10 Features You Might Not Realize Your Vehicle Has

There are some safety and comfort-enhancing pieces of tech you may have missed in your ride.

Brennan Sullivan | 

Sep 1, 2023 | 5 min read

Subaru

Updated on September 19, 2023

The technology in modern vehicles is advancing rapidly, but that technology can feel overwhelming for some drivers. As a result, car owners may be unaware of features they could put to good use — especially in used cars. From audio controls to drivers' aids, we've compiled 10 modern car features vehicle owners might not realize they have.

Austin Lott | Capital One

Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems

Optional advanced driver-assistance systems are some of modern cars' most common tech features, but some owners overlook them. Anything from adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, to advanced collision avoidance might have been inadvertently deactivated in your vehicle's infotainment menu. It's advisable to look through your owner's manual or vehicle settings to see what's available.

Honda

Rear-Seat Voice Amplifiers

Safety features aren't all you might be missing out on. Recent advancements help increase cabin comfort, and one option that might be present in your car is rear-seat voice amplifiers. These systems, such as Honda's CabinTalk or Subaru's Cabin Connect, place active microphones in the vehicle's headliner, projecting the voices of rear passengers forward and making communication easier between the front and back seating areas.

Kia

Customizable Audio Quiet Zones

Similarly, several manufacturers offer the ability to divide the zones of your vehicle's audio system, decreasing (or muting) the volume in the rear of the cabin without affecting the front speakers. This feature is often found in family haulers, as it allows parents to listen to music while maintaining a comfortable and quiet environment for their young children to rest in the back seat. Kia calls its version Quiet Mode, for instance.

Volkswagen

Hill-Start Assist

Another feature designed to enhance your car's safety, hill-start assist technology (sometimes called brake-hold assist) is a system that recognizes when a vehicle has stopped on an incline. The system will then hold pressure on the brake until you depress the accelerator pedal and are on your way again, ensuring a safe departure. This action prevents the car from rolling backward as you release the brake, which may seem like a relic of the now-uncommon manual transmission but can still be a risk in some modern automatic vehicles.

Austin Lott

Fuel-Cap Holder

Outside of tech-based features, your vehicle might have some practical details that are equally useful, such as a gas-cap holder on the inside of your fuel door. This little convenience is often an arch-shaped bracket designed to not only hold the cap as you refuel. It also protects your paint from any scratches or excess drips of corrosive gasoline that could be caused by the cap simply hanging from the filler neck. Check next time you're at the pump to see if your vehicle has one.

Aaron Miller | Capital One

Automatic Windshield Wipers

Inclement weather can create perilous driving conditions, thanks to reduced visibility and traction. Finding out your vehicle has automatic windshield wipers, also called rain-sensing wipers, might offer some peace of mind. These helpful aids get to work at the earliest sign of precipitation and can instantaneously adjust their operating speed as needed based on the rainfall amount. Some car manufacturers offer them on front and rear glass, removing at least one worry in those higher-risk situations.

Austin Lott

Automatic High-Beam Headlights

Along those same lines, automatic high-beams can be convenient during the day-to-day use of your vehicle. Pioneered by General Motors in the 1950s, the concept of auto-dimming headlights has since gone through several iterations. Modern automatic high-beam technology can detect oncoming traffic, revert to standard illumination, and re-engage your high-beams once the coast is clear. Ideally, they give you the best visibility possible without you having to lift a finger.

Austin Lott

Memory Seats, Mirrors, and Steering Wheel

A selectable memory bank for your power seat, side mirror, and steering-wheel position is a feature found in many modern cars. It's worth checking to see if your make and model comes with the feature. Setting those positions creates an easier, more personalized driving experience, meaning less work for you each time you enter your vehicle — especially if you share your ride with another driver.

Austin Lott

Auto-Dipping Side Mirrors

A more recent innovation, automatic side mirrors change their position when you shift the vehicle into reverse. Used in tandem with your standard backup camera, this active safety option works to increase visibility and potentially decrease the chance of a rear collision or scraping your wheels on the curb when reversing your vehicle.

Austin Lott

Automatic Climate Control

As temperatures change throughout the day, keeping your car's air conditioning running in an ideal yet efficient way can be challenging. Enter automatic climate control. This system adjusts your car's A/C based on interior and exterior temperatures, ensuring the cabin always remains comfortable for you and your passengers.

As a bonus, having this intelligent tech in control of the thermostat can also increase your vehicle's gas mileage, reducing the strain that causes your A/C to become one of the biggest drains on your car's efficiency.

Bonus: Speed-Based Automatic Volume Adjustment

Another optional feature is automatic variable volume control. With this setting engaged, the vehicle will adjust the audio volume based on your traveling speed to compensate for the increasing wind and road noise on faster roads. Most systems will also decrease the volume again as you slow down, saving you from having to manually make constant volume adjustments.

Brennan Sullivan

Brennan Sullivan is a writer and lifelong car fanatic. With an appreciation for all makes and models, Brennan is particularly passionate about the rich history of the automotive industry. In his spare time, he's the caretaker of a 1962 Sunbeam Alpine, and a Golden Retriever named Willow.