Technological advancements are a pivotal part of the automotive industry. Companies have to focus on bigger and better every time they sit down to design their next vehicles.
Some creations improve horsepower or gas mileage numbers. Others test out alternate power sources that could be crucial in the coming decades.
Some advancements, however, just serve as quality-of-life improvements. They make drives more enjoyable, regardless of distance.
No. 1 – Heated seats
Having to drive to work on a chilly or frigid morning can be an unpleasant experience. If your vehicle takes a considerable amount of time to warm up — as my 2005 Ram 1500 does — you can spend part of the drive shivering if you don’t have time to warm it up.
Heated seats are a blessing. Obviously, they aren’t new, considering that my 1992 Mazda 929 came standard with heated seats, but it’s impossible to ignore how they improve the driving experience.
The heated seats don’t have a long lead time like the vehicle’s heating system. They just provide near-instant relief from the elements. By the time the heater is ready to turn on, you are already in a much better mental space due to the warmth from the seats.
Of course, heated seats aren’t just for cold temperatures. They are also perfect for those nights when you want to drive with the top off or the windows down. The ambient temperature could be in the 50s or low 60s, but the driving experience would still be enjoyable.
No. 2 – Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
Who remembers the days of auxiliary cables or cassette iPod adapters? Playing music from something other than an 8-track cartridge, cassette, or CD was not always a simple feat.
Hooking up an old iPod or random other MP3 player required an auxiliary cable, USB cord, or cassette adapter. These systems were more basic, and they didn’t always work. The cassette adapter, in particular, provided subpar audio.
Even worse, you still had to look down at the device in your hand to switch between artists or songs. Not the safest thing when driving down the highway.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay revolutionized the experience as smartphones and digital music collections became standard. Both have created a safer driving experience by projecting the phone and its apps onto the central display screen (more on this later).
Drivers can now tap the icon for the app they need, and they can perform a variety of tasks. They can switch music, add a gas stop to existing navigation directions, or even respond to text messages with voice commands.
These are all very helpful for those of us who spend a significant portion of our time driving across the United States for work. You don’t have to pull over every time you need something. You can just use voice or touch commands.
No. 3 – Wireless charging
A limitation of many cars is the lack of ports for charging devices. Some older vehicles require the use of a cigarette lighter USB port. Others have only one or two USB or USB-C ports. This can create a lack of options for a vehicle filled with people.
One advancement that has provided relief in this department is wireless charging. Yes, most vehicles only have one wireless charging pad, but this still frees up ports for passengers.
Many cars also have wireless charging and wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, which further eliminates the need for cables.
The 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid I recently drove from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Talladega, Alabama, had this feature.
This was extremely helpful, considering that I left my cords sitting on my kitchen counter. I could just place my phone on the charging pad while the wireless CarPlay was hooked up to the infotainment display.
No. 4 – Touchscreen displays
This technological advancement goes hand-in-hand with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Those systems are not particularly functional without the touchscreen displays that display them.
These touchscreen displays make it possible to swipe through apps, skip ads that break up the flow of podcasts, and change music safely.
Another major benefit is the ability to quickly glance at either Google Maps or Apple Maps and see if there are any traffic jams. If you are just using a standard auxiliary cable or USB cable, you may not have the ability to see any slowdowns until you reach them.
No. 5 – Cruise control
Again, this is not a new piece of technology. Cruise control has been an invention since 1948. Yet, it’s impossible to overstate how it has changed the driving experience.
Cruise control provides the opportunity to give those knees a break. You can set the car at whatever highway speed you need and take your foot off the gas. This is quite beneficial when making 12-15-hour drives across the country each day.
Cruise control has been around for decades, but automakers have introduced updates. Adaptive cruise control accounts for other vehicles and adjusts speeds to maintain a safe distance.
Is cruise control the most groundbreaking technology? No, but we are grateful it exists for very specific situations.