Latest news with #carfeatures
The Herald
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Herald
Refreshed Honda HR-V lands in Mzansi: pricing and specs
Cabin highlights include eco-friendly leather seats, a redesigned centre console with two USB ports (Type A/Type C), a 15W wireless charging pad and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment screen compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available solely in Elegance specification (Comfort and Executive variants fall away), other standard features include automatic highbeam headlamps, a six-speaker audio system, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, six airbags and Honda Sensing. The latter avails driver aids such as lane-keeping assist, emergency braking and road departure mitigation. The new Honda HR-V retails for R539,000, including a five-year/200,000km warranty and four-year/60,000km service plan.
Motor 1
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
‘I Feel So Dumb. Read Your Manuals:' Driver Gets Chevy Malibu. Then She Discovers This Little-Known Feature 5 Years Later
A Chevrolet Malibu owner was stunned to discover a feature in her car five years after she bought it. Hayley Simone ( @determinedbeauty_97 ) revealed her discovery in a TikTok that's accrued over 5 million views. She says that knowing about it sooner could've saved her at least one argument and $20. Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Simone begins her video recording her 2018 Chevy Malibu's center console, showing off its two front cupholders and shifter. She writes in a text overlay, 'POV: Malibu owner since 2020, found this out June 2025.' Next, she focuses the lens on a small, recessed compartment beneath the shifter and cupholders and above the front cubby/armrest. 'This thing right here, did you know it's a [expletive] wireless charger?' she remarks, panning her camera to the Malibu's owner's manual. In the booklet, she highlights a section that explains 'the wireless charging system is located in a pocket below the armrest console.' 'I took the time to read this on my break,' Simone explains. 'I'm pretty sure I've got into an argument about leaving a charger at home while we went on a road trip with my boyfriend. And we had to stop, buy a $20 charger… And we had a wireless charger here the whole time? Wow.' In the caption, she adds, 'I feel so dumb. Read your manuals.' An Uncommon Feature Trending Now 'Did I Mention the Motor Blew Up On It?' Woman Buys Brand-New Jeep Wagoneer. Then It Makes This Sound in the Target Parking Lot 'Holy Cow:' Woman Goes to Pump Gas. Then She Saves $1/Gallon With Amazon Prime The Chevy Malibu has included chargers for several years. It depends on year and trim level, but Malibus have either a wireless charger, a USB port, or a 12V power outlet. The wireless charging pocket, while relatively rare, isn't specific to Chevrolet. The 2024 Nissan Patrol Warrior, for instance, also features a wireless charging pocket. BMW also offers wireless charging pockets inside of the front seat's center console armrest on some of its 7 Series vehicles. Some who replied to Simone's video said they, too, were surprised to learn about the Malibu's recessed pocket's usage. 'Why are things not labeled anymore, been charging my sanitizer,' one person penned. Others said that instead of powering their phones, they've been giving their spare change some electrons. 'Not me using it for my coins,' one said. Another echoed, 'I've been charging my change.' Yet another said that the dealership is to blame for Simone unwittingly driving around with a wireless charger this whole time. 'They so busy trying to get you to sign your life away. They're not telling all the car features anymore. I found all kinda stuff just fiddling around in my car,' they said. Motor1 has reached out to Simone via TikTok comment for further information. We'll be sure to update this if she responds. More From Motor1 'What Should I Do?' Chevrolet Salesman Says His Client Owes $23,000 on a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. How? The 10 Cheapest Cars of 2025 'What in the World Should I Do?': Woman Takes Her Chevrolet Into the Body Shop to Fix a Dent. Then She Gets It Back The Corvette Stingray Is an American Cayman Killer: Video Review Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Auto Blog
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
New Study Reveals What Buyers Really Want In A Budget Car
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Frill-free base trims still have their place For budget car shoppers, more isn't always more. That's the general sentiment when looking at the results of AutoPacific's Future Attribute Demand Study (FADS), which studied how interested car shoppers are in over 160 features and technologies. More specifically, the study compares the demand for specific features between those shopping in the $25k to $35k category, relative to those shopping for cars at over $35k. At a time when tariffs are raising car prices, it's no surprise that many in the budget car category are looking for simpler cars with the essentials, not unnecessarily flashy extras that cost more to buy and maintain. The study also makes it clear what the perfect budget car looks like. Costco members can save $3,000 on a new Chevy Corvette Watch More Autonomous Driving Features And Digital Displays Not Essential Looking more closely at the data, shoppers in the budget category demonstrate a lower demand for