Only 15 years ago, most cars did not have ABS brakes, not to mention driving aids such as traffic sign recognition, emergency braking, or parking assistance systems. The evolution of technology has made it possible to manufacture much more advanced cars in regards to safety, connectivity, or comfort. Some of these improvements are essential today and some statistics show that road accidents have decreased thanks to those improvements.
Let’s review those security, comfort, and communication elements that enrich a car (and those that are expendable).
Security
Mandatory systems and protection electronics: All new cars marketed in Europe include mandatory safety equipment: stability control, ABS brakes, double front airbag, puncture alert, and automatic emergency call in case of accident or e-call, which transmits the location of the accident to the emergency services.
If the model to buy is second-hand, make sure that it includes, at least, stability control, which prevents skidding and other loss of control automatically and is an essential safety advance. And as a general rule, the more airbags the car has, the better.
This equipment is being completed in the latest generation vehicles with a series of electronic driving aids that are also interesting. One of them is the recognition of traffic signs, which can avoid fines for mistakes: the car shows the speed and overtaking signs that it detects, and the driver knows the limit of the road on which it circulates and if it is or is not allowed to overtake.
Lane departure warning and forward safety distance controls are other devices to consider. These are usually divided into two large groups, for city and highway. In the first case, they manage to avoid the impact up to about 30 km/h in popular models and up to about 50 in the most advanced, and the latter is also capable of reacting to pedestrians, cyclists, and animals.
In the second scenario, however, the normal thing is that the car brakes only when the accident is already unavoidable, and it does so with the aim of reducing the speed of the collision and the severity of the injuries. It should be clarified with the manufacturer and also checked in the vehicle’s user manual.
A car head up display is another useful device that cannot be missed when it comes to safe driving. These quite easy-to-use devices are becoming more and more required by drivers, as they allow to have all the essential information in front of drivers’ eyes, reducing distractions and crash accidents.
Mechanics
Automatic transmission and adjustable suspension: Modern automobiles meet minimum standards in stability and comfort that would be maximum for vehicles of 20 years ago. But there is always room for improvement, and there are two devices worth paying for. The first would be the automatic transmission because it simplifies driving and reduces fatigue while driving. The latest transmissions generation no longer penalize performance and consumption, although it is more advisable, of course, to choose an automatic transmission with double clutch or torque converter, rather than a CVT or continuous speed variation.
The suspension would be the second element susceptible to improvement in the mechanics. The first tier would be the lowered ride height suspensions, which reduce filtering smoothness and increase agility. The second level, the electronic or piloted shock absorbers, is a more recommended option because they allow to adjust the hardness and manage to enhance both the comfort and the dynamism of the car. And if the budget accompanies, the pneumatic suspensions are expensive but provide an amazing ride quality.
Check out more innovative automotive technologies here that can be impressively useful.
Comfort
From the hands-free key to comfort automation: The hands-free key, which allows access to the vehicle without having to remove the remote from your bag or pocket, is one of the most recommended comfort equipment.
The lights and the self-connecting windscreen wipers are also worth and smart high beams are beginning to become popular, which the car is responsible for turning on and off so as not to dazzle those who come in front, although their reliability is only convincing in the most expensive models, not in popular ones.
New car devices: Power-adjustable seats may seem like a whim, but they also enhance comfort, especially if the vehicle is going to be used regularly by more than one person because they avoid having to manually adjust the position each day. And if they also have memory, each driver keeps his own.