The Most Useless Car Features Ever Invented

In the relentless pursuit of innovation, automakers have introduced countless features designed to enhance convenience, safety, and luxury. However, not every addition has been a stroke of genius. Some features, despite their initial hype, have proven to be utterly pointless—gimmicks that serve no real purpose other than inflating the price tag or confusing drivers. From overly complicated controls to bizarre “luxury” additions, here’s a look at some of the most useless car features ever invented.

1. Voice-Activated Everything (That Barely Works)

Voice recognition technology was supposed to revolutionize driving by allowing hands-free control of navigation, climate, and entertainment systems. In reality, many early (and even some modern) voice command systems are frustratingly unreliable.

• “Call Mom.” → “Calling ‘Domino’s Pizza.'”
• “Turn on seat warmer.” → “Opening sunroof.”

Unless the system is as refined as Apple’s Siri or Google Assistant, most in-car voice controls are more trouble than they’re worth.

2. Gesture Controls (Because Buttons Are Too Easy?)

Some luxury brands, like BMW, introduced gesture controls—wave your hand to adjust volume, swipe to skip tracks, or twirl a finger to zoom the navigation. Sounds futuristic, right?

In practice, these systems often misinterpret random hand movements, leading to accidental volume spikes or unintended navigation changes. Most drivers end up ignoring them and reverting to good old-fashioned buttons.

3. Fake Engine Noise (The Ultimate Automotive Lie)

To compensate for the muted sound of modern turbocharged or electric engines, some automakers pipe artificial engine noise through the speakers. Brands like BMW, Ford, and Volkswagen have been guilty of this.

While it might make a four-cylinder sound like a V8, it’s essentially automotive lip-syncing—a synthetic experience that purists despise. If your car needs fake noise to feel sporty, maybe it just isn’t.

4. Touchscreen-Only Climate Controls

Touchscreens are great for infotainment, but burying essential functions like climate controls in a menu is a terrible idea. Adjusting the temperature shouldn’t require taking your eyes off the road to navigate through multiple screens.

Tesla is a prime offender here, forcing drivers to dig through menus just to adjust basic settings—something that should always have dedicated physical controls.

5. Self-Parking Systems That Take Longer Than Just Parking Yourself

Automated parking systems sound impressive—until you realize they take twice as long as a human driver and often require multiple attempts to align properly.

• Driver: “I could’ve parked three times by now.”
• Car: “Please move forward… now reverse slowly… now stop… now turn the wheel…”

Unless you’re truly terrible at parallel parking, this feature is more of a novelty than a necessity.

6. Massaging Seats That Feel Like a Mild Earthquake

Luxury cars often boast “massaging seats,” but most deliver a weak, vibrating sensation rather than an actual massage. It’s like sitting on a phone set to vibrate—hardly the spa-like experience advertised.

If you want a real massage, visit a professional. Your car seat’s feeble pulsing won’t relieve any tension.

7. Keyless Entry… With a Backup Physical Key Hidden Inside

Many keyless entry fobs contain a physical key blade for emergencies. The catch? The door handle often has no visible keyhole, leaving drivers frantically searching for a hidden slot in the dark.

• Driver: “Where’s the keyhole?!”
• Car: “It’s under this tiny plastic cover you need a screwdriver to pry open.”

If the backup key is this hard to access, was keyless entry really an improvement?

8. Rear-Window Wiper on a Sedan (Why?)

SUVs and hatchbacks need rear wipers because their back windows get dirty quickly. Sedans, however, rarely accumulate enough grime to justify one—yet some models still include them.

Unless you’re driving through a mud storm daily, this feature is just another motor to eventually fail.

9. Digital Speedometers That Lag

Some modern cars replace analog speedometers with digital ones, which can sometimes suffer from input lag.

• Driver: “Am I speeding?”
• Digital Display: “Let me think about that for a second…”

A slight delay might not seem like a big deal, but when you’re trying to avoid a speeding ticket, real-time feedback matters.

10. “Eco” Modes That Do Nothing

Many cars have an “Eco” mode that promises better fuel efficiency by dulling throttle response and adjusting shift points. In reality, the difference in MPG is often negligible—sometimes as little as 1-2 MPG.

Meanwhile, the car feels sluggish, making the driving experience worse for minimal gain.

11. Sunroofs That Nobody Uses

Sunroofs are a popular option, but studies show that most drivers rarely open them. They add weight, reduce headroom, and can develop leaks over time.

• Salesperson: “It’ll make the cabin feel more open!”
• Owner (after 5 years): “I think I opened it twice.”

12. Lane-Keep Assist That Fights You

Lane-keep assist is great in theory, but some systems are overly aggressive, constantly tugging the wheel even when you’re intentionally changing lanes without signaling.

• Driver: “I’m trying to avoid a pothole!”
• Car: “No, stay in your lane!”

13. “Start/Stop” Engine Systems That Annoy Everyone

Designed to save fuel, start/stop systems shut off the engine at red lights and restart when you press the gas. The problem? The restarts are often jerky, and the fuel savings are minimal.

• Driver: “Did my car just stall?”
• System: “No, I’m ‘saving the planet.’”

14. Heated Windshield Wipers (For That One Snowy Day a Year)

Some luxury cars offer heated wiper blades to melt ice. Unless you live in the Arctic, this is overkill—regular defrosters and a scraper do the job just fine.

15. “Self-Healing” Paint That Only Works on Tiny Scratches

A few automakers have introduced paint that supposedly repairs minor scratches. The catch? It only works on hairline marks—anything deeper still requires a trip to the body shop.

Conclusion: Innovation vs. Irritation

While some of these features were well-intentioned, many exist purely as marketing gimmicks rather than genuine improvements. The best car features are those that enhance usability, safety, and comfort—not those that complicate things for the sake of novelty.

Next time you’re car shopping, ask yourself: Do I really need gesture controls, or would I prefer a car that just works? Sometimes, simplicity is the ultimate luxury.