Summary
- Auto-holding brakes help with hill starts and traffic lights.
- Rain-sensing wipers adjust speed automatically based on rain intensity.
- Adaptive high-beam headlights prevent blinding on the road.
We all want our driving lives to be as easy as possible, right? Nobody enjoys a stressful trip down the freeway, a troubling intersection, or a drive gone awry. How can we make sure that always happens, though?
Thankfully, auto manufacturers are right there with you, because if you enjoy driving their cars, chances are you’ll come back later for another one. Take my mom-car-turned-dude-mobile SUV, for instance. There’s no doubt in my mind that when I look to buy another car, I’ll come crawling back to the same manufacturer before anyone else. Whether it’s on long road trips or just a short jaunt down the street, some features are simply better than others at making your daily drives a bit more enjoyable, and the best part is that you might not even realize that the features at work are doing their job.
These features are not standard on all trims of models throughout any manufacturer’s range, and may need to be optioned for from the factory. It’s always beneficial to ask questions about what features a car does and does not have before purchasing.
1
Auto-holding brakes
No more clutch dumps or hill start stall-outs
The first big feature that is a must for new buyers is auto-holding brakes. These help with things like hill starts and traffic lights, both for different reasons.
Firstly, if you’ve ever driven a manual car, you know how treacherous some hill starts can be, and God forbid you have to complete one in traffic if you’re new to the world of stick shifters. Auto-holding brakes will actually hold your car in place long enough for the car itself to switch into first gear, letting you build up the revs and forward momentum to carry you up the hill safely, and then fully disengage. If you’re looking for a more in-depth explanation, Kia actually has a solid one that they distribute to their dealers.
For traffic lights, it aids in keeping your vehicle still if it’s still in first gear. Come to a stop, and that’s where your vehicle stays until you press the accelerator pedal, then the brakes will disengage, allowing you to go about your merry way. It should be stated that this does not utilize your electronic parking brake on most vehicles, as the auto-holding brakes typically work in conjunction with the ABS system of your car. This has been known, though, to cause rear brake pads to wear through more quickly on some models, so pay attention to the noises coming from the back of your ride.
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2
Rain-sensing wipers
Never over-adjust on the road again
My fiancée always says that one of the most embarrassing things for her when driving is being the only person around her with wipers on full blast. Whether I understand that embarrassment or not is another story, but I myself find it quite annoying when I have to keep adjusting my wiper speed over and over again during the few rainstorms we get here in West Texas.
Thankfully, this is one of those features that just makes life that much easier, and I wouldn’t buy a new ride in 2025 without it. These work from a small infrared sensor, usually around the area of your rearview mirror, and if a company has refined the software, it’s a can’t-miss box to check. It detects light deformities that the rain on the windshield causes, and as the disturbance of light increases, so, too, does the wiper speed.
The first car I ever tested or drove with this technology was a 2017 GMC Yukon Denali, and you could have told me that it was a spaceship at that point, and I’d have believed you.
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3
Adaptive high beam headlights
You don’t ever have to be “that person” on the road again
Arguably my favorite feature on this list, adaptive high beams relieve the stress you didn’t even remember having about blinding other drivers on the road. Arguably the most annoying (and dangerous) thing any driver can experience on the open road is being blinded by someone driving a squatted truck or with an awfully adjusted set of aftermarket headlights. Manufacturers have seen this problem, and adaptive high beams are their response.
Most adaptive headlights do not incorporate fog lights into their systems, so be aware that, if you drive a larger vehicle, they may still be shining in the faces of other drivers.
Back in 2022, the US lifted a restriction on adaptive headlights after seeing how beneficial the technology was in Europe and abroad. Since then, they’ve been made standard on many a mid-range and higher trim from just about every manufacturer possible. While I’m upset that my own car doesn’t have this technology, most new cars that I’ve tested or driven do, and it’s made a world of difference in driving on two-lane highways or even open interstates.
The road should be a safer place for us all, and it can be made so by checking the option box for adaptive high beam headlights. Plus, you never have to worry about blinding someone yourself ever again, and I’d check the box just for that.
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4
Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto
Cutting the chord outside the living room
There’s only one chord left to cut in my house, and it’s the wired CarPlay of my fiancée’s 2021 Jeep Compass. Thankfully, that can be easily remedied now with the various adapters on the market, but if you don’t want to go that route or are already saving up for a new ride, why on earth would you purchase one without wireless connectivity capability already baked in? Manufacturers have realized that this is such a beloved feature that they’re even beginning to include it on base models and fleet cars sold to rental companies. I had wireless connectivity and charging in a rental Hyundai Sonata just a few months ago, even.
The best time to get in the CarPlay or Android Auto boat might be this very second.
There’s really no reason not to opt for wireless capability, and with automakers pushing back on CarPlay Ultra in favor of their own software extensions, the best time to get in the CarPlay or Android Auto boat might be this very second.
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5
Rear seat reminder and monitoring systems
It isn’t just for kids, either
While I don’t have kids of my own, I do have rear seat monitoring technology in my Volkswagen that I mentioned earlier, and it has saved me from leaving my work bag or gym clothes in the back of my car more times than I can count. Additionally, I know plenty of young parents who have opted to add tech like rear seat cameras to their cars in order to keep a watchful eye on their newborn, and the systems are, well, complicated. They often consist of a large wire running about the cabin, which always seems to get in the way at the most inopportune times.
It’s only smart, then, to make sure your next car, especially if you’re a parent to a young child, has both rear seat reminder and monitoring systems in place. Too many times I’ve been scrolling through TikTok or some other app and seen videos of parents being arrested after leaving their child in the car. That’s not saying that it isn’t a horrible thing to do, either. It’s me saying that it can happen to anyone, and a rear seat reminder or monitoring system is only another barrier to protect you and your child from ever having to go through something like that.
