The Car Features Almost No One Actually Uses in 2025
Modern vehicles are loaded with cutting-edge technology designed to enhance convenience, safety, and entertainment. From futuristic gesture controls to self-parking systems, automakers compete to pack in as many innovations as possible. Yet, many of these features—often touted in showrooms—end up rarely used by owners in real-world driving. Drivers frequently prefer simpler, more reliable alternatives like smartphones or manual controls. Here’s a look at some of the most underutilized car features today, based on owner feedback, industry data, and usage studies.
Gesture Controls
Introduced by BMW in 2015 as a hands-free way to adjust volume, answer calls, or navigate menus, gesture control sounded revolutionary. Wave your hand to turn up the music or swipe to skip tracks—no need to touch the screen.
In practice, it’s often unreliable: gestures misfire due to road bumps, accidental triggers occur, or the system simply doesn’t register commands accurately. BMW’s internal data showed low adoption rates, leading the company to quietly discontinue it in newer iDrive X systems starting around 2025. Many drivers found it slower and more awkward than using physical buttons, touchscreens, or voice commands.
Built-in Navigation Systems
Once a premium upgrade, factory-installed GPS navigation is increasingly obsolete. While it offers a large, integrated screen, it can’t match the real-time traffic updates, free lifetime maps, and superior accuracy of phone apps like Google Maps, Waze, or Apple Maps.
Surveys show Google Maps dominates with over 67% preference among users, and smartphone navigation apps are used by the vast majority of drivers. Built-in systems require costly updates and lack the crowd-sourced data that makes apps so effective. Most owners connect via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay instead, rendering the native nav unused.
Automated Parking Assist
This feature uses sensors and cameras to steer the car into parallel or perpendicular spots—sometimes even handling braking and acceleration. It’s impressive in demonstrations, but real-life usage tells a different story.
The process is slow, often unreliable in crowded lots, and can feel unnerving as the car takes control. Owner forums and surveys reveal most drivers try it once or twice before reverting to manual parking. It’s great for tight spaces in theory, but practicality wins out for everyday use.
Native Voice Commands
Built-in voice systems for controlling music, climate, or calls frequently struggle with accents, background noise, or complex requests. The steering-wheel button might get pressed occasionally, but results are hit-or-miss.
Far superior options like Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa—integrated via phone mirroring—are quicker and more accurate. As a result, the car’s native voice tech often goes ignored.
Paddle Shifters
Mounted on the steering wheel for manual gear changes in automatic transmissions, paddle shifters aim to add a “sporty” feel without a full manual gearbox.
Enthusiasts might use them on winding roads, but for daily commuting, the automatic mode is smoother, more efficient, and less distracting. Most owners rarely touch them after the initial novelty.
Other Underused Features
- Eco Driving Modes: Promise better fuel economy but deliver marginal gains, often at the expense of performance.
- In-Car Wi-Fi Hotspots: Convenient in theory, but personal phone hotspots are easier and more cost-effective.
- Panoramic Sunroofs: Opened infrequently due to added noise, heat, or concerns about leaks.
These features shine in marketing materials and boost perceived value, but real-world data shows they’re often gimmicks. Automakers add them for differentiation, yet drivers prioritize simplicity and reliability. When shopping for a 2025 model, consider skipping pricey options you might never use—your wallet (and sanity) will thank you.
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