Car culture loves to romanticize the past, but let’s be honest: most modern vehicles are dramatically better than anything your parents drove. Safer, faster, more efficient, and packed with technology that would have seemed like science fiction a generation ago. Yet for every genuine leap forward, the industry occasionally stumbles — introducing features that are more gimmick than game-changer, more frustrating than functional. Some of today’s most talked-about innovations may not look so clever in the rearview mirror.
To be fair, even the most basic modern car comes loaded with features that were either costly options or outright unavailable on your dad’s old clunker. Electric windows, decent stereo systems, and Bluetooth connectivity are standard on the cheapest hatchbacks today — luxuries that once required handing over serious cash at the dealership. But some modern developments have us scratching our heads: features so pointless or frustrating to use that they are unlikely to age very well.
Artificial Engine Noise
White exhaust smoke from a 1970 Plymouth BarracudaDylan McCool/YouTube
Most modern cars don’t sound great. Blame it on the downsized four-cylinder turbocharged engines, overzealous sound deadening, and quieter exhaust systems, but they simply don’t have the raspy, engaging soundtracks that older cars were known for. Then there are the near-silent EVs… That’s where artificial engine noise comes in. We aren’t completely against piping the existing sound into the cabin, but when a completely fake sound is transmitted through the audio system — some cars produce full-on spaceship effects — it feels like a step too far. We’re willing to bet fake engine sounds will eventually come full circle, engineered to mimic ICE noises as closely as possible.
Built-in Air Fresheners
BMW i7 front interior from rearBMW
High-end luxury cars have long had a distinctive olfactory signature, thanks to their leather seats and plush carpeting. While modern luxury vehicles still offer leather, many now come with vegan-friendly seat coverings or faux leather that doesn’t deliver the same sensory experience. That is most likely why you can now have built-in scents wafting through the cabin instead. It’s certainly a novelty to experience for the first time, but it all seems rather silly — especially since passengers generally bring their own fragrance anyway, whether by marinating in perfume or bringing home some fresh-baked goodies.
Electronic Parking Brakes
2008-2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Interior HandbrakeMitsubishi
Car enthusiasts of a certain age will have fond memories of skidding around parking lots or deserted roads using their parking brakes to lock the rear wheels. Just about every modern vehicle has an electronic parking brake, which makes this impossible. They also have a knack for failing to engage or disengage at the right time, which is just plain frustrating. We understand that convenience is king in the modern era, but we reckon the traditional handbrake will be missed sooner than most people expect.
Fake Exhaust Tips
A shot of the 2011-2014 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Sedan exhaust
Subaru
Fake exhaust tips are among the most pointless features on modern cars. You’d think they’d be confined to small budget cars with pea-shooter-sized exhausts, but they also appear on performance vehicles that have nothing to hide.
To see just how far this madness has gone, look at the elaborate fake exhaust system offered by Dodge on the Charger Daytona EV. It really is one of the strangest developments we’ve seen in the modern automotive era.
Glass, Crystal, and Piano Black Trim
Fake wood trim has been around for decades, and while some attempts have been better than others, even the worst faux-wood inserts are miles better than the current obsession with piano black and glass trim. Piano black looks stunning until you touch it — then it becomes a fingerprint magnet that demands perpetual cleaning. Glass and crystal trim is even worse, because it will dangerously reflect light straight into your eyes at the most inopportune moments. We often find ourselves driving with one hand shielding the gear lever or touchscreen just to avoid being blinded by our own interior.
Haptic Controls
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI infotainment systemVolkswagen
Haptic controls sound like a great idea in principle. They can offer a variety of functions based on how you touch them — which works well on a gaming controller, but far less so on a steering wheel while a car is in motion. You often find yourself brushing a hand over a haptic button and accidentally triggering something when all you wanted was to make a left turn. Trying to apply exactly the right pressure on a haptic surface while navigating a bumpy road is an exercise in frustration we could all do without.
Built-In Navigation Systems
In-car navigation has been around since the ’90s and has been genuinely usable since the early 2000s. In the beginning, most manufacturers tried to develop their own systems, which didn’t always work out that well. With the widespread adoption of smartphone connectivity, most drivers now bypass these systems entirely in favor of the far superior apps already on their phones. Some automakers have taken note — cars like the Ferrari 12 Cilindri aren’t even offered with built-in navigation.
Touchscreens for Everything
The minimalist interior of a modern car may look cool, but when every major function is buried inside a touchscreen, it can quickly become a pain. Things have improved in recent years, but there are still plenty of cars where you must navigate two or three sub-menus just to adjust seat settings, HVAC controls, or interior lighting. Bring back dedicated buttons and switches for these functions. They may not look as sleek, but physical controls are easier and safer to operate on the move than a poorly designed touchscreen interface.
Turn Signal Controls on Steering Wheels
Turn signals have been activated by steering column-mounted stalks for decades. They work intuitively. Cadillac once tried using a toggle switch on the dashboard but quickly realized it was a bad idea. That memo has since been lost, as manufacturers like Tesla and Ferrari have decided that a small button on the steering wheel is the better option. Why? We can’t think of any reason they would do this other than as a cost-cutting measure.
Voice Recognition
2025 Mini CountrymanJared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
Early voice recognition systems were a complete waste of time — they did very little and rarely understood your commands. Modern systems can now parse speech far more accurately, but you still have to use the right phrasing to get them to do what you want. In our experience, after the first week of ownership, most drivers never use voice recognition again. Contrary to what the tech industry would have you believe, we’re not convinced voice controls are here to stay.
Sources: BMW, Ferrari, Mini, Tesla, Volkswagen
