High-Tech New Car Features: Your Guide to Today’s Technology
Are you in the market for a new car and overwhelmed by all the latest features? This guide breaks down the high-tech advancements available today, helping you decide which ones will enhance your driving experience.
As in-car technology continues its rapid evolution, so do our expectations for what a vehicle should offer. Today’s cars do more than simply transport us; they’re equipped with an array of cutting-edge features designed to boost safety, convenience, and connectivity. If you’re returning to the car market after some time or are unfamiliar with the latest tech, the sheer number of options can seem daunting. This guide is designed to provide clarity, demystifying the newest high-tech features that can significantly improve your driving experience.
We’ll look at how these innovative features function to help you determine which ones align with your lifestyle. Keep in mind that some features are available as standalone options, while others are bundled in packages, so be prepared for various configurations when you’re shopping.
Navigating the technical jargon can be tricky, especially considering car brands often use inconsistent terminology. To make the process easier, organizations like AAA and Consumer Reports have advocated for clearer naming conventions.
Plug-in Powertrains
If you want to commute without using gas, but you’re hesitant to commit to a full EV, consider a plug-in hybrid. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) offers a short all-electric range – typically between 20 and 40 miles – and a gas engine that kicks in when you need to travel further. These vehicles address range anxiety, the fear of running out of battery power and being stranded.
Popular plug-in hybrid models include the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Toyota Prius Prime, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, and BMW X5 xDrive45e. With these, you can recharge your hybrid when not in use, ensuring you have electric range for your next trip. If you’re seeking a longer range without gas, an EV that relies solely on electric power is an option.
Biometrics Features
Certain Genesis vehicles allow you to unlock the car and start it without a key or smartphone. This technology uses a fingerprint scanner and a 3D camera, though it is set up via your phone. This means you don’t need the device with you to use these features.
To unlock the vehicle, look into a camera mounted on the pillar between the front and back doors. To start the car, place your finger on the fingerprint scanner located on the center console. While this technology has been common on smartphones for a while, it’s relatively new to the automotive world. Using these features can be tricky in certain situations, such as trying to get the camera to scan your face while parallel parked on a narrow, occupied street. In these cases, the key fob is still most convenient.
Gesture Controls
To remain competitive, automakers constantly try to create the best products for their customers. Infotainment systems have become more sophisticated, adding new features yearly. Gesture controls are a feature that has gained popularity in the last decade.
BMW offers this technology as an optional feature in many of its vehicles, integrating gesture controls for infotainment functionality. You can use hand gestures to adjust the audio volume, accept or reject calls, set custom controls, or even adjust the rearview camera angle. This technology is gradually becoming available from other automakers, including Volkswagen.
Forward Collision Warning
Forward collision warning uses optical or radar sensors to alert you when you’re in imminent danger of colliding with a vehicle or object. The system usually includes beeping and flashing indicators on the dash or windshield, but some cars, like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, can notify you of hazards by vibrating the driver’s seat.
It’s important to remember that forward collision warning is a warning system only; it won’t automatically apply the brakes. Therefore, its purpose is to help prevent rear-end collisions and lessen the subsequent damage and injuries.
Forward Automatic Emergency Braking
Automatic emergency braking (AEB) uses similar sensors as forward collision warning to detect potential collisions, but it goes a step further by automatically applying the brakes to prevent or reduce the severity of a crash. AEB quickly brakes the vehicle, often before you realize an event is occurring.
There are two main types of AEB systems. Some are only active at low speeds, like in city traffic. Many others are full-speed AEB systems, which can work at a wider range of vehicle speeds. If the system cannot bring the car to a complete stop, it will try to lessen the crash’s severity by slowing the car as much as possible. This feature is identified by different names depending on the brand.
Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection
Many cars with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking can also identify pedestrians, cyclists, and even large animals. However, a 2019 AAA study showed that many pedestrian detection systems don’t work when you need them to, especially at night. You must still pay attention to the vehicle’s surroundings, especially when turning. While you definitely should look for cars with AEB, not having pedestrian detection shouldn’t be a deal breaker in your car purchase.
Blind-Spot Monitoring
Using sensors on the vehicle’s rear corners, blind-spot monitoring identifies vehicles in areas not visible in your mirrors. Warnings can include lights on the side mirrors or the windshield pillars. Some systems also have audible warnings if you’re about to change lanes into another vehicle.
If you activate your turn signal when there’s someone in your blind spot on that side of the vehicle, the system usually adds an audible warning to the alert. Some vehicles, like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Genesis G80, use camera-based blind-spot monitoring, which displays a video image of the adjacent lane on the instrument panel or infotainment screen. An enhanced version of blind-spot monitoring is blind-spot intervention, which uses braking or steering attempts to keep you from moving into another vehicle’s path.
Lane-Departure Warning
Lane-departure warning systems use cameras to monitor road markers and alert you when you’re about to, or have, crossed out of your lane. They can alert you with visual and audible warnings, and some vehicles have steering wheel vibrations before drifting into a head-on crash or driving into a ditch. They won’t alert you if your turn signal is on in the direction you’re crossing the line. Some cars, such as the Cadillac XT5, vibrate the seat to let you know when you drift out of your lane.
