40 Secret Features In Your Vehicles You Probably Didn’t Know About
Have you ever forgotten which side of your car the gas tank is on? Well, many cars today come with a nifty little feature to save you from that awkward moment at the gas station.
You might have noticed a small arrow next to the fuel gauge on your dashboard. That arrow actually points to the side of your car where the gas tank is located. It can be of great help if you're driving a rental car, or if you just can't remember which side your fuel cap is on.
Conversation mirror
A conversation mirror is a small convex mirror located near the rear-view mirror. Its purpose is to allow the driver to easily monitor and communicate with passengers in the rear seats without turning around… so as to keep their focus on the road ahead.
This mirror is very useful for parents driving minivans or large SUVs, where their children or other rear passengers might be seated far away from them. Some minivans today also use cameras to display the rear seat on the vehicle's dashboard.
Back-seat reminders
Back-seat reminders alert drivers to check the rear seats before leaving the vehicle. These reminders aim to prevent the tragic consequences of leaving children, pets, or valuable items unattended in the back seat, especially in hot weather conditions.
Back-seat reminders work by using sensors to detect when the rear doors have been opened and closed before or during a trip. After the vehicle is turned off, if the rear doors were opened and closed, the system triggers an alert when the driver exits the car.
Open windows remotely
If you have recently bought a new vehicle, chances are, you can open and close your windows – and in some cases, the sunroof – remotely using the key fob. This tiny little feature can be really convenient at times by ventilating your car in summers.
All you need to do is hold down the 'unlock' button on the key fob for approximately three seconds. Likewise, if you need to close your windows and the sunroof, you can do that by holding down the 'lock' button for the same duration.
Hidden storage
Many cars feature hidden compartments that blend seamlessly into the car's interior and provide additional storage options beyond the obvious ones like glove boxes and trunk space. You might find such compartments under seats, inside center consoles, behind infotainment screens, within armrests, or even within the walls of the trunk.
The Chrysler Pacifica, for instance, has Stow 'n' Go seating that enables you to fold the second row of seats into the floor for convenient transportation of sizable items. Likewise, some trims of the Jeep Compass offer under-cushion storage.
Drowsiness detector
Many modern vehicles today can monitor your level of alertness by using sensors and technologies to analyze your driving behavior, such as steering patterns and lane deviations.
When the system detects signs of drowsiness or fatigue, it triggers alerts to prompt the driver to engage in more focused driving. These alerts may include everything from audible and visual warnings to vibrations in the seat or steering wheel… or even suggestions to stop at the nearest rest area.
Adaptive cruise control
Standard cruise control sets your vehicle to a fixed speed on the highway, which is convenient unless you encounter slower traffic. When this happens, you have to disengage cruise control and then re-engage it once you pass the slower vehicles.
Adaptive cruise control takes things a step further. It maintains your preset speed but adjusts automatically when you approach slower vehicles ahead in your lane. Initially only present in luxury cars, this feature is now widely available, and is, in fact, standard on even the Toyota Corolla.
Boot hooks
Have you become tired of dealing with scattered groceries or loose items rolling around in the trunk? Well, many vehicles today, such as the Volvo XC40, come with nifty boot hooks to keep your cargo organized and secure during transportation.
These hooks are usually placed within the trunk to prevent groceries, bags, or other items from sliding around or spilling onto the floor. The XC40 also has an extendable hook in the glovebox for securing carry bags.
Tire pressure monitoring system
The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is one of the most useful features present in modern cars, and extremely helpful to know for regular maintenance.
While older TPMS may only provide a warning light when a tire loses pressure (prompting you to check the pressure of each tire manually), the modern systems display the actual tire pressure numbers on the dashboard. It saves time… and keeps you safe!
Foot-activated tailgate
Have you ever seen anyone waving their foot beneath the rear end of their vehicle in a car park? For drivers with their hands full or in need of quick access to their vehicle's cargo area, a foot-activated tailgate provides a hassle-free solution.
This super-innovative feature, commonly found in SUVs, allows drivers to open the tailgate simply by waving their foot under the rear bumper and eliminates the need to fumble for keys or press buttons to access the cargo space.
Gesture Controls
Found in many modern cars, this feature allows you to use hand gestures to control various functions of the infotainment system. For example, you can swipe your hand to adjust the audio volume, or make a gesture to accept or reject calls.
While BMW leads the way with gesture controls, other automakers like Honda and Volkswagen are starting to adopt this technology too. So, if you own a car from any of these brands, you might be in for a surprise.
