Car tech features you could live without

In today's high-tech world of cars, futuristic features are more commonplace than ever. But not every innovation is a welcome addition.

We surveyed a selection of Which? members to find out which advanced car tech they find unnecessary.

According to our survey of 1,216 Which? members, carried out in June 2024, some of the car technology people considered unnecessary included touchscreens (56%) zoned climate control (53%), lane sensors (53%) and automatic full beam lights (50%).

However, people were more positive about car technology such as parking sensors and automatic windscreen wipers.

Below, we've spoken to four drivers about why they find some of this technology unnecessary and why.

Looking for cars that combine style and substance? Read our new and used car reviews to find which ones triumphed in our independent lab tests - or join Which? to get access to all our reviews

‘Touchscreens mean drivers aren't looking at the road’

John Jenkins, 71, retired IT professional from Oxfordshire

'Touchscreens are distracting as you have to take your eyes off the road to use them. Even where some features are mirrored on a central dashboard screen – such as a mini screen of a satnav map or a playlist – the major selection and information still remains on the bigger screen.

'To switch options or views it's necessary to use the screen and, unlike push-button radios, you don't get feedback on what you're doing by touch and you must look (and drivers do look). This means you're not looking at the road.

'Voice response only goes so far and every car is different. And when did a driver last spend an hour reading the handbook of a hire car in order to learn the hands-free in-car system? They should either bring back buttons – which were simpler and a lot safer – or add a haptic coating to the touchscreen to make the various controls ripple or vibrate when the driver taps them.'

We investigated whether new car gadgets are distracting drivers: listen to our podcast to find out more

‘I just want to clear the windscreen’

Tim Skerry, 67, from Derbyshire

'My huge bugbear is so-called sophisticated zoned climate control, usually allowing front seat passengers and sometimes people in the back to have the temperature how they want. I find these systems over complicated and, to date, incapable of doing what I want – which is to clear the windscreen. When it’s cold or wet, I need the screen cleared and there’s a button for that. But within a short time the windscreen mists over again and I find I’m forever having to switch the heating on to demist it.

'I’ve been driving since the 1970s and cars used to be  simple. In my old base-model VW Golf S, the heating was controlled by three knobs – one for temperature, one for direction and one for fan speed. You could adjust that to what was needed while driving and, crucially, without looking.

'Nowadays, I drive a BMW 5 Series F11, which I bought second-hand in 2022. It’s a comfortable car, but I hate the climate control with a vengeance. Keeping the windscreen clear is such a fundamental part of driving. I get very frustrated with unnecessary technology that makes what should be a simple job so complicated and distracts you when you’re driving. In the summer, when it isn’t too cold, the climate control isn’t so much of an issue, but it makes driving in winter a chore.'

Six mistakes to avoid when washing your car: follow our top tips to clean your car effectively and avoid damaging your paintwork 

‘Are automatic full beams really worth the hassle?’

Ian Pinion, 53, senior sales assistant, from Lincolnshire

'I honestly don’t see the need for automatic full beam technology on cars.

'I recently bought my first car to have it – a Jaguar XE – and, I must admit, I’m deliberating whether to switch it off completely and operate my lights on manual.

'The manufacturers sometimes don’t make it that easy to disable these systems. I have to go into a touchscreen and select settings to disable mine, so it’s not something I could do while I’m driving. I’ve driven with it before on company vehicles and there are two systems I’m aware of.

'There’s one that detects vehicles in front and auto dips the beams, but it waits until cars are in the line of sight until it actually dips the lights. Also, if you're following a car over the brow of a hill or round a sharp bend, the lights go on to full beam as the car disappears around it, leaving you at risk of dazzling somebody coming the other way.

'As human beings, we can anticipate when vehicles are coming towards us far quicker than the automatic system can and you think is it really worth the hassle?

'The other system I’m aware of are called matrix headlights, that have a cluster of LEDs that can adjust the position of the beam to create a shaded area around oncoming vehicles.

'In my experience, I don’t think it’s accurate enough and you can still get dazzled on the roads, albeit not as badly as you can with a full glare. I had early onset cataracts and I’m awaiting laser eye surgery, which means I find bright lights even more dazzling. In addition, I just don’t see any great benefit from the technology – was it really so difficult for people to operate their headlights manually?'

Are night driving glasses safe to wear? Glasses with yellow lenses are touted as helping to reduce dazzle from headlights at night 

‘On narrow country lanes, the lane sensors beep non-stop’

Robin Dadson, 81, a retired shipping company rep, from Devon

'I live in south Devon and there are a lot of narrow country lanes here.

'My friend lives on a farm and when I drive out there, the lane sensors start beeping non-stop. It seems as if anything can activate them – even a blade of grass in the hedgerows!

'It can be extremely distracting. You should be keeping your eyes on the road ahead, not wondering why your car is beeping. I think we’re all becoming too reliant on this kind of technology, rather than focusing on what we should be doing, which is driving the car.

'It’s the same with parking sensors – they're very overcautious and start beeping the second they sense an obstruction. When you get out of your car, you discover it’s about six feet behind you. It can prove very misleading when you have ample room to park.'

Find out how Which? testing uncovered serious concerns with the MG4's lane assist safety tech

Our expert says:

Drive smarter and cut your costs: sign up for our free monthly Cars newsletter