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When going out and buying a new or used car, buyers carefully check each variant from the bottom to the top to ensure they get all the necessary features without overspending.
However, during this process, salespeople often sell features that aren’t truly needed. As a result, you may end up paying extra for features you never use.
This is why we’re writing this article—to help you understand which features are essential for your car, from steering adjustment to infotainment to a sunroof.
Note: We’ve specifically excluded engine, transmission, wheels, and structural parts.
Digital MID (Digital speed-o-meter)
Today, almost all mid-segment new cars come with digital MIDs. The twist is that manufacturers provide analog meters in the base variant and LED meters in the upper variants for extra money.
Does that really matter?
No! A digital MID shows all the same information that an analog meter does just instead of analog needles, it either uses digital numbers or analog meter animation on an LED screen, so the practicality remains the same!
However, some upper-range German, American, and JDMs utilize digital MIDs practically, e.g., by adding 360 cameras, , or by adding map navigation like in the Hyundai Sonata and BMW 7 series
Importance: Good to have, but only if the manufacturer utilizes it correctly.
Heads-up Display
The head-up display usually shows speed and RPM, but the same information can be viewed in speed-o-meter, and if you think it improves road attention, it’s not. With a head-up display, you still have to shift your eyes towards the glass display, just like you do with the speedometer. Therefore, the head-up display doesn’t significantly improve road attention compared to the MID speedometer.
We think it’s a completely unnecessary feature. When you can view the same information from MID or infotainment, it’s not worth specifically adding a heads-up display to your buying preference.
Importance: Unnecessary
Steering Adjustment
Steering adjustment allows you to set the steering position as per your convenience, either tilt, telescopic or both, and it is indeed a necessary option. Sadly, most manufacturers don’t provide this option in the base variant, even if the base version costs more than 3.5 million PKR, and you end up paying lacs extra to get this basic feature.
Importance: Important, should be included in the base version if it costs more than 3.5 million PKR
Non-Android Auto or Apple CarPlay Infotainment System
If the car comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, then it’s a good option, and we think it’s necessary, as it’ll help you GMaps navigation, play Spotify or watch YouTube videos with ease.
But some low-cost sedans and hatchbacks just stick you a digital MP4 player in the name of infotainment, like the one you see above in the picture. That’s useless!
Therefore, if the infotainment system does not support Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, it’s useless and functions like a basic MP3 player, so be aware of this gimmick.
Importance: Android Auto and Apple CarPlay infotainment are necessary only.
Digital Climate Control
The base option usually has manual AC, and the upper variants have a nice digital climate control AC.
In manual AC, there are two options: turn on or turn off. But, in digital climate control, you can set the desired temperature just like you do in your home’s AC.
Honestly, climate control is a better option, but if that variant costs too much, manual AC will just work fine, and it’s not worth paying extra for the climate control option only.
However, if the base variant costs more than 4 million PKR, digital climate control should be included in the base option!
Importance: If the base variant costs more than 4 million PKR, then digital climate control is necessary!
Sunroof and Panoramic Sunroof
Sunroofs are associated with luxury, and people even make their buying decisions based on that factor.
Pakistan is a country with an extreme climate. When it’s hot, the temperatures soar to extreme levels, and when it’s cold, it becomes intensely chilly. That’s why sunroofs are pretty much useless in countries like Pakistan.
Especially, the panoramic sunroof, which uses all black tinted transparent glass instead of a roof, will make the cabin even hotter, causing your AC to work harder and affecting its cooling.
Sunroofs do indeed look luxurious and are a nice option, but they are practically useless and totally unnecessary, especially for those who live in Punjab and Sindh.
Importance: It’s not necessary for Pakistan’s climate, but it’s nice to have this option for northern areas.
Headlights Washer
We’re sure that headlight washers are completely useless for 99% of owners. They’re a mini-pressure gun that throws high-pressure foam water on the headlight. Rather than cleaning, this typically makes things even dirtier because the foam water, when it dries, leaves soap residue all over the bumper and headlights.
It’s only useful when you’re doing extreme off-road conditions on a thoroughly muddy road, where your headlights get so heavily coated in mud that they’re blocked out. For the rest, in cities who drive on asphalt roads, it’s an entirely useless feature.
Importance: Simply useless.
Leather Seats
Leather seats usually come in high-budget and upper-trim options, and generally, lower trims offer fabric seats. Just like sunroof, leather seats are known for a luxury factor.
However, unless the leather seats are perforated (tiny holes in the seats for ventilation) don’t even think of purchasing that car. Leather is an air-tight material, and it’ll restrict your skin from breathing and cause too much irritation or even infection on long rides, even if your AC is on.
Honestly, fabric seats are better if you set aside that “luxury” factor. They are breathable, don’t release odor, and don’t cause skin irritation and infection in long rides.
Importance: Perforated leather is good, but simple leather seats are tortured during long rides.
Gesture Controls
Why do you need to wave your hands in the air in front of the AC grills to change the song when you can do the same from your steering or simply by touching the infotainment?
Usually, high-budget German or JDM cars offer this gesture control option. It’s practical for flexing and showing off, but in the real world, it’s an unnecessary item.
Importance: Not important at all.
Memory Seats
If it’s your personal car and you drive it yourself, then memory seats are nothing more than a flex. It uses electronic motors to adjust the seat at your command. It’s a nice feature, but specifically upgrading the variant just because of memory seats is not worth it unless it’s a family car with multiple drivers.
Moreover, with more electronics and motors, there are more chances of breakdown, and especially if it’s a German car, the repair cost might break your bank. So, it’s better to consider the car’s usage before paying extra for memory seats.
