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New car technology is evolving rapidly. One day I was manually raising the window and the next day it seemed to automatically move up and down. Luckily, there are many things that are better than power windows these days.
Consumer Reports is known for testing cars, appliances, and gadgets, and recently compiled a list of the latest new car features. Below are his 10 of the best and worst features they tested.
1. Automatic high beam
An automatic high beam function switches between low and high beams depending on the outside light, traffic and speed. When an oncoming vehicle is detected, the auto high beam function is turned off to avoid dazzling the other driver. You can also override it if you want.
We’ve tested this feature on many press cars and we feel it’s a great feature (pun intended) as it comes in handy during the darkest times. Consumer Reports agrees, feeling it’s a necessary feature, even if you have to pay extra.
2. Flush/retractable door handle
There are new luxury cars on the market with retractable door handles. This is a great feature that cars like the Tesla Model S and Genesis G90 use. These retractable door handles not only look cool, they can also improve your car’s aerodynamics, which in turn improves your car’s fuel efficiency and electric range.
While they serve a good purpose, Consumer Reports says, “They are hard to grasp and can complicate what should be simple functions.” It also freezes faster than regular handles. In that case, I’m neutral about the retractable door handles, but I still think they look great.
3. Tire pressure monitor
The tire pressure monitor warns you with a dashboard light when one of your car’s tires is under-inflated. Automakers have been implementing these monitors in their cars since September 2007, and the technology has evolved since then. Now some tire pressure systems can read the pressure of all four of his car’s tires in real time.
Consumer Reports considers tire pressure monitors to be an integral part of any vehicle because “proper tire pressure is critical to safety, fuel economy, and even tire wear.” I agree that these little monitors have saved us a lot of heartache by alerting us when tire pressure is too low.
4. Soft touch and reflective surface
Many cars on the market come with reflective trim and soft touch materials. These internal parts look nice, but they can get scratched easily, collect dust, and reflect sunlight too strongly. If your car has these types of surfaces, keep them clean with a microfiber cloth.
5. New shifter design
Many automakers no longer put regular “PRNDL” automatic shifters on their cars. Over the years, more and more knobs and buttons have replaced the actual shifter. While these new shifter designs are aesthetically appealing, they can be confusing, especially if you’re trying to shift gears on the fly.
6. All-in-one touch screen
Most new cars today use an all-in-one touchscreen. These screens not only control the infotainment system, but also the HVAC system. These are aesthetically pleasing. However, it can be tricky to use if you need to switch between air conditioning fans or heaters. Consumer Reports noted that physical knobs and buttons for HVAC controls are better.
7. Dashboard phone app
Some infotainment systems now allow drivers to use phone apps via Apple Carplay or Android Auto software. We use these phone integration software all the time and find it much better than using many built-in apps such as navigation on the car’s native system.
8. Phone-based door entry
Gone are the days of having to unlock your car with your key or remote key fob. Recently, brands such as Kia, Genesis, BMW and Tesla offer phone-based door entry apps. That means you can get into your car by pressing a button on your phone app instead of the remote control.
Consumer Reports says the new technology is especially useful when it’s raining. It can also prevent locking the keys inside the car.
9. 360 degree and multi-angle camera view
Rearview cameras have been a must-have feature in cars since 2018. But now automakers are making rear-view cameras even more sophisticated by using multiple angles and more cameras around the car. As you can imagine, these cameras are useful, but keep in mind that you still can’t physically look around before moving the car.
10. Bigger wheels and tires
Many automakers are equipping new cars with large tires of 19, 20, and 21 inches. While they look cool, these wheels are heavy and typically wrapped in low-profile tires with thin sidewalls. These rubber-band-like tires, combined with the large wheels, result in a harsher, noisier ride.
Consumer Reports recommends choosing the smallest size tire possible for greater comfort and better fuel economy.
New car features Top 10 and worst 10
These are the 10 best and worst new car features outlined by Consumer Reports. Many of them are very useful, but some are not so useful. Remember to choose wise options when buying a new car.
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