Buying a new car comes with some pretty great perks. New car smell, shiny paint, and a great new ride are exciting enough. And these days, you get so much more, like some pretty astounding luxury features that come standard or low-cost, allowing you to put the phone away and focus on the road. Take a look at some of the coolest tech now available in new cars.
Driver Assists
Driver assists make today’s cars safer than ever before. They can give you an alert to note potential hazards, and in some cases even take over for you automatically. One such type of driver assist system is adaptive cruise control. Adaptive cruise control uses radar or laser to maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front of you. What does that mean for you? A less frustrating drive, since you don’t have to constantly brake and accelerate in traffic.
And some of these systems will even bring the car to a complete halt and go again automatically, decreasing driving stress even more. One step further (and safer) is forward collision prevention. By using a radar sensor and often also cameras, it can detect danger and alert the driver and even stop the car if a collision is imminent.
360-Degree Camera
Parking has gotten a lot easier in recent years with the introduction of backup cameras. Add in cameras on every side, and you have a 360-degree view. Which comes in super handy at the store, when parallel parking, changing lanes with blind spots, and even squeezing into the garage. Even better news is that these 360-degree cameras are more and more available and affordable, coming standard even on moderately priced cars these days.
Audio
Gone are the days of crackling radios and dull-sounding speakers. Fantastic audio systems now come standard or low-cost in most new cars. Like the Ford Focus SYNC audio system. Or the Mazda3’s Bose Centerpoint audio system. Or the optional 8-speaker Apine audio system for the Dodge Dart.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Infotainment
The ability to replace a car’s infotainment system with your own smartphone via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto means a more seamless driving experience. These tethering ecosystems are working across more and more infotainment platforms, making the interface safer and more familiar than the infotainment system that comes with the car.
And good news if you like a hands-off experience. Some manufacturers like Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen, and BMW are incorporating Amazon’s Alexa voice control in their vehicles. That means that drivers can speak to Alexa to control the car’s infotainment system and avoid the hassle of figuring it out altogether. Drivers can get navigation directions, make changes, and choose songs by voice alone.
If you didn’t have new car fever before, you certainly do now. Want to get a jump start on that new car fund? Here’s our best trick to start saving: Enroll in Drivewise and get cash back for everyday safe driving. It’s the driver’s incentive program that gives you cash back for everyday safe driving. Finally, a way to get rewarded for driving at safe speeds, minimizing late-night trips, and limiting hard braking.