Extendable sun visors
Sun visors offer a simple yet effective solution to block out the sun while driving, and are universally present in vehicles today. But do you know many cars feature sun visors that can extend to provide even more coverage?
If you're not sure whether your car has extendable sun visors, it's easy to find out. Simply give the visor a gentle tug, and you'll find out. It may not sound much, but will add a lot of convenience to your daily commute.
Refrigerated compartment for beverages
If you're a fan of undertaking long outdoor trips, you might have gone through the hassle of taking a cooler with you to keep your snacks and drinks cool while on the go. Well, you might not need that anymore.
Some car makers, including Volkswagen and Dodge, provide air-conditioned compartments in the center console or glovebox of some of their models. Honda Odyssey and Kia Optima are some other examples to have had refrigerated compartments to keep beverages chilled during your journey.
Dimming rear-view mirror
Dealing with the glare from headlights behind you can be a nuisance, especially when driving at night. Fortunately, most rearview mirrors are equipped with a dimming feature to help alleviate this issue.
While the rearview mirrors in the newer cars come with an automatic dimming feature, you need to manually adjust the mirror in the older cars to reduce the glare from headlights by pulling a lever or flipping a switch located on the mirror itself.
Rear cross-traffic alert
Ever found yourself stuck between two large vehicles, struggling to see as you back out of a parking spot? Well, that's where rear cross-traffic alert comes in handy. This smart feature uses sensors at the back of your car to keep an eye on traffic coming from the sides.
If a car is approaching from either side while you're backing up, the system will sound an alert to warn you. In many vehicles, this audible alert is accompanied by a visual warning, indicating the direction from which the other vehicle is approaching.
Removable seats
While many drivers are aware of the ability to fold down the rear seats of their vehicles, very few know that some vehicles allow seats to be removed entirely. Doing so, drivers can configure the interior space to suit various needs (especially for families).
However, before you grab a screwdriver and attempt to remove seats, just make sure your vehicle is equipped with this feature. Honda and Skoda notably offer this feature by their 'Magic Seat' and 'VarioFlex' systems.
Steering wheel back buttons
Next time you're behind the wheel of your car, take a moment to check the back of your steering wheel - you might be surprised by what you find! Many steering wheels are equipped with radio control buttons located on the backside.
These up and down buttons allow you to effortlessly control functions like volume adjustment and changing radio stations without needing to take your hands off the wheel or divert your attention from the road ahead.
Adaptive headlights
Found in many modern cars today including the Mazda3, adaptive headlights help enhance your visibility on the road, especially when navigating corners. These headlights monitor the angle of your steering wheel and adjust accordingly by swiveling or activating cornering lights to illuminate your path.
When you're driving straight, the headlights remain in line with your vehicle's trajectory. However, as you steer into a turn, they pivot to light up the direction you're heading, providing better visibility around corners.
Forward collision warning
You might not know this, but your car probably has an extra set of eyes on the road, ready to alert you when danger is imminent. This feature uses optical or radar sensors to detect if you're getting too close to the car in front of you.
When the system senses a potential collision, it sends out audible alerts and flashes lights on the dash or windshield to grab your attention. In some vehicles, like the GMC Sierra, you might even feel a vibration through the Safety Alert Seat as an additional warning.
Traffic-sign recognition
Ever found yourself unsure of the speed limit while driving? It happens to the best of us, especially when the road signs aren't clear or visible. But you don't need to worry about that anymore if you own a Ford F-150.
Many vehicles today can detect various types of traffic signs, such as speed limits and school zones, and alert you so as to keep you safe on the road. In some vehicles, adaptive cruise control can even adjust your set speed based on the new speed sign it detects.
Colors under the hood
Finding your way under the hood of your car doesn't require you to be a mechanic, at least anymore. Modern cars are designed with color-coded components, making it incredibly easy to identify different parts of the engine.
All important parts like the oil dipstick, coolant cap, brake fluid cap, and windshield washer fluid cap are all color-coded for easy recognition. The goal is to help you check oil levels, top up fluids, and perform basic maintenance tasks yourself.
Parking sensors
Parking sensors use radar or sonar technology to detect obstacles that you might miss while parking your vehicle in tight spaces. Whether it's people, pets, or other objects, these sensors alert you with audible and visual warnings to prevent collisions. Some also display the detected objects on the infotainment screen.
Rear parking sensors are pretty common… but many vehicles today also have front parking sensors to avoid obstacles which might be hidden from view by the vehicle's hood.
