The federal government requires automakers to include certain safety features on every single car they sell, but really, the only things you absolutely need in a car are four wheels that are round enough to roll, a powertrain to move the car, some kind of brake to slow it down, and something that makes it possible to turn. Beyond that, and we’re firmly in the territory of luxuries and convenience features. Heck, you could even argue that a multi-gear transmission is a convenience feature.
Something being “unnecessary” doesn’t automatically make it a waste of money, though. Here in the U.S., we’ve all collectively decided that climate control is such a nice thing to have that few people would even consider whether or not a car has a heater. Now, you can’t even get a new car in the U.S. that doesn’t come with air conditioning standard. Unless you consider the Fiat Topolino a car.
Remote start
For the last couple of days I’ve been driving a new Honda Pilot, and while I don’t have much use for a three-row crossover of any kind, the fact that it has remote start has been a lifesaver here in Georgia. The heat index is over 100, cars get hot, and even a head start of only a couple minutes is enough to drop the interior temperature enough to not be completely miserable when you climb in. Heck, remote start has ended up being so convenient, I’m willing to deal with the garbage Stellantis app if it means walking out to a car that isn’t hot enough to brand me with its seatbelt.
Requiring automakers to make remote start standard would probably be a step too far, but for something I don’t actually need, it’s going to be incredibly hard to justify ever giving up remote start in my daily driver. It’s just so nice to have. I can’t be the only one who’s gotten hooked on the convenience of a car feature they don’t actually need, though. What luxury feature ended up being so convenient that it may as well be a requirement for future purchases? Whatever it is, let us know down in the comments.
