5 Car Features Almost Nobody Actually Uses

5 car-features almost nobody actually uses

Modern cars are absolutely packed with technology. Walk into any showroom and the salesperson will happily list off dozens of features most of us will either forget about or never touch again after the first week. While some tech genuinely improves safety and driving comfort, a fair chunk exists purely because it sounds good in a brochure.

We’re firmly in the era of screens, menus and “futuristic” ideas. And while systems like lane-keeping assist earn their place, manufacturers often cross the line into overkill. The result is cars that cost more, feel more complicated, and include features that offer very little day-to-day value.

Once the novelty wears off and the new-car smell fades, most drivers just want things that work simply, quickly and reliably.

Here are 5 car-features almost nobody actually uses.

Paddle shifters

Paddle shifters were designed to bring a bit of old-school manual driving feel to automatic cars. In theory, they offer more control and a sportier experience.

In reality, most people try them once, think “that’s quite fun”, and then never use them again.

Modern automatic gearboxes are far better at choosing the right gear than the average driver. While paddles can feel satisfying during an overtake or on a twisty road, for everyday driving the car does a better job on its own. After a few days, most drivers just leave the paddles alone.

Automated parking assist

This feature always looks impressive in adverts. Press a button, sit back, and watch the car park itself.

In the real world, it’s a different story.

Most systems take a long time to scan the space before they even start parking. On a busy road with traffic building up behind you, that delay is enough to put most drivers off. Trust is also an issue — few people are comfortable letting a computer squeeze their car into a tight gap with pedestrians and other vehicles nearby.

For most owners, it’s a novelty used once to show friends, then forgotten.

Built-in voice control

Manufacturers invested heavily in their own voice control systems, but smartphones quickly made most of them obsolete.

Older systems were clunky and unreliable. You’d ask it to call someone and it would misunderstand or do something completely unrelated. Many drivers ended up repeating themselves or giving up altogether.

Now, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, your phone’s voice assistant works seamlessly through the car. Compared to that, most built-in systems feel outdated and unnecessary.

Eco mode

Eco mode sounds like something everyone should use — better fuel economy, lower emissions and greener driving.

The problem is how it makes the car feel.

Eco mode dulls throttle response and changes gear earlier, often making the car feel sluggish. Many drivers end up pressing the accelerator harder just to get moving, which defeats the point.

Real-world testing shows that driving style matters far more than pressing an Eco button. Smooth, sensible driving will save more fuel than Eco mode ever will, which is why many drivers switch it off and never use it again.

Gesture control

Gesture control is one of those features that exists because it can, not because it should.

Waving your hand to change the volume or skip a track sounds futuristic, but in practice it’s unreliable and unnecessary. A physical button or knob works instantly every time, regardless of lighting or hand position.

Even some manufacturers have quietly dropped gesture control after realising drivers simply don’t use it.

Ready to Buy Smarter?

If you’re looking for your next used car rammed full of tech, it’s worth taking a step back and asking how much of it you’ll genuinely use. Many modern features add cost without adding real value, pushing car prices higher for very little everyday benefit.