What car tech actually works?

New cars are increasingly packed with hi-tech features, such as touchscreens, climate control and automatic full beam lights.

But it can be tough to know which innovations really improve your drive and which are just flashy add-ons.

When we surveyed 1,216 Which? members to find out which advanced car tech they find unnecessary, we found features such as heated steering wheels (79%), keyless ignition (66%) and touchscreens and heated seats (both 56%) were among the features considered most unnecessary.

However, parking sensors, automatic windscreen wipers and automatic daytime running lights were seen as much more useful by Which? members.

Below, we list your thoughts on the best and worst aspects of car technology, plus our cars expert Dino Buratti gives his view on what’s likely to improve your driving experience—and what you might not need.

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Touchscreens 

More than half (56%) of the members surveyed thought touchscreens were unnecessary, with some saying it could be difficult to drive while using them. Several preferred physical buttons and found touchscreens distracting. However, 31% thought they were necessary, while 13% didn’t know. Earlier this year, safety organisation Euro NCAP told manufacturers they need to reduce their reliance on touchscreens or face lower safety ratings.

Our expert's view

'While touchscreens can be useful, some systems are better than others. If you’re looking to buy a car with a touchscreen, it’s worth trying out the screen extensively to see if you can get used to it. Make sure you read our car reviews to see if our expert tests have noted any issues with the touchscreen.'

Which? cars expert Dino Buratti

Car tech features you can live without: See some of the tech features drivers find more frustrating than useful

Zoned climate control

Zoned climate control was deemed unnecessary by 53% of our survey respondents, while 36% thought it necessary and 12% weren’t sure. The feature refers to a system that allows different areas or ‘zones’ of the vehicle to maintain independent temperature settings. However, those who disliked it said they preferred to turn the temperature up and down themselves and it was rare they needed to bask in a different temperature setting to their passengers. ‘It’s a car, not a plane,’ one said.

Our expert's view

'Rear passengers may appreciate three- or four-zone climate control systems, but those in the front are unlikely to see the true benefits of a dual-zone system as the air flow of one side is likely to mix with the flow from the other side of the cabin.'

Which? cars expert Dino Buratti

Automatic full beams

Our survey respondents were split on the usefulness of automatic full beams, a system that automatically switches between high and low beam headlights based on road conditions, using sensors to detect oncoming traffic or vehicles ahead. While 50% considered them unnecessary, 37% considered them useful while 13% didn’t know. Those who disliked the feature said the lights could be slow to react and didn’t always pick up pedestrians and cyclists, or that they preferred to control their lights themselves.

Our expert's view

'Automatic full beam systems can be useful, but they can be unreliable in their deployment. They can also irritate drivers of other cars that may be temporarily blinded by these systems.'

Which? cars expert Dino Buratti

Automatic windscreen wipers

This feature drew a more positive response from Which? members, with 64% of the total surveyed describing them as necessary. Just under a third thought them unnecessary however, with reasons mentioned as 'annoyingly inaccurate' or 'nice, but not vital'. Automatic windscreen wipers - as the name suggests - relieve the need for a driver to switch on a vehicle’s wipers manually by using sensors to detect the amount of rain or moisture on a windscreen and automatically activating or adjusting the speed.

Our expert's view

'Automatic wipers can be very useful. But they can also be slow to react to changing rain speeds, which means you sometimes have to manually intervene to set the wipers at the correct speed.'

Which? cars expert Dino Buratti

Lane sensors

Lane sensors - a car safety feature designed to help drivers stay within their lane on the road - were deemed unnecessary by more than half (53%) of the survey respondents, while around 33% said they were necessary and 14% didn’t know. The technology differs depending on the vehicle. Some cars give drivers an audio warning - such as a beep - if they sense the car moving out of its lane, while others have more advanced systems that tug the steering wheel or adjust the vehicle to maintain its position in the lane. Some respondents had concerns about the safety of such systems. One called for the system to be deactivated on rural roads, saying they had had their steering wheel turn towards an oncoming lorry. Another said they did not want to be pulled back when trying to avoid cyclists or potholes. Others said the system was distracting and drivers themselves should be responsible for staying in their lanes.

Our expert's view

'The general idea of lane sensors is a good one but some systems are better than others. In fact, our tests have revealed serious concerns with the MG4’s lane assist technology'

Which? cars expert Dino Buratti

Car safety features explained: We look at the latest developments

Parking sensors

Parking sensors - which help drivers detect obstacles while parking or manoeuvring in tight spaces - were deemed necessary by 87% of respondents. This made them the most popular tech feature in our survey. Just 9% found them unnecessary, with 4% unsure. While one respondent said they were 'nice to have, depending on the size of the vehicle', another said they were a 'luxury, not a necessity'.

