Finding the perfect car can be difficult — often because of an elusive must-have feature that slows down the search. Look, we get it. Who doesn’t want the easy cleanup of leather seats, a dose of vitamin D from an open moonroof or the toasty relief of heated seats on a frigid winter morning?
Related: What Car Should You Buy?
The importance of these must-have features can be so strong that it takes precedence over reliability, cost, brand loyalty or your better judgment; sure, the car has 200,000 miles and no service history, but look at that sunroof! But what are those most coveted features?
Cars.com’s shoppers can narrow search results to only show cars with heated seats, a third row, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and much more. We took a two-month snapshot of Cars.com’s monthly 20-plus million unique visitors to see the best features that shoppers are searching for in their next new or used car. The results turned up some expected players, but also newer features that simply weren’t around a few years ago.
The most popular features — leather seats, sunroof/moonroof and heated seats — are somewhat expected because they’re most sought after and often optional. The backup camera in fourth place is an important safety feature, and here’s a fun fact: All cars manufactured after May 2018 are federally required to come with a standard backup camera; this list, however, includes searches in all new or used cars, which can stretch well before 2018.
Seeing remote start at No. 7 is interesting; today, this feature is often integrated into the car at the factory rather than installed later at a dealership or with aftermarket accessories. In newer cars, remote start often includes a smartphone app (with subscription) that can remotely start the car from anywhere with a cellular connection while at the same time preconditioning the interior to a set temperature or turning on the heated seats and heated steering wheel.
Surprisingly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are on the list at No. 10. If you can find a car with this tech then you also can cross off Bluetooth and a navigation system from your list because CarPlay and Android Auto project phone calls and navigation from your cellphone to the car’s media screen. When equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you can skip the expensive or rare navigation option in your car search because your phone does all the hard work.
Offering New & Used Vehicles to the Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley, Bakersfield, and San Fernando Valley Areas!
Welcome to Frontier Toyota where we proudly serve the local areas of Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley, Bakersfield, and San Fernando Valley! We are happy to help you with all areas of the car buying experience. Whether you are looking for a new or pre-owned vehicle, our team is skilled in the buying process and will take their time to absorb your wants and needs. We are conveniently available seven days a week to help you select the best vehicle that meets your lifestyle and budget. Visit us today and see why drivers in the Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley, Bakersfield, and San Fernando Valley areas are choosing Frontier Toyota as their premier Toyota dealership!
Welcome to SoCal Car Culture!
THE place to find out what is happening in Southern California's Car Culture.
This site evolved from my lifelong passion for anything automotive. I have loved cars and anything related to them for as long as I can remember. For the past few years I have been shooting Car Shows and Cruise Nights and sharing the photos online. People I talk to at these events frequently ask me when and where the next show is so I decided to create this online resource for that info and more.
