10 Most Pointless Car Features | What You Don’t Need in Your Next Car

Discover the 10 most pointless car technologies that drivers in Barnsley and South Yorkshire should avoid. Save money and frustration by knowing what not to buy.

Technology in cars has come a long way — but not every innovation is a game-changer. In fact, many so-called “features” add unnecessary cost, complexity, and confusion. At anycolourcar.com, we’ve seen how buyers across Barnsley and South Yorkshire are increasingly frustrated by gadgets they never actually use.

Here’s our breakdown of the 11 most pointless car technologies you’re better off avoiding when shopping for your next car.

1. Passenger Touchscreen Displays

These look sleek in brochures, but they’re rarely used. Most passengers prefer their own smartphones or tablets to navigate, stream or browse. The in-car passenger display? It’s just expensive dashboard décor.

2. Rear Seat Media Systems

Once seen as a must-have for family cars, rear entertainment systems are now outdated. They’re glitchy, limited in functionality, and no match for a tablet with a YouTube subscription and a decent mobile signal.

3. Gesture Control

Waving at your dashboard to control volume or skip tracks feels more like a party trick than a useful feature. It often fails to register properly, especially on South Yorkshire’s uneven roads, and usually ends in frustration.

4. Automatic Scent Diffusers

Fancy built-in fragrance systems might sound luxurious, but who really wants to pay extra for car-branded perfume cartridges? A £2.99 air freshener from the supermarket does the job just as well — if not better.

5. Pop-Up Door Handles

They look futuristic, but they’re slow to react and can freeze in cold weather — something we know all too well in Barnsley winters. Plus, they’re costly to repair if the mechanism fails.

6. Fake Engine Noise

Piped-in engine sounds might try to make a quiet turbo or electric motor sound sportier, but they often just sound artificial. Most drivers turn them off and prefer the real thing — or no noise at all.

7. Complex Keyless Entry Systems

Keyless entry is convenient until it stops working. Add in rising car thefts linked to relay attacks, and this feature quickly becomes a liability. A good old-fashioned key is far more secure.

8. Built-In Sat Navs

Built-in navigation systems often lack real-time updates and traffic alerts. With apps like Google Maps or Waze available on any smartphone, there’s little reason to pay extra for a less effective alternative.

9. Automatic Parking Assist

In theory, this helps with parallel parking. In practice, it’s slow, overly cautious, and sometimes can’t even detect a suitable space. Most drivers can park faster themselves, especially in tight South Yorkshire town centres.

10. In-Car Wi-Fi Subscriptions

In a world where most people have unlimited data on their phones, paying monthly for in-car Wi-Fi feels unnecessary. Most passengers won’t even bother to connect to it.

11. Video Door Mirrors (Digital Side Mirrors)

This futuristic feature replaces traditional mirrors with cameras and interior display screens. Sounds clever, but they can be hard to adjust to, especially at night or in rain. Visibility often worsens instead of improving. Repairs? Expensive. And if the screen fails, you’re in real trouble. Traditional mirrors remain more practical and reliable — particularly in everyday Barnsley driving conditions.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Pay for Gimmicks

Modern cars are more advanced than ever, but not every bit of tech is worth your money. Whether it’s a screen no one uses or a camera pretending to be a mirror, pointless features only drive up the cost and risk of repairs.

At anycolourcar.com, we help car buyers across Barnsley and South Yorkshire choose vehicles with real value — not tech gimmicks. Whether you’re buying or leasing, we’ll help you cut through the clutter and get a car that works for you.

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