high-tech driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control with lane centering (6 to 7% less interested) and reconfigurable digital gauge clusters (-6%) when compared to those spending over $35k on a new car. While we would never advocate for fewer safety-related features in any car, let's look at the cheapest new Honda (the Civic LX) as an example. It has standard adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and traffic jam assist. If Honda removed those three items from the base model, it could potentially lower the price of the base Civic. The following items are also less important for buyers in the sub-$35k category: Head-up display Panoramic sunroof Selectable driving modes Branded premium audio Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Source: AutoPacific Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Many of these features are found on sub-$35k models despite a lower demand for them, indicating that lower MSRPs are within reach if a few of these non-essential amenities were cut. 'Front wheel drive, base stereos, cloth seats with various manual adjustment, and analog gauges are 'in,' for these more frugal shoppers,' says Robby DeGraff, AutoPacific's manager of product and consumer insights, 'so the array of standard equipment found on entry- and mid-level trims of today's popular vehicles within the $25,000 to $35,000 price range may need to be reexamined as consumers tighten their belts in the face of economic uncertainty.' Straightforward Sedans With Gas Engines Are Ideal Budget Cars Source: Nissan Based on the survey, which analyzed the responses of over 14,000 people intending to buy a new car, straightforward sedans were seen as especially appealing. Gas engines were a first choice, with just 20% of budget shoppers wanting a hybrid and only 5% interested in an EV. This group considers the ideal $25k to $35k vehicle to be one without flashy extras like massive glass roofs are LED welcome lighting. They don't mind cloth seats with manual adjustments, a 'modestly-sized' touchscreen paired with physical buttons/knobs, and an analog gauge cluster. However, not everything has to be basic, and features like wireless phone charging, heated front seats, and active safety technologies like rear cross-traffic alert are still important. Source: Honda According to the study, these budget car shoppers have a median household income of $50,000, are Millennials or Boomers, and most have no children in their households. Considering these findings, are automakers listening? Small sedans like the Ford Focus, Toyota Yaris, and Mitsubishi Mirage have disappeared. Of the small sedans remaining, recent sales figures support the study's results: Sales of the cheap Nissan Versa are up dramatically, and Kia's sedan sales are growing more rapidly than Kia SUVs. Fortunately, models like the Camry, Accord, Civic, and Corolla still come in at comfortably below $35k. Final Thoughts While new technologies have their place in more expensive vehicles, there is clearly still a demand for smaller, simpler cars in the USA. At the very least, automakers should look to offer more base models where the technologies mentioned here are either not available or optional. Some are doing this, as the study points out Mazda and Hyundai's reintroduction of certain base trims. 'It's good for models in that [lower] price range to offer some fancier, lower-demand features, but those should be optional and limited to higher trim levels, which can also serve to capture customers of bigger and nicely-equipped models who may be downsizing into more affordable segments as they tighten their belts,' says Ed Kim, AutoPacific's president and chief analyst. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
Motor 1
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
‘It Doesn't Do Anything:' Woman Buys 2024 Hyundai Elantra. Why Can't She Figure Out This Feature?
People are judging a woman who just bought a 2024 Hyundai Elantra for asking for help figuring out what something on her dashboard does. It inspired a flood of comments ridiculing her for asking a simple question, as well as plenty of pushback against people for being rude. People turn to the internet all the time to ask questions they could probably just Google. Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Sometimes it's not just about getting the answer, but having your experience validated, finding community, or hearing from someone else who's been in your position. What can you substitute to make a recipe gluten-free? What's that weird noise your car is making? Is it safe to eat fish that looks like that? A good comment section can give you answers, camaraderie, and maybe even make you laugh. But, as one person asserted, the comments on this confused Hyundai Elantra owner's post 'didn't pass the vibe check.' An Indecipherable Square In a viral video with more than 439,000 views, content creator Nyiadiahja ( @nyiadiahja ) shares that she just got a 2024 Hyundai Elantra and was confused about a specific feature. When she flips the screen, you can see that on the left of the dashboard is a small square with a white circle and a line in the middle. There are no buttons on it to help her figure out what it does. When she touches it, nothing happens, so it's clearly not a touchscreen. Trending Now 'Gimme A Break, Nissan:' Woman's Car Says She Has Low Fuel. Then She Sees How Many Miles She Has Left on Her Current Tank 'They Should Teach This in Drivers Ed:' Woman Stops at Gas Station. Then She Reads the Fine Print on the Nozzles 'I just need to know what this is,' she says in the TikTok. 