5 Unique Car Features Canadians Can’t Get

Globalization of the automotive industry has done a lot to standardize vehicle features across the world and has brought many makes and models to our country that were once out of reach. However, there are still a few unique car features that only foreign buyers have access to, largely due to varying regulations in different countries, import restrictions, and consumer preferences unique to certain markets.

Here are six car features that Canadians can't get here.

Battery Swapping

For electric vehicle (EV) owners looking to reduce their range anxiety, swapping batteries on the fly offers a host of advantages. Replacing depleted EV batteries with recharged ones can significantly reduce charging times, lower EV purchase prices by allowing users to rent batteries instead of buying them upfront, and extend battery life.

While public battery swapping is nonexistent in Canada, other countries are getting on board. China has the world's most developed infrastructure so far, with around 2,500 swapping stations located both along highways and in urban areas. Almost half of the battery-electric heavy-duty trucks sold in China in 2023 were equipped with battery-swap technology, while battery swapping for passenger cars is becoming more available.

Chinese automaker Nio has been a big player in promoting battery swapping. Its process is designed to be as convenient as filling up a gas-powered vehicle at the pumps. The battery swapping station's staff drive your EV onto a platform that removes the depleted battery from beneath the car and loads it with a fully charged one. The entire process from start to finish takes no more than five minutes. Nio recently claimed that it has performed nine million battery swaps in Shanghai, the Chinese city with the most Nio battery swap stations, with over 190. The majority of these stations exceed 100 battery swaps every day.

Digital Sideview Cameras

Also known as camera monitoring systems, digital side cameras replace a vehicle’s traditional exterior side mirrors with smaller cameras and in-cabin displays. They capture a live video feed of the area beside the vehicle, which is then sent to screens inside the car, typically located on the A-pillars or dashboard. Some systems offer manual adjustments. Others can automatically adjust the camera's view, such as widening the angle when the turn signal is used or when the vehicle is in reverse.

Several vehicles offer digital side view cameras as an option or standard feature, replacing traditional mirrors. The Japanese market 2018 Lexus ES was the first mass-produced car to offer this feature, marketed as Digital Side-View Monitors. Lexus claims that the smaller cameras result in improved visibility for drivers and less wind noise for a quieter cabin.

For Canadians who wake up on cold and snowy mornings having to scrape or thaw their car's side view mirrors, the convenience of digital side view cameras would be a welcome relief. Unfortunately, these systems are yet to be widely adopted in all car markets, such as Canada, due to regulatory reasons.

Laser Headlights

You're probably familiar with the most common types of automotive headlights, including halogen, LED (Light Emitting Diode), and HID (High-Intensity Discharge or Xenon). Originally developed for military and industrial applications, since the technology debuted in the 2014 BMW i8 hybrid sports car, laser headlights have become available in other makes and models in several countries outside of Canada.

Laser headlights don't simply shine a laser beam onto the road. Instead, the laser energizes a phosphor material, which then emits a brilliant, white light that is diffused and directed by reflectors and lenses onto the road ahead.

While laser headlights are significantly brighter than conventional headlights, they also deliver greater visibility at longer distances. They are also designed to automatically adjust their brightness based on the surrounding conditions, thereby reducing the risk of blinding other drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians. They are more efficient than traditional LED or halogen headlights, potentially leading to longer battery life and reduced energy consumption. 

Car designers are particularly fond of them, too. The smaller size of the components allows for a more flexible headlight design. On the downside, they are more complicated and, unsurprisingly, more expensive.

While laser headlights are not widely available in Canada at the moment, it's important to note that this could change in the future. Canada's regulations have adapted to allow certain advanced headlight systems, including adaptive headlights.

Roo Bars

While not as high-tech as roadside battery swapping stations or laser headlights, roo bars, also known as bull bars, provide a layer of protection for many Australian vehicles. Typically made of steel or aluminum, they shield the vehicle's front end, including the radiator and headlights, from damage during collisions with kangaroos and other Aussie wildlife. 

Roo bars can be fitted to all types of vehicles, but they are most commonly seen on SUVs and off-road vehicles. Some versions can even accommodate accessories like fog lights or spotlights. Others might feature moulded-in steps for easier access to the engine compartment if you need to change your oil or do maintenance work on the underside of your vehicle when overlanding in the Australian outback.

Roo bars are not inherently illegal in Canada. Their use is restricted by provincial laws that prohibit modifications that create a safety hazard for pedestrians.

Swivelling Seats

For those who struggle getting in or out of a vehicle, the convenience of swivelling seats can be a godsend. First seen in concept and production cars in the early 1960s, they continue to be a practical solution.

One example is the current Kia EV9. The three-row SUV’s second-row swivelling seats can rotate 180 degrees towards the rear third row and 90 degrees towards the EV9's side doors, all controlled by a simple lever located at the bottom of the seat. This user-friendly feature allows for easier access to the third row or a lounge-like setup when parked at a campsite, soccer pitch, or tailgate party.

Despite the advantages, the swivelling seat feature in the Kia EV9 is not available in the Canadian model due to Transport Canada's vehicle safety regulations.