To not brag, however we motoring journalists have an important gig.

We get to drive all the newest autos, which implies we get to expertise the newest in know-how after which let you know what we predict works and what we predict doesn’t.

There’s one draw back to this, nonetheless.

With a lot seat time in new autos, we will shortly get accustomed to fashionable comfort options. Meaning getting into an older or low-tech automobile can typically really feel like a little bit of a chore.

So, what are the brand new automotive options we simply can’t appear to dwell with out?

Anthony Crawford: Apple CarPlay

Let me put it this fashion. There’s no likelihood I might buy a brand new automotive with out Apple CarPlay, each from a comfort and ease-of-use sense.

To have the ability to change between telephone, messages, music and navigation, in addition to different apps like Waze and Spotify most of which may be activated by voice command is pure magic – and from an Apple perspective, it’s solely going to get higher.

Alborz Fallah: Head-up show

To be completely sincere, the very first thing that got here to thoughts was wi-fi Apple CarPlay and quick USB-C charging. Nonetheless after I actually give it some thought, a head-up show is the one characteristic I can’t dwell with out. It’s additionally why I not have a Mannequin Y.

It’s as a lot a security factor as a comfort factor and after you have got pushed a automotive with a good head-up show, it’s onerous to return.

If I needed to get philosophical about it, the one factor I miss in new vehicles is precise transmission of what the entrance wheels are doing by to the steering wheel.

With all the electrical energy steering techniques about as of late that take nearly all of the texture out of it, typically it’s good to only leap again in a automotive that has no steering aids (like my Lotus) and realise what a distinction it makes to the driving enjoyment.

Paul Maric: Accessible cup holders

I discover it really weird that some manufacturers don’t do any actual world testing on their cup holders. Try to pull a scorching espresso out of the brand new Volkswagen Amarok’s cupholders and because of the excessive centre console, you want arm contortion abilities like by no means earlier than to make sure it comes up and again and not using a spill.

Much more unusual – the Ford Ranger it shares a platform with has them constructed into the dashboard.

On the flip facet, Porsche does an superior job by integrating cup holders that flip out of the sprint on its sportier fashions to beat the difficulty.

Anyway – first world issues, however check your cup holders with scorching espresso earlier than your automotive goes on sale!

Scott Collie: Keyless entry

That is the hardest staff query we’ve tackled thus far.

In Melbourne, winter mornings are typically fairly depressing. Meaning heated seats are near vital, particularly in vehicles with leather-based seats. They’re near non-negotiable… however I’ve lived with out them earlier than, and will do it once more.

Keyless entry, however? Most new vehicles in 2023 permit you to depart the important thing in your pocket and simply pull the door deal with, so it’s jarring once you drive a base mannequin automotive that forces you to take away the important thing out of your pocket.

I’m so used to with the ability to simply stroll up with my arms full and pull the deal with, I don’t assume I’d be capable to dwell day-to-day with a automotive that doesn’t have that performance.

Jade Credentino: Velocity limiter

I’m with Scollie, nonetheless if I needed to choose one thing else…

Final week, he dropped at my consideration to the velocity limiter characteristic in new vehicles. It has been so helpful!

I feel there are quite a lot of luxuries I’ve come to count on as customary however one thing each new automotive ought to have is a velocity limiter.

I’m not somebody who speeds historically, I’ve a clear driving report (contact wooden) till now. Nonetheless, typically once you’re driving on a freeway with the visitors you’ll be able to lose observe of your velocity as you’re taking note of the street (if there isn’t a head-up show).

This characteristic prevents that, as regardless of how onerous you press on the accelerator it received’t tip you over. Should you do have to speed up for security causes, it’s an easy push of a button to disable.

Derek Fung: Arms-free energy tailgate

For me, on a regular basis as I wedge my automotive into tiny on-street spots or the best slots at New Jersey’s finest strip malls, I give because of the automotive gods for the reversing digital camera.

