11 Useful Car Features You Never Think About

Innovation in the automotive industry happens at a blinding pace, with new technology making cars safer, more convenient, and more connected every day. There are so many bells and whistles on cars that there is a good chance that the existence of many of these features may completely escape your mind, despite the fact that they’re  often used daily and are extremely beneficial. Here is a list of  helpful car features that no one probably told you about. 

1. Third Brake Light

While the third brake light on cars is there by regulation, this wasn’t always the norm in the car industry. Research in the 1970s showed that a vehicle equipped with a third brake light outlined the overall silhouette of a car better than one fitted with only two rear brake lights. This addition increased other driver's’ reaction times when braking, as research found, when drivers were presented with three lights, it created a triangle of light, making braking cars more visible and increasing reaction time. This very small implementation was proven to be so effective in increasing road safety that it became mandatory for all new cars sold from 1986 onwards.

2. Air Recirculation

This is a very simple feature that's available on most cars with air conditioning. When activated, all it does is cut off the climate control system from bringing in warm outside air while circulating the cool air within the cabin. This is a feature designed to be used in summer, stopping hot air from entering the cabin, while reusing the cold air in the car. It’s a very straightforward system that is often not understood but when used appropriately, it can keep drivers as cool as a cucumber and help your car run more efficiently. Similarly, when using the heating in the winter, you want to make sure air recirculation is turned off, so the heating system is able to pull the hot air generated by your engine into the cabin.

3.ESC/ Traction control

Electronic stability control (ESC) and traction control (TC) are both computerized systems meant to detect loss of traction and steering control. If this system detects a loss of traction, it will intervene by cutting engine power or applying brakes in order to prevent a crash. This system is constantly active when driving, and its effectiveness is best seen in wet or snowy conditions where the ESC and TC are constantly preventing wheels from losing traction. This system has been proven to be a lifesaver, preventing and reducing the deadliness of collisions. These systems have been so effective that they have been made mandatory in the U.S., Canada, and the European Union since the mid-2010s and continue to save lives today.

4. Dimmed Mirrors

It’s easy to forget that dimmed mirrors are standard in most cars. However, when driving in a car without them, one is very quick to remember what life is like without dimmed mirrors when blinded by someone driving with their high beams on. This feature is especially important when considering how bright LED lights are. It's an effortless addition that improves safety and the quality of life far more than you realize.

5. Cutouts in Headrests

Headrest cutouts are a car great feature that unfortunately no longer exists on modern cars. They were first developed by Volvo in the 1970s and later adopted by many other manufacturers. The purpose of this feature was to provide drivers with increased visibility when driving, allowing for a clearer line of sight when reversing and checking blind spots. People with ponytails also reported increased comfort in cars with headreat cutouts.

6.  Side-Mounted Indicators

Indicators on the side of the vehicle or on the side mirror are another straightforward yet forgotten feature. Indicators greatly contribute to road safety, signalling where cars are heading and communicating to others where you intend to go. Side-mounted indicators act much like the third brake light, adding greater illumination to distinguish a car’s shape in the dark. Side-mounted indicators also provide greater communication to vehicles driving parallel to the indicating vehicle, as signals from the back or front can easily be missed in such a situation. These are also required for all vehicles by legislation due to how much of an impact they have on road safety.

7. Gas Cap Hook

Just as the name states, this is a hook designated for you to place your gas cap near the gas tank when refuelling your car. There is not much complexity behind this feature, but it does make life easier, as you don’t have to hold your fuel cap, place it elsewhere with the possibility of losing it, or let it dangle, possibly scratching your paint.

8. Heated Wipers

A more modern edition to this list and not equipped in all cars, heated wipers are a great accessory for cold Canadian winters. Heated windshield wipers aid in defrosting and clearing your windshield by heating the wiper blades. This makes for quicker and more efficient windshield cleaning. This is not a feature that is commonly available on a lot of vehicles, but on primarily higher-end offerings, it makes a world of a difference. 

9. Reverse Camera Cleaner

Your reverse camera is absolutely useless when it’s covered in dirt or winter grime, presenting a possible safety hazard.Luckily, more manufacturers are starting to implement small washers dedicated to cleaning the reverse camera when visibility is obstructed. This feature is not available on all vehicles, but on some higher-end cars, drivers don’t have to exit their vehicle to clean their reverse camera. Typically, cars with this feature will spray the camera with windshield washer fluid if activated with the wiper stalk. 

 10. Guidelines for Reverse Cameras

While reverse cameras come standard in all cars today, some come with additional perks. Some higher-end cameras come with guidance lines that not only show which way the car is reversing, but where the steering wheel position will guide the car in real-time. This allows the driver to better understand how to orient their car when navigating tighter parking spaces using the colour-coordinated guidelines. This is not necessarily a life-changing feature, but one that many would notice if it was absent. They also help ensure that your car is parked straight.

11. Fuel gauge cluster pump indicator (Moylan’s Arrow)

Have you ever pulled up to a gas pump only to realize your gas tank is located on the other side? Luckily, there has been a solution for a long time that you may not know about: Moylan’s Arrow. Moylan’s Arrow is a small indicator on the fuel gauge painted next to the gas pump icon that tells the driver which side of the car the gas tank is located. It's a very subtle detail, but if you find yourself in a new car and don’t know which side to refuel it, look out for Moylan’s Arrow.