Lane-Keep Assist
Lane-keep assist takes lane-departure warning a step further. It actively prevents unintended lane changes using the car’s steering or brakes. These corrections are accompanied by audible alerts, warning lights, and usually a shake of the steering wheel.
The system doesn’t take complete control. If you must swerve out of your lane to avoid an obstacle, you can override the car’s intervention by continuing to turn the steering wheel. Activating a turn signal prevents the system from trying to block your turn.
Lane-Centering Assist
Lane-centering assist keeps your car in the middle of its lane. It is intended to be an assist for highway driving, but it is no substitute for having your hands on the wheel. To override the system, turn the wheel in the direction you wish to go.
Driver-Drowsiness Monitoring and Attention Monitoring
The primary goal of driver-drowsiness and attention monitoring systems is to keep you alert and engaged while on the road, preventing crashes resulting from drivers falling asleep or getting distracted. Some systems, like the DriverFocus system in the Subaru Forester, use a camera to observe the driver’s eyes and head position. Other systems use steering wheel-mounted sensors to analyze driver movements.
Adaptive Cruise Control
Standard cruise control maintains a set speed. Adaptive cruise control does the same until you approach slower vehicles. At that point, it slows the car to maintain the set distance.
Adaptive Cruise Control With Stop-and-Go Functionality
Stop-and-go functionality allows adaptive cruise control to operate in a wider range of traffic conditions, using the throttle and brakes to manage the vehicle’s speed in fast highway driving or slow urban traffic.
Heated and Ventilated Seats
Heated and cooled seats and a heated steering wheel are helpful when the car’s cabin is either too hot or too cold. Heated seats have been available for a while, and a heated steering wheel is a more recent innovation. Ventilated seats, which circulate air through the back and bottom of the seat, came later, keeping you from sweating.
Head-Up Displays
A head-up display puts information into the driver’s line of sight by projecting it onto the windshield or a glass panel. Basic head-up displays use one color and show key information, such as speed or forward collision warning alerts. More advanced displays are multi-color, showing speed, navigation cues, and more.
Parking Sensors
Parking sensors use short-range radar or sonar to detect objects that are nearby, alerting the driver. Most systems provide audible and visual alerts, and some use the infotainment screen to show the object’s location.
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
Backing out of a parking spot between two large vehicles can be challenging, and rear cross-traffic alert uses sensors to watch for traffic coming from the sides, sounding an alert if a vehicle is approaching.
Electronic Door Handles
These are the types of door handles that pop out when you approach or unlock the vehicle. While convenient, they may not be easy for emergency responders to use.
Unique Gear Shifters
While most automatic transmissions use a line of letters in the console, recent years have seen the return of push-button transmissions and rotary shifters.
Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking
Rear automatic braking applies the brakes after sensing an imminent collision, to prevent rearward collisions. It is a standard feature in an increasing number of models. In some cases, it works with parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert.
Automatic High-Beam Headlights
Automatic high-beam headlights use a camera to look for oncoming headlights and taillights, switching on your high beams if none are detected. They only operate above certain speeds and don’t register cars turning from side streets.
Adaptive Headlights
Adaptive headlights monitor the angle of your steering wheel and respond by swiveling the headlights or activating cornering lights to better illuminate your path around corners.
Adaptive Suspension
Adaptive suspension allows drivers to choose a smoother ride or sharpen the vehicle’s handling. Some have modes that lower the car to improve handling.
Traffic-Sign Recognition
Traffic-sign recognition uses a camera to identify different traffic signs, displaying the information on the instrument panel and head-up display.
Surround-View Camera System
A surround-view camera system combines multiple exterior cameras to create a bird’s eye view. It’s helpful for tight spaces, like parking garages.
Night Vision
Night vision uses a specialized camera to see well ahead of the headlights.
Premium Audio Systems
A premium audio system offers more speakers and a higher-powered amplifier for better sound quality. Some luxury cars come standard with premium audio systems.
Rear-Seat Reminder Systems
Rear-seat reminder systems are meant to prevent children from being left behind in hot cars. Most systems display a reminder when you turn the car off, to check the back seat.
Vehicle Exit Warning Systems
These systems alert the driver of approaching vehicles on the street side of the parked car, to help prevent “dooring” accidents.
Semi-Automated Driving Systems
Semi-automated driving systems combine features like adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist. They are driver assists, not replacements, and are meant to help drivers in certain situations. The systems can be affected by road, weather, and lighting conditions.
Automatic Parking
An automatic parking system identifies parking spaces and controls the steering to get you into the spot. More advanced systems manage braking and shifting as well.
Four-Wheel Steering
Four-wheel steering uses all four wheels to steer, allowing for better maneuverability and handling, especially at low and moderate speeds.
Off-Road Technologies
Today’s off-road vehicles use advanced technologies like hill descent control, crawl control, and selectable vehicle dynamics to maintain traction and control.
Trailer-Towing Technologies
Automakers are making trailer towing easier with technologies like integrated trailer brake controls and advanced camera systems.
With this information, you can better navigate today’s vehicle technology and make informed decisions tailored to your needs – whether you are prioritizing safety, efficiency, or convenience in your next car.
