The Latest Car Technology Is Starting to Drive People Nuts
Drivers are finding they wish the smart technology in their cars was just a bit dumber.
Automakers have added new tech features in the 2020s that go beyond the touch screens, assisted-driving systems and companion phone apps that have become ubiquitous in new cars. Some vehicles come with infrared night vision, seasonal ambient lighting and interior “fam cams” showing rear passengers.
Many drivers say it is too much. The share who had positive feelings about the intuitiveness of their car’s controls fell from 79% in 2015 to 56% in 2024, according to surveys of new-car buyers by Strategic Vision, a market-research firm. The trend was similar for drivers’ perceptions of dashboard displays, screen interfaces and the layout of the instrument panel. Drivers are still happy overall with the technology in cars, said Alexander Edwards, president of Strategic Vision. But they want it to be as easy to use as an iPhone, and most of it isn’t.
In January, Vincent Dufault-Bédard tried and failed to remotely start charging his 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 electric car using its phone app. The 36-year-old engineer in Montreal scurried out into the 15° night in shorts and flip-flops, thinking he would be back indoors quickly. But the car doors wouldn’t open because their sensor-equipped handles were on the fritz in the cold. He ended up having to shimmy into his car through the trunk. “Just give me a normal door handle,” said Dufault-Bédard.
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Glitches can be especially annoying for drivers whose cars cost more because of extra technology. Some premium features, such as massaging seats and passenger-side screens, can drive up a car’s price tag. The average transaction price of a new vehicle was $47,373 in February, according to the car-shopping site Edmunds.
Touch screens are a touchy subject for drivers like Jake Pratte. He sees them as both an annoyance and a potential hazard. Changing settings can require multiple taps and usually doesn’t deliver physical feedback like the twist of a knob or the press of a button.
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https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/drivers-high-tech-cars-preferences-28ab9584?st=xDe8CD&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
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