The goal of car features should be to enhance the driving experience, improve safety, and offer value to the driver. Unfortunately, some features fall short of these goals. Modern car manufacturers are cramming vehicles with ever-more technology, but some features create more problems than they solve. Let’s look at a few of these so-called “innovations” that leave drivers feeling frustrated rather than impressed.

Gesture Control: Waving Away Safety

Imagine trying to adjust the radio volume by waving your hand in mid-air. That’s the basic idea behind gesture control. While it might seem like a futuristic gimmick, gesture control systems are often inaccurate and require constant calibration. More importantly, they take your eyes off the road, significantly compromising safety. Drivers overwhelmingly prefer the reliability and ease of use offered by physical buttons and knobs.

Voice Activated Everything: Not Always Listening

Voice recognition technology can be useful for hands-free operation, but it’s far from perfect. Background noise, strong accents, and even the car’s own engine noise can lead to misinterpretations. Imagine asking for navigation to a specific address and ending up at a restaurant instead! Furthermore, shouting commands while driving can be awkward and feel unnatural.

In-Cabin Touchscreens for Everything: A Recipe for Disaster

Large touchscreens seem sleek and modern at first glance, but they quickly become a nightmare covered in fingerprints and smudges. Taking your eyes off the road to fiddle with a touchscreen for climate control or seat adjustments is a recipe for disaster. Physical buttons and knobs are far easier to use without compromising safety.

Luxury Letdowns: Features That Don’t Deliver on the Hype

Carmakers often tout luxury features as a major selling point, but some of these additions don’t quite live up to the hype. Ahead are a few examples.

Panoramic Sunroofs: Great Views, Big Drawbacks

Panoramic sunroofs offer expansive views and can make a car’s interior feel more spacious. However, they also contribute to increased cabin heat, especially during hot weather. Additionally, they can leak and are more vulnerable to theft compared to traditional sunroofs. For many drivers, the downsides outweigh the benefits.

Heated/Cooled Seats: Not for Everyone, Everywhere

Heated seats are a welcome comfort on a cold winter morning. However, in hot climates, they become unnecessary. Cooled seats can be a perk, but not everyone finds them essential. Car companies offering all-season heated/cooled seats as standard features might be better off making them optional, allowing for a more customizable buying experience.

Massaging Seats: A Fading Novelty

While some drivers enjoy the initial novelty of massaging seats, the experience often wears off quickly. The massage function itself can be weak or uncomfortable, and not everyone finds it relaxing. Furthermore, massaging seats can add unnecessary costs to a vehicle.

Questionable Design Choices: Features That Leave Drivers Confused

Sometimes, car designers get a little too creative, resulting in features that leave drivers scratching their heads. Up ahead are a few examples of questionable design choices.

Automatic Engine Start/Stop: A Jerky Annoyance

Automatic engine start/stop is a feature that is meant to help save fuel by shutting off the engine when the car comes to a complete stop. However, the restarting process can be jerky and annoying, especially in stop-and-go traffic. Some drivers also worry about this feature’s long-term wear and tear on the starter motor. Many drivers prefer the control of manually restarting their engines.

Fake Engine Noise: Unwanted Soundtrack

Some car manufacturers, particularly those of electric or hybrid vehicles,  add artificial engine noise to enhance the driving experience. However, many drivers find this fake engine noise to be unnatural and annoying. Drivers who choose electric or hybrid vehicles likely do so for the quieter ride, and fake engine noise negates that benefit.

Ambiguous Button Layouts: A Safety Hazard

Confusing button placements require drivers to look away from the road to use controls, posing a safety hazard. Buttons and knobs should be intuitive and easy to locate.

Other Dislikes: Features That Add Up the Costs

Car companies are increasingly resorting to tactics that nickel and dime drivers. Swipe through some other features that many drivers find frustrating.

Always-On Features: A Drain on Resources

Daytime running lights (DRLs) are a safety feature that keeps your car visible during the day. The problem? Some cars lack the option to turn them off entirely. This can be annoying for drivers who park their vehicles for long periods or in areas where constant light emission is unwanted. Beyond DRLs, other always-on features like interior lights or automatic climate control systems can lead to a parasitic battery drain, especially for cars not driven daily.

Subscription-Based Features: Paying Extra to Use What You Own?

Heated seats and remote start used to be considered comfort or convenience features. Now, some car companies are offering them as part of a monthly subscription service. Drivers feel this is a way to nickel and dime them for features that should be standard or available as one-time purchases. It raises the question of whether you’re truly buying a car or simply renting access to all its functionalities.