[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/necessary-car-features\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/necessary-car-features\/","headline":"Car features we can\u2019t do without","name":"Car features we can\u2019t do without","description":"The amount of technology being packed into new cars these days is astounding. Naturally, not all of it is essential, as outlined in our recent \u2018irritating car features we could do without\u2019 column. On the flip side though, there are some gadgets that we\u2019ve grown so accustomed to these days that it just doesn\u2019t feel right when they\u2019re not there. That can be either because it\u2019s a bog-spec entry-level model or maybe it\u2019s an optional extra that wasn\u2019t ticked when […]","datePublished":"2017-08-10","dateModified":"2017-08-11","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Car-features-we-can\u2019t-do-without-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Car-features-we-can\u2019t-do-without-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/necessary-car-features\/","about":["BLOG"],"wordCount":624,"keywords":["Autonomous emergency braking","AUX","Bluetooth","Car features we can\u2019t do without","DAB radio","Electric windows","Remote central locking","sixth gear","Steering wheel-mounted controls"],"articleBody":"The amount of technology being packed into new cars these days is astounding.Naturally, not all of it is essential, as outlined in our recent \u2018irritating car features we could do without\u2019 column.On the flip side though, there are some gadgets that we\u2019ve grown so accustomed to these days that it just doesn\u2019t feel right when they\u2019re not there. That can be either because it\u2019s a bog-spec entry-level model or maybe it\u2019s an optional extra that wasn\u2019t ticked when the car was ordered.These are some of the car features that really should be standard by now.Electric windowsWind-down windows belong in the 1970s. Any car that doesn\u2019t come with electronically controlled windows wants launching into the nearest pillar.Remote central lockingHumans have reached a point in their convenience expectations that sticking a key into a door and turning it is deemed to be a hassle. We now expect our cars to magically let us in with the mere press of a button.BluetoothLet\u2019s face it, the last thing any motorist wants are leads and cables causing tripping hazards in their interior; the wonder that is Bluetooth makes it possible to stream your tunes and phone calls straight from your generic smartphone device through your car\u2019s speakers. Magic.Aux-inWhile Bluetooth is ideal, aux-in is the absolute minimum modern motorists should accept. This means drivers can hook-up their phone (or standalone MP3 player if people still use those) to listen to their own tunes. Admittedly, this means there\u2019s a cumbersome wire stinking up the cabin but in this desperate case, we have to allow it.DAB radioFM and MW radio is old hat; the only way to listen to radio these days is digitally. All the coolest stations are there – BBC 6Music, 1Xtra, 4 Extra, LBC, Absolute 80s – and any car manufacturer demanding extra cash for the privilege of listening to these stations are nothing less than tyrannical money grabbers.A sixth gearThere\u2019s a decent argument to be made that five-speed gearboxes should be illegal by now. On the motorway, they guzzle fuel by not restricting your engine\u2019s headroom. Five-notch transmissions tend to pop up in base or lower-trim models (Peugeot\u2019s five-speeder is notably nasty) and it\u2019s time they were given at least one more gear.Steering wheel-mounted controlsUnless they can\u2019t avoid it, a motorist\u2019s hands shouldn\u2019t really be anywhere but on the steering wheel.Taking a hand off the wheel to fiddle with a touchscreen isn\u2019t ideal, at the expense of safety and the driver\u2019s attention, so sticking whatever controls on the steering wheel is arguably the best way around this.We\u2019ve seen some absolute horror shows in the past though when car makers have tried this, most notably in older generations of the Citroen C4 and Ford Focus; it\u2019s an art form to make it function whilst retaining satisfying form.Parking sensorsMany people aren\u2019t very good at parking, and if avoiding dinks and scratches on our cars means they have to come with a little beeper to tell us we\u2019re getting too close to other vehicles, then so be it.Autonomous emergency brakingCar safety technology is getting cleverer and if any new has any hope of securing a five-star crash test rating from Euro NCAP, it will come with autonomous emergency braking (or AEB for short).These systems comprise various sensors and radars to monitor the road ahead. If they anticipate a collision, they\u2019ll slam on the brakes. Very clever and quite literally a lifesaver.Which features can you simply not do without? Tell us down there in the comments. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Car features we can\u2019t do without","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/necessary-car-features\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]