Best Technological Features for Vehicles in 2023

While fully autonomous vehicles are not yet widely available to the masses, automobile features have come a long way in recent decades and if you haven’t purchased a new vehicle in the past few years, you’re in for a treat. Infotainment upgrades have brought us seamless integrations with our smartphones but technology’s real impact on the driving experience comes from features that make being on the road infinitely safer. Here are just a few of the advancements you may not have known that you needed.

Automatic Emergency Braking

Vehicles with automatic emergency braking (AEB) can sense when a collision is imminent and activate the brakes to prevent or minimize the impact of an accident. The response time is often faster than the driver’s and if you’re already applying the brakes, AEB can apply even more pressure if it predicts you won’t stop in time. AEB is often one feature within a suite of advanced driver-assist systems, but most automakers are working to make it a standard stand-alone feature in all passenger vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Lane-Keep Assist

Many of the features found in new cars today are the next progression of features that were available five to ten years ago. The lane-departure warning alerted drivers any time they began drifting into the next lane and lane-keep assist takes it a step further by automatically steering you back into your lane. Some vehicles with this feature are even capable of steering you back into your lane if you crossed over into oncoming traffic. Think of all the accidents that can be avoided from drivers that fall asleep at the wheel.

Reverse Brake Assist

As the name would suggest, the reverse brake assist prevents collisions by monitoring cross traffic as you are backing up and automatically applies the brakes to stop your vehicle if an object is sensed. Sensors that can alert drivers to approaching vehicles when the car is in reverse through blinking lights and audible warnings is fairly commonplace in cars built within the past five years, but the reverse brake assist feature adds a whole new layer of safety.

Mobile Apps and Digital Keys

Features such as remote start and unlocking your car with the touch of a button on the door handle used to be dependent on the key fob, whether provided by the manufacturer or acquired through an aftermarket upgrade. That is becoming a thing of the past as many manufacturers have designed connected mobile apps that allow you to use your smartphone to lock and unlock your doors, remotely start your car, check the fuel level, and monitor tire pressure. You don’t even need the key fob to drive. Forgetting your car key as you rush out the door is a problem of the past but be wary of added costs because many carmakers may charge a monthly or annual subscription fee to enjoy these benefits.

Backup Cameras with a 360-Degree View

Since 2018, cameras mounted on or near the rear bumper have been standard but many newer model vehicles allow you to see potential obstacles on all sides. Some even offer a feature where you can see multiple views through a split-screen display so you can zoom in on what’s behind you while monitoring how close your tires are to the curb when parallel parking.