The 10 most annoying new car features as chosen by you
Car changing is a big deal
New cars come packed with tech, but not all of it is good. Here are the 10 most annoying features in new cars as chosen by our audience.
Cars are much more complicated these days than they used to be. Back in 2008 my parents bought a car with a CD player in it, and I thought that was the height of technology. These days though cars have AI assistants, self-driving aids and screens bigger than the TV I had in my childhood bedroom.
Some new car tech is brilliant, but some is also infuriating. That’s why I asked the Carwow Reddit audience for their least favourite new car features, and after over 200 responses these are the top 10 things you hate the most.
Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.
- Touchscreens/loss of physical buttons
- Lane-keeping assist
- Speed limit warnings
- Subscription-based features
- Driver attention monitoring
- Automatic emergency braking
- Excessive beeps and bongs
- LED headlights
- Digital rear-view mirrors
- Oversized grilles and illuminated badges
1. Touchscreens/loss of physical buttons
This was your biggest grievance by quite some margin; it seems like you much prefer proper knobs and dials over big, dominating touchscreens. Many users commented on touchscreens being distracting, while others say they look tacky and attract fingerprints.
Thankfully, many cars do still come with physical buttons and sensible-sized screens. Just look at the Mazda 3 for example, and the new Renault 5 also uses proper switchgear.
2. Lane-keeping assist
Next up we have lane-keeping assist, and this isn’t a feature which is going anywhere anytime soon. All new cars must be equipped with it according to EU safety regulations, but it doesn’t always work reliably.
I’ve certainly got experience of lane-keeping assist pulling me into the path of a parked car when I try to go around it, and many of you have experienced similar situations. The best way around it is to familiarise yourself with how to switch it off.
3. Speed limit warnings
Obviously we don’t endorse speeding, but speed limit warning systems are among your biggest pet peeves. Sometimes the car’s camera can read the wrong signs, so it starts beeping at you because it thinks the limit is lower than it is.
This is another mandatory feature in new cars, but it can be turned off. That said, one user commented that they were so fed up with turning it off all the time they now stick to the speed limit to stop the bonging, so the system clearly works.
4. Subscription-based features
Subscription-based features have been a huge point of controversy in the last couple of years. BMW started off by locking your heated seats behind a paywall, but faced such severe backlash that it had to U-turn on that decision.
But some brands still offer subscriptions in cars. You have to pay to unlock your top speed in certain Mercedes models, and BMW still charges a fee to unlock adaptive cruise control in some cars.
5. Driver attention monitoring
This one drives me crazy as well as you. I used to have a Volvo EX30 which would beep at me all the time to say I wasn’t paying attention, even if I was just checking my mirror on a slip road or trying to dig through the touchscreen to change the temperature.
It’s ironic really, because the warning is a distraction in itself. This is another one of those features we’re stuck with due to regulations, so you’ll just have to switch it off when you get in the car.
6. Automatic emergency braking
Automatic emergency braking is one of those safety features which could prove life-saving if it goes off at the right time, but it can be over-zealous at times. My Skoda Fabia jammed on the anchors in town the other day for no apparent reason, serving only to increase my heart rate a bit.
7. Excessive beeps and bongs
This one ties into all the safety features we’ve mentioned above, but a lot of modern cars love to beep at you. Whether it’s upset that you’re straying over the central line to overtake a cyclist, it thinks you’re tired or it’s just cold outside, too many beeps can make you deaf to all of them, which defeats the point if you ask me.
8. LED headlights
A few of you mentioned how bright modern headlights can be, and you’re not alone. Many cars use LED or even laser lights, and while they improve visibility for the driver they can dazzle those around them. Research from the RAC suggests that 82% of drivers are concerned by dazzling headlights, and the government is also looking into the issue.
9. Digital rear-view mirrors
This is a bit of a niche one, but some of you really don’t like cameras replacing traditional mirrors. One comment says this is just technology for technology’s sake, and in my experience they’re not as easy to use as normal mirrors. You don’t get the same depth of view, and adjusting your eyes to look at the screen can cause some strain after a while.
10. Oversized grilles and illuminated badges
Finally, we come to the only styling detail mentioned by our audience. Massive grilles have been a trend for a few years now, and they’re only getting bigger. Just look at the new BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class. Light-up badges are also getting more common, but quite a few of you are not fans.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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