multimedia system (often, controls for this are on the steering wheel) allows the HUD to be customized
Why You Need It: These systems have been used by pilots and race car drivers for years because it gives them instant access to key information while keeping their eyes focused on the road. As screens and the number of systems grow, HUDs keep the most important details right in sight
Some of our Favorite Cars That Have It: Mazda CX-50, Audi Q7, Jeep Wagoneer
The BMW X7 has a forward facing camera. Photo: Scotty Reiss
6. Forward Facing Camera
What it Is: An exterior camera that shows what can be seen from the front bumper, from other cars, approaching traffic, obstacles like potholes, parking barriers or walls
How it Works: A grille-mounted camera captures the images that are displayed on the multimedia system when the camera image is selected; some cars allow you to set the front camera to automatically come on when the car slows below a designated speed
Why You Need It: This technology is likely to become required for large cars and SUVs with high ground clearance and large hood liens
Some of our Favorite Cars That Have It: Lexus TX, Chevy Suburban/Tahoe, BMW X7
Safety systems like lane departure assist and adaptive cruise control will be displayed on the driver information screen in the 2021 Acura TLX. Photo: A Girls Guide to cars
7. Adaptive Cruise Control
What it Is: For use on limited access highways, this cruise control system, using a radar and cameras, adapts your car’s speed to the traffic ahead
How it Works: Set your desired speed and while monitoring the traffic around you, the car will slow or increase your speed, even coming to a full stop if traffic does. You can set the follow distance between you and the car ahead (short, medium or long) and accelerate without turning off the system, but taping the brake will deactivate it.
Why You Need It: Take the stress out of highway driving, long distance driving and especially, stop and go traffic; let the car do the work
Some of our Favorite Cars That Have It: Genesis GV80, Toyota Grand Highlander, Mercedes-Ben EQS SUV, Subaru Outback
Ford’s Sync 4 includes voice assistance. Toggle on the wake work to activate it. Photo: Scotty Reiss
8. Voice Assistance
What it Is: Rather than touching the multimedia screen, ask the system to set a number of features, such as navigation, air conditioning, radio station selection or heated seats
How it Works: After activating voice assistance under the vehicle’s settings, use the wake word (Hey, Toyota) to ask for what you want. Some systems will even roll down the windows or close the doors
Why You Need It: Voice is the new touch: Ask for what you want rather
Some of our Favorite Cars That Have It: Jeep Grand Cherokee, Alfa Romeo Tonale, Toyota Grand Highlander, Volvo EX30, BMW (7 Series has the door closing function)
The driver’s information screen with blind spot monitor and key information, such as auto hold, remaining battery charge and that i-Pedal is engaged. Photo: Scotty Reiss
9. One-Pedal Driving (in Electric Cars)
What it Is: Use only the accelerator to control speed, including coming to full stop
How it Works: Activate one-pedal driving either via the left paddle or a button or option on the multimedia system. Once activated, the system uses regenerative braking to slow the car when you ease off the accelerator and will come to a stop without using the brake pedal
Why You Need It: This is one of the reasons that electric car drivers LOVE driving EVs: The control you have over your speed, the ease of driving using only one pedal and the efficiency of not using any more energy than is really necessary is simply brilliant
Some of our Favorite Cars That Have It: Tesla, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia Niro EV, Chevrolet Blazer EV
Parking sensors i the Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS 63 light up in the head up display to let you know you’re about to hit the wall. ?Scotty Reiss
10. Parking Sensors
What it Is: Sensors that alert you when you’re too close to an object outside the car
How it Works: Sensors embedded in the bumpers and side panels sense objects are you approach
Why You Need It: With the increasing cost of automotive repair work, keeping those little scrapes and dings out of your bumpers and doors is a great thing. Sensing other things that may be in your way — your kids bike, your garage door, a concrete parking barrier — may prevent even worse damage
Some of our Favorite Cars That Have It: Volkswagen, Lincoln Navigator, Ford Mustang Mach-E, BMW X5
One last bit of advice: There’s a learning curve to new technology, so approach it with an open mind. Keeping your eyes on the road with head up display, asking for what you want with voice assist and keeping your bumpers clean of scrapes and dents by listening to your parking sensors will make the time in your car all the better.
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