Technology is constantly evolving and improving in the automotive industry. Here are some of my favorites tech features you’ll definitely want.
Sponsored Content, By Chelsea Bancroft
Technology is constantly evolving and improving in the automotive industry. Do you remember when power windows were the coolest new feature in vehicles? Boy, have we come a long way since then! With my job, I get to drive a lot of different vehicles and experience some of the newest tech features. Here are some of my favorites that you’re definitely going to want in your next vehicle.
360-degree Camera
When backup cameras first came out, it was life-changing. And now they are mandatory in all new vehicles. But automakers have outdone themselves. Many vehicles now have 360-degree cameras. That’s right, the car’s display can show a virtual top-down view of your entire surroundings. It’s amazing and makes parking and maneuvering through tough spaces much safer for everyone!
Radar Cruise Control
This has to be one of my favorite features to come out in vehicles recently. Adaptive radar cruise control lets you maintain a set speed and minimum following distance from the car in front of you. If the vehicle in front of you slows down, even comes to a complete stop, your vehicle can automatically slow or stop as needed. Trust me: It’s a godsend in heavy traffic.
Automatic Lift Gate
This feature is incredibly helpful to have when you’re car-rying a lot of things. Just the push of a button will raise the car’s trunk lift gate and lower it back down again
Heads-up Display
This futuristic feature projects important info, like speed, on the bottom of the car’s windshield. (I tell people it’s kind of like a hologram.) It makes monitoring your speed much easier because you don’t have to take your eyes off the road.
Blind-spot Monitoring
Blind-spot monitoring systems alert you when a vehicle is in your blind spot and help prevent collisions
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
These systems sync with your smartphone and allow you to be more connected and access a variety of apps right through your car’s infotainment center.
Push to Start
If you’re like me and carry a big purse, this feature is a necessity. Gone are the days of digging through your purse to find your car keys!
Automatic Emergency Breaking
When driving at lower speeds like in the city or a parking lot, a forward camera can detect vehicles/pedestrians and warn you to brake when needed. It will even apply the brakes automatically if you do not react in time. I knew my Mazda had this feature, but only recently did I experience it for the first time. This feature was the sole reason I did not rear-end the person who stopped short in front of me. (If my boss is reading this, sorry!)
Lane-keep Assist
This feature will perform minor steering corrections to recenter your vehicle if it senses you are unintentionally drifting out of the lane.
Adaptive Headlights
Do you ever find yourself driving at night on a winding road and wishing you could see better around a turn? Introducing adaptive headlights: As you turn, the headlights will pivot in the direction of your turn, improving visibility and allowing you to see any potential hazards ahead.
Auto-adjusting High Beams
With auto-adjusting high beams, you’ll never be that jerk on the road blinding other drivers because you forgot to dim your bright lights. This system senses when another vehicle is approaching and automatically turns off your car’s high beams until the other vehicle passes.
Wi-Fi Hotspots
What I would’ve done to have one of these in my mom’s car when I was a kid. Netflix on a long road trip? Yes, please.
Massaging Seats
Are heated and cooled seats not enough for you? Apparently, you can now buy vehicles that come with massaging seats! Ahhh!
These features make certain aspects of driving more convenient, and while that’s great, more importantly, they are improving safety on the road. They’re definitely worth considering when purchasing your next vehicle.
Chelsea Bancroft is the strategic-partnerships and social-media manager at Roger Beasley Mazda and a blogger at onechelofanadventure.com.