Car functions we can no longer live without

Let’s face it: today’s drivers are spoiled. Today, you can buy a car with air conditioning and massaging seats that practically drives itself, whereas a few decades ago, luxury meant digital gauges and velour seats. Cars are so advanced these days that getting into a rental car can be jarring, especially if it doesn’t have the few basic features we all rely on for our daily commute. That’s why we’ve put together a list of 10 automotive features we can’t live without these days.

These features include everything from everyday necessities to enjoyable luxuries, but the idea of ​​going without them in a future car is almost unimaginable. We’re sure some of these options will become obsolete over time, but until then, we plan to enjoy every minute of them, and if you have any favorites of your own, feel free to share them with us in the comments section below.

1 Bluetooth

The first entry on the list is a heavyweight that almost none of us could imagine life without. The technical term for this technology is that it is a shortwave system that uses frequencies to allow one device to connect to another. There are many uses for it, but by far the most common is connecting your phone to wireless headphones, a speaker, and your vehicle. This allows drivers to stream their music and make phone calls through their vehicle without the need for a wired connection. It makes it easier to keep your eyes on the road while driving, and getting in and out of the vehicle is less of a hassle. It’s so commonplace these days that it’s unimaginable that a new car would ship without this technology, and automakers are always finding new ways to use it.

2 Rear view cameras

Saying that a rearview camera is something we can’t live without is perhaps a little arbitrary given the legal requirement, but it is nonetheless one of those tools that is truly groundbreaking. While concept cars with such a system have been around since the 1950s, the first production car to use it was the 1991 Toyota Soarer, better known outside Japan as the Lexus SC. This system was only offered in Japan, and it wasn’t until the 2002 Infiniti Q45 that the technology made its way to the U.S.

A little over a decade later, the U.S. government passed a law mandating the technology on future vehicles, and the rest is history. It’s a very simple system compared to today’s technology, but it has saved the lives of drivers and pedestrians countless times now, and it also makes driving your 17-foot-tall lifted truck a lot easier.

3 Cup holder

This list is not a ranking, but just a list of different vehicle features that we cannot live without. was To rate them, number one would be the cup holder. Such a simple invention seems to have been around since the dawn of automobile manufacturing, but many are surprised that this feature did not become widespread until the mid-80s with the introduction of the minivan.

Chrysler was the first company in the U.S. to install the modern cup holder in its K-series vans, but the concept was decades old, spurred by the proliferation of drive-ins and fast-food restaurants. The idea of ​​not having a place to put your drink in your car is laughable to anyone under 50, but for most of automotive history, that’s been the case. Sometimes the future is brighter.

4 Seat heating

A heated steering wheel and ventilated seats may be a little redundant, but we think heated seats are a must in any car where the temperature regularly drops below 20 degrees. Don’t you think so? Then you’ve probably never woken up at dawn on a day with single-digit temperatures, spent 10 minutes digging your Toyota RAV4 out of the snow, and then got into the driver’s seat only to have ice-cold air blown into your face. Heated seats are a godsend, a true revelation in such moments, and we wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. All we can say is: God bless the inventor of this invention, Robert L. Ballard.

The next big step in this regard will be the heated seat belt, which keeps your whole body warm and not just your bottom.

5 Wireless Apple Carplay/Android Auto

After decades of allowing automakers to tinker with onboard operating systems with varying degrees of success, it was time for companies like Apple and Google to enter the fray. This makes perfect sense: Automakers focus on building the best car, while software companies focus on developing the best onboard software.

Integrating the two creates a seamless experience that connects your vehicle to you. Not only does this mean you look at your phone less often while driving, but it also lets you use many of the apps you’re used to without having to go through complicated steps. Additionally, the system’s wireless connection saves time and won’t result in a broken cable ruining your road trip. While it’s fair to be suspicious of the growing influence of certain companies on our daily lives, it’s hard not to appreciate how much they help us in our day-to-day lives.

6 Remote start

Much like heated seats, remote start is great if you live in a cold climate, but has the double benefit of also being a fantastic benefit if you live in a hot area. Another system whose origins date back decades, the first company to release the system from the factory was General Motors in the early 2000s, but aftermarket solutions have been available for years. While systems in the past were unable to bypass the vehicle’s anti-theft system, modern systems have found ways to bypass it thanks to their factory integration. That’s fine for using the system, but opens the door for less scrupulous individuals to spoof your key and easily steal your car.

7 Cruise control

As far as automotive technology goes, cruise control is undoubtedly one of the oldest. It dates back to the early days of the automobile at the turn of the century, when the idea of ​​installing a controller that would allow the driver to maintain a certain speed was not all that complicated. The invention as we know it today was created in 1948 by a blind inventor named Ralph Teetor, and the 1958 Chrysler Imperial was the first car to be delivered from the factory with it. It was called “autopilot,” while Cadillac introduced it as “cruise control” soon after.

Today’s system is so advanced that it can even regulate your speed in relation to other cars or objects in your path, so you don’t have to concentrate as hard when driving on the highway. That doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay attention, but it’s invaluable on long drives and a really necessary piece of automotive technology.

8 Parking sensors/blind spot monitoring

These two go hand in hand with a rear view camera, but their use goes beyond that too. These sensors use either ultrasonic or electromagnetic systems to detect objects in the vehicle’s path and either warn or initiate emergency braking to avoid a collision. While your eyes are your first line of defense against any accident, sometimes a vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian is right in your blind spot. That’s when it’s extremely useful to have a warning beacon or flashing light on the dashboard to alert you that something is in the way. It’s a simple but effective system and instantly makes negotiating a busy parking lot much safer.

9 Head-Up Display (HUD)

General Motors was once one of the most innovative and high-performance companies in the world, so it’s no surprise that the company was the first to introduce this cutting-edge aircraft technology into its vehicles when it launched the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in 1988. The technology soon exploded in popularity, and today many vehicles can be equipped with this technology as an option.

The main benefit is that you don’t have to take your eyes off the road while driving and you have access to important vehicle information like speed, direction, range and more. It’s one of those things that once you start using it, you’ll never want to be without it. Just remember that it will be much harder to lie to the cop the next time he asks you if you knew how fast you were going.

10 Keyless access/start at the push of a button

The last new addition to the list is the one-two punch of keyless entry and push-button start. We mean true keyless entry too, not just the Ford touchpad you can get in your Bronco (though that has its advantages too). This technology gives you the ability to simply walk up to your vehicle, unlock it either by touching the handle or simply by approaching it, get in, and then click a button to start the car. No more fumbling with your things to find your keys and then struggling to put them in the ignition. Just a seamless process that makes driving your vehicle so much easier.