Summary
- Shop from a dealership for a wide selection of cars.
- Check for essential features like folding side mirrors.
- Avoid gimmicky features like gesture controls for safety.
Finding the best deals on a caris important any time you’re shopping for one, and you especially don’t want to overpay for the vehicle. You want to find a fair price and be happy with the car that you’re getting. Whether it’s a new car or a pre-owned one, there are a lot of ways to go about getting a car.
You can shop for one from a dealership, which is the most common way of procuring a car. It’s probably the first way that you think about getting a car, but it can also be one of the most frustrating. If you want to look on third-party sales sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, you can. But you won’t find the upper echelon of selection like you will if you’re going through a dealership. You can also shop at places like Carvana that are ideal for trade-ins.
No matter how you decide to get a car, it’s imperative that you consider what features the car is going to have. Obviously, if you’re buying from a third-party place, you have to be less picky. But if you are shopping at a dealership and have the choice in some of the packages, here are some of the worst features to avoid.
- Starting Price (MSRP)
-
$70,000
- Engine/Motor
-
Twin electric motors powered by Lithium-ion battery
- Horsepower
-
84 kW / 650 hp
- Torque
-
740 Nm
- Drivetrain
-
Four-wheel drive
- Transmission
-
Direct-drive
1
Charging pad by the center console
It’s a mess in multiple facets
A charging pad at the base of the center console might seem like a great idea. It’s usually located just beneath the climate controls, and if your phone supports wireless charging, you can simply place it there to boost the battery. It’s also a convenient spot to toss loose change or small knickknacks — but if you use it for storage, the charging pad almost definitely won’t work.
For wireless charging to function, the pad needs to be completely clear — your phone should be the only thing there. Even then, you often have to place the phone in exactly the right spot for it to charge. That sweet spot isn’t labeled, so you won’t know if you’ve hit it until your phone either charges — or simply doesn’t. Worse, once you start driving, the phone may shift just enough to stop charging altogether. It’s more hassle than it’s worth.
2
Side view mirrors that don’t turn in
It’s hard to believe cars like this exist
It’s very important to check this small detail when you’re buying a car. Trust me, you don’t want a car that can’t do this.
This one is something that I learned the hard way. When I purchased my most recent car, a 2024 Hyundai Palisade, I was pumped. It has a 360º camera, lane assistance, heads-up display, and more. There are so many amazing features on the inside of the car that I forgot to check one of the most basic on the outside; our car doesn’t have side view mirrors that can be turned inwards.
This is a three-row SUV, so it’s a pretty big vehicle. The length isn’t something I was worried about fitting in our garage. But the width? I have to be incredibly careful when I’m pulling it into the garage because there’s not much room for error.
I was backing it up shortly after we’d gotten the car, and I was a little crooked. I wasn’t paying full attention to both sides of the car as I was backing up, and I nailed my right-side view mirror against the column and scratched the outer portion of the mirror. Luckily, no structural damage was done to the mirror, but if I’d been able to pull the mirrors inward, I would’ve had more room to back the car out and likely wouldn’t have had an issue. Why I’m unable to pull my mirrors in is beyond me.
3
Talk Mode or Driver Talk
This is such an unnecessary feature
If you’re driving, you already control the volume — whether it’s music, a podcast, or whatever else is playing through the car’s audio system. But for some reason, certain manufacturers have added a Talk Mode or Driver Talk feature that acts like an intercom and lets the driver speak to passengers in the back.
The last time I checked, nobody was buying commercial-sized buses to drive around on a daily basis. If you need an intercom to speak with people in the back, you’re not using your voice well enough. Just lower the volume on the music and talk to get someone’s attention. It can’t be that hard that you need a mode to speak through the intercom. This is such a superfluous feature, I’m shocked it’s included in as many cars as it is.
4
A touchscreen display for you to use
Hear me out on this one — it’s for safety
Having a display in your car makes life a lot easier. It lets you use features like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, so you can access your phone safely while driving, even if it’s just for directions. From the display, you can cycle through messaging apps, navigation, and more. Some systems even show a map of your route if your car has the right chip. Many of these displays are touchscreen, which is fine when you’re not driving. But while you are driving, they can be incredibly dangerous to operate. You’re too focused on reading and typing on the screen to drive as safely as you can.
Some cars disable certain functions while you’re driving, but many don’t — you have full access to the screen throughout your trip. That’s risky. Taking your eyes off the road, even for a second, can lead to dangerous situations. That’s why I prefer cars with a selector wheel. This lets you tool around with the entertainment system in a simpler and safer way, as you don’t have to reach outward and touch the screen, which is more distracting to them using the car than a rotating knob is to move around the screen.
5
Dark mode for when the sun goes down
Don’t even bother looking into this
Some vehicles offer a night mode feature, where the dashboard and center console screen dim or go dark at night. I get that some drivers prefer a dimmed display in the dark — but it’s not essential by any means. And honestly, if you’re fiddling with your screen while driving, that’s already a problem (especially at night, when your focus should be on the road).
Night mode is going to be a part of many cars going forward, as many use the sensors in car to determine if it’s dark outside or not. But you shouldn’t be on the hook for paying more for it. It adds some to your drive but isn’t a game changer in terms of necessity.
6
Gesture control for your audio system
Why not just use that movement some other way
Again, using the display in your car is incredibly useful. But, when it comes to your audio system, it can sometimes do too much. Whether you’re using your car’s entertainment system through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay or just turning on the radio, you want to get the most out of your audio. But, there are some systems that let you control your audio through gestures.
Honestly, what’s the point? If you’re waving at your screen just to raise the volume, it feels more gimmicky than practical. Most cars already have a physical dial or volume buttons on the steering wheel — both of which are quicker, safer, and less distracting. Gesture control might sound like futuristic tech, but in practice, it just doesn’t belong in a vehicle.