'There's nothing that I can physically do. It doesn't do anything to the dashboard.' Nyiadiahja adds that she tried to stick her phone on it to see if it was a wireless phone charger, but that didn't work either. 'Can somebody tell me what it is?' she asks. Snark In The Comments Although Nyiadiahja was just asking a simple question with a simple answer, her post succeeded in setting some people off. 'READ THE MANUAL. It's in your glove compartment,' a top comment reads. 'That's something you should [have] asked the dealer before you drive off,' another said. Others made jokes or came to her defense. 'That's the cooker right there, in case you driving you want to want make some noodles,' a person jested. 'Can someone please answer her question without all the judgment?' another chimed in. Someone else added, 'Can y'all just answer her? Why so flippin rude?' So What Is It? Hyundai debuted the feature that Nyiadiahja was confused about in the 2021 Elantra. She's not the only one who couldn't figure it out at first. Motor1 reported that the panel with the circular design 'could be any number of things' that it ultimately wasn't, such as an air vent or a speaker. Ultimately, we learned that the panel does not have a purpose. 'It's just a design on the glass… it doesn't serve a function, other than aesthetic value,' a Hyundai product planning team member told Motor1 at the time. Motor1 reached out to Nyiadiahja for comment via TikTok. We'll be sure to update this if she responds. More From Motor1 No Company Has More Range Than Hyundai. These Cars Are Proof 'Big Gap Here:' Man Buys Hyundai Elantra. Then He Realizes Newer Models All Have This Design Flaw That Leads To Rust Hyundai Elantra N Sales Are Up Nearly 300 Percent This Year We Asked Every Automaker How Many Customers Went for Manuals in 2024 Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Aussie drivers 'mind blown' over hidden feature 'almost every car has'
An Aussie driver has gone viral after stumbling across a little-known car feature that's left motorists across the country gobsmacked. The hilarious video, posted by young Queensland mum Sammy Rumbold, has been viewed over 1.7million times and had curious road users suddenly reaching for their high beams. Sammy's discovery came off the back of a TikTok video she'd seen by chance, but didn't believe. 'I thought it was bulls**t', Sammy said in the clip after seeing another creator claim that some cars come with automatic headlight washers - and that activating them was as easy as flicking a few switches. 'I just saw a TikTok of this girl saying all cars have an automatic headlight wash thing,' Sammy said, filming herself beside her Nissan Patrol. 'So I tried it on the Patrol'. 'You have to turn the headlights on, then put the high beams on. Then you pull that [windscreen wiper lever] for three seconds... WHAT!?' To her shock (and obvious delight), jets of water squirted up from the front bumper, spraying the headlights clean. With over 1300 comments, other users we're just as interested as Sammy to see if their car too had the fascinating function. 'My partner is going outside to do this as we speak in this cold Melbourne weather,' one wrote. 'Omg is this an actual thing? Does my 2022 Tucson have this?!' another asked. 'Ma'am my car was made in 1990 my automatic headlight washer has two arms, legs and is named me,' one joked. Headlight washers are, in fact, tiny nozzles built into the front bumper or just beneath the headlights, designed to blast away dirt and grime for maximum visibility, especially at night or in bad weather. The feature isn't just for show, either. In Australia, and many European countries, headlight washers are legally required for vehicles with high-intensity discharge (HID) or xenon headlights, because dirty lenses can scatter the intense light and blind other drivers. 'If only the car came with some sort of book that explains all of the vehicle functions... It's only if you have HID lights and is a legal requirement,' another commented on Sammy's video. Unfortunately for some, not all cars have this fun feature - it's just for the lucky ones of specific vehicle brands. To try it, Sammy's simple instructions are easy to follow: Turn your headlights on (some require high beams specifically), then pull or press your windscreen washer lever for a few seconds Headlight washers are typically found on higher-end models or 4WD vehicles like the Toyota LandCruiser, Nissan Patrol, BMW X5, Audi Q7 and some Subaru Outbacks. They're often part of luxury or safety upgrade packs, especially in older models. If your car doesn't have the little square caps near the headlights (that sometimes pop out), chances are you've missed out. 'I just tried it on my 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander and it worked!' a delighted user wrote. 'My [Toyota LandCruiser] Prado has the same! I was gob smacked when I figured it out,' said another. If you're also curious, Sammy's simple instructions are easy to follow to find out. Turn your headlights on (some require high beams specifically), then pull or press your windscreen washer lever for a few seconds. If installed, the headlight washers should pop out and spray. Some cars do it automatically when you clean your windshield, but only while the headlights are on. Who knew headlight hygiene could be so entertaining.
