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Today's new cars come filled to the brim with all sorts of weird and wonderful tech, some that has now become essential, whilst others not so much. But while the list of available technology continues to grow, are drivers actually using it?
We surveyed UK drivers to find out.
The car features drivers genuinely love
When it comes to the tech features that drivers actually love, it really is all about keeping it basic.
Bluetooth connectivity is the king of in-car tech, topping the list of the features drivers say they regularly use and like, with 58.3% naming it as one of the technologies they couldn't live without. It makes sense, as this is now the primary way of connecting our smartphones with applications like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay usage becoming widespread. Bluetooth really is now an expectation and massively convenient for most of us.
Reversing cameras are the second most appreciated feature, with 45.7% of drivers saying they regularly use them, closely followed by built-in satellite navigation (44.5%) and heated windscreens (41%).
So it’s the practical everyday tech that is most loved, the tech that solves a real-life problem or makes driving just that little bit easier. Reversing cameras stop you from bumping your car and save you from costly repair bills, sat navs get you where you need to be, and heated windscreens are one of those things you wonder how you ever lived without.
Switching our focus to comfort tech, heated seats (31.9%) and wireless phone charging (31.9%) have become everyday staples for many motorists, while safety-focused technologies such as blind spot monitoring (29.4%) and 360-degree cameras (27.8%) are now firmly entering the mainstream.
Interestingly, driving modes that allow motorists to switch between Eco, Comfort or Sport settings are also widely appreciated, with 27.3% regularly using them. Drivers aged 25 to 34, are more likely to use this feature (38.3%). This is likely driven by the rise in petrol and charging costs, so being able to adapt your car's consumption with this type of tech is becoming increasingly popular.
The 'hidden car features' drivers don't understand
Over the years, car tech has improved drastically, but with new features comes added complexity. Put simply, there are new tech features in our cars that drivers simply don’t understand how to use.
Adaptive cruise control is the clearest example.
More than a quarter (25.9%) of respondents who have it actively choose not to use it, and a further 7% admit they don't know how it works.
It’s a similar story with augmented reality head-up displays: 17.1% of drivers avoid them altogether, and another 7% don't know how to operate them.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Nearly 18% actively avoid lane-keeping assist, 17.8% don't use voice assistants and more than one in five (21.3%) choose not to use automatic emergency braking. There’s a common thread from drivers when discussing safety features like lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking, in that the very feature that is meant to make driving safer, can actually have the opposite effect. Many drivers report that these systems can be overly aggressive, sometimes causing more harm than good. With no way to control the level of assistance for many of these features, the only option is to turn them off completely.
Car features and technology many people never use
Not using some new car tech due to a lack of understanding is one thing, but when it comes to other headline-grabbing innovations, they simply aren't available in most drivers' vehicles. Likely because they are reserved for luxury vehicles or top-of-the-range specs of familiar models.
Topping the list of luxury tech missing from vehicles are massaging seats, 67.3% of respondents say their car doesn't have them. Remote engine start via a smartphone app is absent from 62% of vehicles, while 60.5% say they don't have an augmented reality head-up display.
Similarly, smartphone-controlled temperature settings are missing from 57.3% of cars, while more than half (55.2%) don't have a heated steering wheel.
Alex Lee, Automotive Expert at Dick Lovett, commented:
“There is an interesting observation to be made here, in that many manufacturers often use premium features to market new models, however many drivers are still purchasing vehicles where these options simply aren't included. Likely due to the extra increase in cost vs perceived value”.
Even among drivers who do have access to these premium extras, usage can be surprisingly low.
Only 22% of owners regularly use massaging seats, while just 22.4% actively use an augmented reality head-up display. Remote start via an app is used by only 24.5% of owners, despite being heavily promoted by manufacturers.
Unsurprisingly, technologies linked to smartphone apps see much stronger uptake among younger motorists. Around one in three drivers aged under 35 regularly use app-based temperature controls, compared with only 11% of drivers aged over 55. Likewise, remote start is used by around a quarter of younger drivers but falls to just 5.1% among the oldest age group.
Education is the key to adoption
Ultimately our survey highlights that whilst new tech in cars is welcome by drivers, it’s the tech that does the basics well that drivers really find the most useful. Features such as bluetooth connectivity, reverse cameras, heated windscreens, and navigation systems are by far the most used.
In the near future, manufacturers will need to make sure they educate drivers about some of the more innovative tech within their cars, so they feel confident using it and see the benefits. This will go some way to helping drivers make the decision to spend that little extra on a higher spec model.