Dimming the dashboard lights
Most cars today are equipped with a dimmer function that allows drivers to adjust the intensity of the dashboard and control panel lights. This feature is usually accessible through a small thumb wheel located somewhere to the side of the steering wheel.
In older car models, it can be done by twisting the odometer knob near the speedometer dial. And in even older cars, you can do that by twisting the knob of the headlight on-switch. If you have an even older car, we don't know how to help you!
Blind-spot monitoring
Many cars today use sensors located on their rear corners to keep an eye on areas that your mirrors might miss. When a vehicle is detected in your blind spot, the system sends out a warning to alert you before you change lanes into its path.
This warning can be in the form of lights on the outside mirrors or on the windshield pillar, or an audible warning. Some vehicles, like the Hyundai Palisade and Honda Fit, go the extra mile by displaying a video image of the adjacent lane on your infotainment screen.
Built-in air freshener
If you can afford a luxury car, you can probably afford an air-freshener too, but why buy it separately? Some luxury vehicles, like Mercedes-Benz C-Class and electric EQC come with an air-freshening system built right into them!
Placed in the glovebox, the Mercedes' 'Air Balance' system features a small glass bottle device that emits a subtle fragrance of your choice. Yes, you read that right. You totally get to choose the scent! And not just that, you can also adjust the intensity or fragrance level to your liking.
Lane-departure warning
Lane-departure warning systems use cameras to keep an eye on road markers and ensure you stay within your lane. These systems use visual and audible warnings to give you a heads-up before you drift into danger.
In some vehicles, like the Cadillac XT5, you might even feel vibrations in your seat to grab your attention. Also, it's important to note that these systems don't alert you if your turn signal is on in the direction you're crossing the line.
Valet mode trunk lock
If you suddenly can't open the trunk of your vehicle, there might be a simple solution you haven't tried yet. Many vehicles come equipped with a feature called "valet mode," which locks the trunk to prevent unauthorized access.
This mode is usually activated from a button located in the glovebox… after which, your trunk won't open using the normal trunk release button. Simply pressing the button again deactivates valet mode and restores normal trunk operation in most vehicles.
DRLs not turning off
Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are standard in many modern cars, but they can be annoying in some of them. If you are fed up with your DRLs automatically turning on whenever the car is running, there's a simple solution. You just need to engage the parking brake and they will be disabled.
This can really help you when you don’t want your DRLs turned on, such as when you are waiting in a parking lot. Pulling the parking brake can also deactivate the headlights in some vehicles.
Diagnose your car yourself
You might not know about it, but every car built from 1996 onwards is equipped with an On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD-II) port that can let you retrieve valuable information about the vehicle's health.
All you need to do is to plug in an OBD reader in the port (typically located under the steering wheel) and you'll be able to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) indicating potential issues with various systems in your vehicle. So, you don’t need to make a costly trip to the mechanic the next time your check engine light comes on!
Heated seats
Heated seats are a bliss, but finding the button to activate them can sometimes be a bit of a hassle (the 2006 Mazda 2, for instance, had its heated seat button under the seats).
So, if you're searching for the heated seat button, keep an eye out for a symbol that resembles waves emanating from the bottom of a car seat. Once you spot this distinctive icon, you've struck gold - it's the button you need.
Lane-keep assist
Lane-keep assist uses either steering or braking to gently guide your vehicle back into its lane if you start to drift out. Whenever the system makes corrections, you'll be alerted with audible alerts, warning lights, and sometimes a slight shake of the steering wheel.
But the best part is, you still remain in control. If you need to swerve out of your lane to avoid an obstacle, simply continue turning the steering wheel. Activating your turn signal can also override it.
Hot and cold air at the same time
Some vehicles allow the air conditioning system to blow both hot and cold air simultaneously. For instance, in certain older Honda vehicles, you can do this by toggling the vent switch, typically located between the middle two AC vents, between a white and blue arrow.
When switched to the blue arrow, cold air is directed out of the center vents while hot air continues to flow elsewhere. This setup enables the driver to enjoy a breeze of fresh air while still keeping the windshield warm to prevent fogging or icing.
Heated steering wheel
While heated seats provide warmth for the body, a heated steering wheel ensures that even your hands stay cozy during chilly mornings. It is particularly handy since touchscreen controls on the dash are less responsive with gloved hands.
So, if you have just bought a new car, look out for the button activating this great feature (that's if your vehicle has it). You can usually find it either on the steering wheel or nearby seat heater controls.
