Thanks to technology and constant innovation, humans have gone from horse-drawn carriages to self-driving cars. Today, transportation is safer and more comfortable. Yet, not every innovation hit the mark because some “luxury” car things fell flat. Here are 20 features that became unnecessary and ridiculous despite their extravagant labels.

Fake Exhaust Tips

The usual defense for fake exhaust tips is that they make the car look better and give a sporty vibe. Those fake ones are flashy, hollow illusions that don’t improve performance. This deceitful fashion statement is to make Plain Jane look like an aggressive car. Surprisingly, the original Lamborghini Miura had fake tailpipes.

Soft-Close Doors

What’s better and less expensive, telling passengers not to slam the car doors or paying for soft-close doors that need costly maintenance? Such an “innovative upgrade” was first used on cabinets and housing to reduce door slamming and damage with motors and vacuum systems. It’s basic and feels like solving a non-existing problem.

Motorized Cup Holders

Motorized cup holders are another high-sounding, high-tech thing that’s an over-engineered solution. Watching your cup holder appear with a smooth, silent glide feels cool—once. But what happens when the mechanism jams or breaks? Or when the holder model is too small for the driver’s or passenger’s cup. Convenience over luxury.

Remote Park Assist

A car that parks itself remotely sounds fun, worthwhile, and futuristic, but it’s often more trouble than it’s worth. According to instructions on car websites, everything must be picture-perfect for the remote parking feature to work well—plenty of space, precise sensors, and a steady internet connection. Meanwhile, a skilled driver could park faster and easier.

Backward-Hinged Doors

Those “suicide doors” were stylish in the ’70s, but they’re not called “keep you alive doors” now, are they? Opening them in tight parking spaces may be extra work and inconvenient for most passengers who have to lean more forward to get out. If regular door designs are more user-friendly, style without function is pointless.

Glass Gear Knobs

When Volvo brought glass gear knobs with help from Orrefors, a Swedish crystal-making company, the goal was to exude luxury. The accent did—for a short while. Though sleek, the aesthetics wore off when nails, jewelry, and other metallic objects scratched the glass and ruined its appearance. Why spend more on such a temporary luxury?

Voice and Gesture Control Systems 

Talking to your car or waving your hand to change settings once looked like the best thing since sliced bread. But it frustrated drivers when voice commands misunderstood simple requests and gesture controls needed repeated, exaggerated movements. Although these controls can help direct navigation systems, drivers prefer knobs, buttons, and switches.

Social Media Integration

Distracted driving claimed 3,308 lives in 2022. These alarming figures confirm that cars are for driving, not scrolling through feeds, and social media integration as a “luxury” only invites trouble. Besides, smartphones already have it. So, having social media in a car could lead to more accidents by diverting driver attention from the road. 

Illuminated Car Badges

Such car badges are used to sell the brand from the customer’s pockets. Though stylish, an illuminated car badge drains your battery at its best. The worst? In 2020, Mercedes-Benz recalled 12,799 2020 GLE and GLS SUVs because the illuminated star badge’s electrical ground was installed incorrectly and affected other systems, including the power steering.

Massaging Seats  

Massaging seats sound luxurious, but let’s be honest—who needs a spa in a car? The extra cost and weight is unnecessary and feel like sitting on a malfunctioning chair. Worse, a massaging seat can distract drivers, risking safety. If massages are better at home or the spa, giving massaging seats in a car is a pointless gimmick.

Customizable Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting lets you use different colors for your car’s interior, but are the lights useful? Like fake exhaust pipes, they don’t improve driving. The person-hours and money used to develop this accent could’ve been better spent. Your car isn’t a nightclub, and interior lights reduce your ability to see outside the vehicle.

Heads-Up Display  

HUDs display project speed, navigation, or alerts on the windshield as if most of this information isn’t already on the dashboard—just a glance away. These displays are unnecessary information overload that distract and clutter your view. HUDs look advanced, like you’re driving a fighter jet, but are an unnecessary tech flex. Clear windshields are clear.

Electronic Parking Brakes

Perhaps context helps us understand that “old-school” parking brakes give fewer headaches than “innovative” electronic ones. Unlike its electronic counterpart, the former is more dependable and has better control, which can fail and cost a fortune to repair. Pressing a button might feel modern with less effort, but cost and reliability are issues worth considering.

Fake Engine Noise  

Why would anyone choose to have their car roar like a lion only to get left in the dust of another. Car makers who add the fake engine noise, pumped through speakers, want drivers to feel more “powerful.” However, it’s distracting, annoying, and doesn’t fool anyone who knows cars. Modern engines should be efficient and quiet.

Motorized Seat Belt Presenter

Seat belt presenters extend the belt toward the driver or passenger when the occupant sits down and the door closes. The motorized version adds unnecessary mechanics that can break over time—more debits for repairs. Since only a few drivers need a robotic arm to help, motorized seat belt presenters should be optional rather than standard.

Automatic Headlights

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is the perfect statement to protest against automatic headlights and over-reliance on automation. They sound great but not as good as hitting a button. For complaints, their sensors may keep lights off in daytime fog and heavy rain and delay activation even in pitch darkness. 

In-built Refrigerator

A fridge might seem cool, but how often do you need a mini-fridge on the road? Besides, such units eat up trunk space and battery life, and most can barely chill a soda. For long trips, a portable cooler works better and costs less. You’d find a built-in refrigerator on 2024 Land Rovers and the BMW E65 760.

Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers

It’s easy to love automated wipers, but they often fail to read the rain accurately. Those wipers might go wild in drizzle and lag in a heavy downpour. While the idea is clever, you don’t want to have malfunctioning wipers on in extreme weather conditions. Overall, they’re more troublesome than using preset, intermittent speeds.

Touchpad Infotainment Systems and Controllers

Isn’t it ironic that touchscreens and touchpad controllers display pop-up messages to remind drivers not to be distracted by stuff on the screen? If it’s illegal in some areas to use mobile devices while driving, it isn’t okay to stare at a GPS or radio tuner that divides your attention.

Back Seat Entertainment

“There’s a mini-tv in the back seat” sounds posh and luxurious until the passenger gets in to discover that the TV has a limited stack of video music, movies, or programs all accessible on their smartphone. Then, everything gets boring and pointless. Why bother with costly built-in screens when passengers can use their devices?