Modern cars include several standard features that were once desirable upgrades drivers would pay hundreds to thousands of dollars for. Some of these features were only available as aftermarket upgrades and required complicated installations.
Today, new cars come straight out of the factory with driver assistance, safety and operational features that make driving and ownership simpler in many ways. Here are three common standard features that were once reserved for upper trims or required aftermarket installation.
Backup Cameras Weren’t Always Mandatory on New Vehicles
If you’ve been driving for a few decades, you probably remember having to turn your head to reverse and park regularly.
Today, every brand-new car sold in America comes standard with a backup camera that makes reversing easier and safer for both drivers and pedestrians by limiting blind spots.
In 2014 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized a federal rule for mandatory backup cameras in new vehicles by 2018.
Now even the most affordable base model cars come with the feature, eliminating the need to turn your head when parking and giving drivers a clear view of objects and pedestrians behind their vehicles.
Most New Cars Don’t Come With Car Keys
If you own a modern vehicle, it’s likely that you don’t open, lock or start your engine with a car key. Instead, new vehicles come with key fobs that lock and unlock doors and may automatically open and close trunks.
Once key fobs are present in new vehicles, drivers can start their engines using push-button start instead of turning a key in the ignition. Push-button start was rolled out slowly and was once exclusive to pricier vehicles and upper trim models. Some drivers were even using aftermarket parts and methods to add the feature to their vehicles.
Today, most new vehicles come with push-button start, freeing up the space that car keys once occupied. Push-button start isn’t perfect and has its own mechanical drawbacks such as accidental shut offs or reliance on a key fob.
On the other hand, this technology can prevent accidental interior scratching from metal keys, prevent physical hotwiring, and give drivers the freedom to carry heavy and long keychains without disrupting their driving spaces.
Wireless Smartphone Connectivity Has Become the Norm for New Cars
In a world dominated by screens and smartphones, wireless connectivity is a huge win for drivers. Prior to the standardization of wireless smartphone connectivity, many drivers relied on sensitive wires to play audio or use Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
While Android Auto and Apple CarPlay may not be universally wireless in every vehicle yet, many popular new cars come standard with the feature. This allows drivers to have more flexibility with phone placement, reduces wear on device ports and eliminates wire clutter. Instant connectivity is also great for drivers who use navigation apps like Google Maps for daily driving because it’s so quick.
Cars are becoming more advanced every year from software to capabilities and standard features. Thankfully for drivers, there are plenty of affordable new cars for 2026 that come with advanced driver assistance and safety features for under $30,000.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY. Reporting by Charles Singh, USA TODAY.
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