Our expert's view

'Parking sensors are fitted to nearly all new cars. That’s not surprising, as they are a very useful feature given that most new cars have poor all-round visibility and are much larger than their forebears.'

Which? cars expert Dino Buratti

Keyless ignition

Two-thirds of our survey respondents said keyless ignition - which allows drivers to start their engine by pushing a button, as long as the key fob is inside the car - was an unnecessary feature, with 23% saying it was necessary. Among those who disliked it, one member said they preferred a key, while others said they were concerned about potential security risks. According to data reported by Which? between 60% and 70% of cars stolen in the 12 months prior to July 2024 were keyless models, with insurer LV reporting keyless models were easiest to steal. LV said this was due to thieves being able to 'buy devices easily online, which enables them to steal a car in a matter of seconds by either starting the engine without keys, coding, or breaking in’.

Our experts' view

'Keyless entry systems may be convenient and hard to avoid, but they can make your car easier to steal than a car without a keyless system. We’d recommend investing in extra security precautions if you have a car with keyless entry.'

Which? cars expert Dino Buratti

'Police forces, such as The Met, recommend putting your keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag. A dash cam could also be a good thing to get, but you really probably need a wifi enabled one so the footage can be synced from the device regularly. Read our reviews of the best dash cams for more details.

'One other thing to consider is a smart doorbell and/or security camera placed covering your drive, or where the car is parked - they can monitor the area and alert you if something is going on. You might have time to respond or just have documented evidence of the theft to use for the police or insurance company.

'Be careful of breaching GDPR if the recording includes the street - our piece on is it legal to record security camera and smart doorbell footage? will tell you more. 

'Some police forces also suggest adding a steering wheel lock to your car, as a visual deterrent.'

Which? principal researcher Andy Laughlin 

Keyless tech is contributing to a wave in car thefts, say insurers. Read our reviews of video doorbells or wireless security cameras for the security devices that triumphed in our independent tests.

Cruise control

Cruise control - a system that allows the driver to maintain a constant speed without having to keep their foot on the accelerator pedal - was deemed a necessary tech feature by more than half (51%) of our survey respondents. However 40% deemed it unnecessary, while 9% didn’t know. Of those who thought it was unnecessary, some said they rarely used it, while another said it was only useful on long motorway journeys. A further respondent said it was too complicated to use and encouraged ‘lazy driving’.

Our expert's view

'If you regularly drive for long distances on motorways or dual carriageways, cruise control can be a great help and is fitted to virtually all new cars. Adaptive cruise control, which adjusts your speed to match traffic around you, can be particularly useful.'

Which? cars expert Dino Buratti

Automatic daytime running lamps

This feature was deemed necessary by 65% of our survey’s respondents, but 25% found it unnecessary. The lights - which automatically turn on when the car is in motion during the day - attracted comments such as 'waste of electricity' and 'not required in the UK' from those who were not fans.

Frost warning light

The frost warning light - which is an indicator on the car’s dashboard alerting drivers to potentially icy or freezing conditions outside - was deemed necessary by 62% of respondents, while 30% thought it unnecessary and 8% didn’t know. Comments from those who thought it unnecessary included 'you can see it’s cold' and 'you don’t need a light to tell you it’s frosty'.

Heated steering wheel

Like heated seats, heated steering wheels were deemed a luxury, not a necessity by some of the 79% of respondents who deemed them unnecessary. Another said their hands got too hot, while others said drivers should wear gloves if their hands were cold. However, 15% of people thought heated steering wheels were necessary, while 6% weren’t sure.

Our expert's view

'There's no doubt, some car brands do a better job with tech than others. That said, there aren't many cars that forgo extra in-car tech altogether, which may annoy people who just want a basic car.

'When test driving any car, make sure you also test the tech. Ask the seller for guidance on anything you're not sure about and make sure you don't get talked into buying extra kit you're unlikely to use. 

'Read our car reviews and advice to arm yourself with the results of our independent test results on specific makes and models.

'If you're not keen on having lots of tech in your car, it may be worth considering buying a used car. Make sure you find the best model for your budget by using our guide on how to buy the best used car. 

'If you're set on having a new car, it's important to consider how easy it is to configure any settings to your own preferences, along with how easy it is for you to use.'

Dino Buratti, Which? cars expert