However that’s not a really attention-grabbing reply, and never one thing I can preach on for a couple of paragraphs…

Forgive me if I drift into Rob Sitch- channelling-Bruce McAveney mode for second, however after I was youthful I questioned the usefulness of applied sciences like inside cameras, built-in vacuums, soft-closing doorways, illuminated exterior door handles, and the record might go on.

However I bear in mind having a very hearty inside guffaw on the motion-sensor activated powered tailgate.

There I used to be, a few years later, in a busy parking zone stuffed with outsized pickup vehicles and whale-sized SUVs, holding a child who had simply carried out a poo, and whose moist wipes and diapers had been within the boot. And that little piece of tech got here by for me.

Since then it’s proved helpful when overloaded with issues and youngsters. It additionally permits one unbiased 7-year outdated to shut the tailgate on his personal.

Jack Fast: Telescopic steering columns

In relation to options on new vehicles, I’ve a reasonably low bar as my private automotive is a 2020 Suzuki Jimny which is without doubt one of the least technologically superior new vehicles you’ll be able to at present purchase in Australia.

One characteristic my Jimny doesn’t have and I desperately need is a telescoping steering column, which might assist make my driving place a bit extra comfy.

Moreover the Jimny, there are few new vehicles that solely have tilting steering wheels in Australia. A few of them promote fairly properly of their respective segments too.

Examples of recent autos on sale in Australia and not using a telescoping steering column embody the MG ZS, GWM Haval H6, LDV T60, and Mahindra Scorpio, amongst others.

The brand new automobile with the very best/most adjustable steering column I’ve skilled up to now is the Ford Ranger and Everest. Given I’ve lengthy legs and brief arms this helps dial in my driving place to perfection.

William Stopford: Encompass-view digital camera

After I was looking for my present automotive, I made a listing of all of the options I needed it to have. This included issues like keyless entry, rain-sensing wipers, a head-up show, adaptive cruise management, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The one characteristic my Hyundai Genesis didn’t have from that record was Android Auto, which stays an annoyance. It does, nonetheless, include issues I didn’t want however have come to understand, like a powered boot-lid, auto maintain and soft-close doorways.

A surround-view digital camera was on that record, and I completely respect it – a lot in order that I really feel like, to be frank, it has made me a worse parker.

In spite of everything, once you’re used to seeing a top-down view of your automotive, going again to a mere reversing digital camera and sensors or – egad! – not one of the above is an actual adjustment, no less than with bigger autos.

Adaptive cruise management I really like, however I can get right into a automotive with out it and simply drive with out cruise management on – that most likely helps hold you extra alert, anyway – whereas with auto maintain I assume I can simply be a giant boy and hold my foot on the brake pedal at a visitors mild.

However a surround-view digital camera is so rattling confidence-inspiring, it has turn into vital for me. Most likely for the more severe.

One arguably extra necessary characteristic that wasn’t on my record was LED headlights, and my subsequent automotive must have them (bonus factors in the event that they’re matrix LEDs) – the HIDs on my Genesis don’t evaluate.

James Wong: Adaptive cruise management

There are such a lot of issues that the majority fashionable vehicles supply as of late that may be must-haves in my subsequent automotive. I’ve additionally been spoiled with my present automotive in addition to the numerous vehicles I’ve examined in my time.

For me, adaptive cruise management is without doubt one of the issues I can’t dwell with out. Any time I’ve examined a automotive with out adaptive cruise, I are likely to drive my very own automotive at any time when I’ve to enterprise onto the freeway.

Most of my weekly commuting is to and from the workplace, in excessive visitors and with the everyday lot of Melbourne drivers which have little regard for etiquette. Commonplace cruise management is principally unusable in these situations.

Even higher, a automobile with cease/go and Site visitors Jam Help can be a revelation if you happen to haven’t used it earlier than, basically letting the automotive navigate bumper-to-bumper visitors at low speeds. It’s the factor you didn’t know you wanted for the day by day commute, belief me.