It turns out that more technology in cars isn’t necessarily something customers want, and it’s not really improving their driving experience. We know my thoughts on the matter, but I’ll do my best to stay impartial on this latest survey from JD Power that shows most customers don’t appreciate technology in cars unless they can see a clear benefit to them.
JD Power’s 2024 U.S. Tech Experience Index Study evaluated over 81,000 drivers’ experience with “advanced vehicle technologies” in 2024 model year vehicles after 90 days of ownership, It turned out to be a pretty mixed bag when it came to what people liked using. There are a number of tech features that customers like using because they feels that it answers their needs, but at the same time there is a whole lot that don’t get used very often or are continually annoying, according to the survey.
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The only features I really want is ABS, Bluetooth and a physical interface. Everything else I would rather not pay for.
I live in Sweden so it’s not like I need AC, I don’t use cruise etc. and most other modern features mainly serve to annoy me.
I guess it depends on how far North you live. I’m a Swede too, and cars in summer with no A/C would be unbearable.
ABS has been an EU legal requirement for at least ten years. It’s not generally marketed as a feature unless it’s part of a safety-stability system e.g. ESP and collision mitigation.
If these control systems are implemented skillfully you won’t know they are present on the vehicle. People think they understand how a car works right up to the point they have to make one and then go back to talking about bicycles.
Well, I think you’ll need AC anyway, since it works as a heat pump to heat your car up in winter.
Only in electric vehicles. Gasoline and diesel engines generate a lot of waste heat, which is why they have radiators at the front of the engine compartment for water cooling. The cabin heater in most vehicles is an optional air path though a small heat exchanger on the radiator water loop, so it’s as efficient as possible. That’s also why the car has to be running for a few minutes before the heat starts working.
“In my situation we don’t need AC, so neither does anyone else! My supporting argument is that we don’t have AC and live with it.”
