Features in cars have come a long way – from LED lights and touchscreens to ventilated seats and connected car tech, we've seen them all. While some of these features come in handy and work as intended, others make one question why they exist in the first place. Here's a list of car features that drivers may find unpleasant to deal with.
1. Touchscreen-based HVAC and other controls
Screens come loaded with features, but force you to take your eyes off the road.
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In yesteryear cars, functions like adjusting the volume or changing your audio source were via physical buttons, which was convenient to use on the move without getting distracted. However, after being replaced by touch panels and screens, form trumps function. Some have capacitive touch panels for controlling HVAC functions, but these don't always respond well to touch inputs. Others pack everything into the touchscreen, so getting acquainted takes time and forces the driver to take their eyes off the road.
2. Turning off ADAS features
In some cars, you need to turn off ADAS every time you start the car.
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ADAS is a good-to-have safety feature, but with our cities having poor, unmarked roads and chaotic traffic, it's not useful in most scenarios. Some drivers would prefer to turn off ADAS completely; however, a few cars reset the ADAS settings every time you switch on the car, forcing drivers to switch it off every time.
This could lead to someone rear ending you if the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system reacts suddenly to a two- or three-wheeler, a person, or an animal that comes in your way.
3. Unnecessary voice prompts or alerts
Loud beeps could distract some drivers.
Modern cars come with a number of safety warnings, but these can be distracting. For example, the rear seat belt alert on some cars keeps beeping even when there is no rear passenger. Similarly, safety alerts for ADAS and parking sensors keep beeping in traffic, despite your car being a safe distance away from other vehicles.
4. Capacitive touch buttons on the steering
Touch-based steering controls are unresponsive at times.
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While steering-mounted controls for answering calls and adjusting media are useful, modern cars get touch-sensitive buttons that can be triggered accidentally.
5. Engine auto start/stop
If not calibrated well, it could be an irritant in stop-and-go traffic conditions.
Engine auto start/stop turns off your engine when idling in traffic. However, if not calibrated well, it turns off your engine before you even come to a stop. Moreover, it takes a lot more time to restart your engine, making it an irritant in slow-moving, stop-and-go traffic.
6. Ambient lighting
Bright lights can make you lose focus.
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Ambient lighting is a common feature in cars these days, and it goes well to enhance the in-cabin experience if done subtly. But some manufacturers tend to overdo it, integrating it into every function, which could be disturbing.
When synced with ADAS and other features, it's also used for visual alerts, which can be intrusive and take away your focus from driving.
