13 Weird Car Features You Didn’t Know You Might Have

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By Krista Carothers, The Family Handyman

Gas Tank Locator

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How many times have you pulled into a gas station in a rental car and been hit by the sudden realization that you have no idea which side the gas tank is on? Guessing wrong is more than annoying—you either have to execute a fancy maneuver or try to pull the hose all the way around to the other side of the car. Even if you’ve logged many years behind the wheel, driving cars that were yours, borrowed, or rented, as well as (the worst) rented moving trucks, you may be blown away to learn that there’s a tiny arrow next to most gas gauges that shows which side it’s on.

Road Condition Indicators

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Gas cap location isn’t the only cool thing you’ll find if you keep an eye on the dashboard of a new car. The next time you’re driving in winter, you may notice an odd dashboard light that looks like a road with a snowflake on it. It’s meant as a warning that the temperature outside is low enough for roads to freeze, according to mycardoeswhat.org, a website created by the National Safety Council and the University of Iowa.

Stability Control

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Driving on wet or icy roads, you might occasionally see a dash light flash that shows a tiny car skidding around. That’s an indicator that your stability control feature is engaged briefly to keep you on the straight and narrow (literally). All cars sold in the United States since 2011 have been required to have stability control, according to mycardoeswhat.org—sensors can tell if the car is turning too far (getting ready to spin out) or not turning far enough (with a possibility of plowing off the road), and it engages the brakes on one or more wheels to control the turn. If you see a button in your car that lets you turn off stability or traction control, ignore it. The only time you would need to turn the feature off is when you’re trying to get the vehicle unstuck from deep snow, according to mycardoeswhat.org.

Anti-Lock Brakes

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You probably know you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS), particularly if you ever drove a car without it—Mercedes started selling cars with ABS in 1978, and most other manufacturers got on board in the 1990s. That’s why, if you took driver’s ed in the 1980s or early 1990s, you may have learned to pump the brakes quickly if you needed to stop fast. If you just stomped on the non-ABS brake suddenly, the car’s wheels would lock up and you could slide without being able to maintain any control. ABS pumps the brakes for you, a lot faster and with the help of sensors that can tell which wheels need to be freed momentarily so they can regain traction. ABS is necessary for stability control, so all cars sold in the United States are now equipped with it.

Computer Driving Assistance

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Newer and more high-end cars can now help you with many of aspects of driving. Optional safety features include parking assistance (which will do the parallel parking for you), downhill assist (which automatically keeps your car from accelerating too much as you descend), and sensors that can detect bikes, pedestrians, and other hazards. Some cars will even brake for you if you don’t react in time to avoid a collision (automatic emergency braking). Be sure you’re fully aware of all the features your car offers so you’re not surprised or confused by an unfamiliar indicator light or—even more disconcertingly—by your car stopping or slowing down when you haven’t hit the brakes yourself. In the market for a new car?

Storage

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Car companies like to squeeze little extra spaces in wherever they can, and some are super-useful if you know they’re there. Recent Toyota Highlanders have a great shelf in the middle of the dashboard that’s perfectly placed to hold cell phones and sunglasses. The Dodge Journey has a compartment under the passenger seat, as well as two cubbies under the floor behind the front row—they’re removable bins, so if you fill them with sodas and ice or use them to transport dirty shoes, you can pull them out to clean them later. The Land Rover Discovery has a storage area for hiding valuables behind a climate control panel. 

Hooks

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The big space in the back of an SUV often feels like a free-for-all—groceries, sports gear, and that bag of old clothes you keep meaning to donate seem to roll around with every turn you make. Did you ever notice little plastic hooks back there, a couple of feet above the floor? Those actually have a purpose—you’re meant to hang shopping bag handles from them so the bag full of eggs doesn’t topple over. Some cars have them behind the front seats as well. Nissan even has one in the front passenger seat that the company calls a curry hook because it can be used to keep your takeout bags upright. Plus, most cars have hooks above the rear doors—you can hang your coat or dry-cleaning up there to avoid wrinkling.

Grab Handle

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Above each car door, you’ll usually find a handle. You’ve probably always assumed that the purpose of those is to give you something to hold while your brother/grandma/driver’s ed student takes corners a little faster than you prefer. But these handles are actually very useful to someone with limited mobility trying to get in or out of the car, according to cars.com—a wheelchair user or anyone lacking leg strength can hold on for stability while maneuvering into a comfortable position.

Conversation Mirror

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Lots of mini-vans and some crossover SUVs have a small convex mirror mounted overhead that lets the driver keep an eye on the goings-on in the backseats. It often pulls down from a compartment mounted near the rearview mirror, and it will help you keep tabs on your kids, dogs, and whatever else is along for the ride without having to take your eyes off the road for an extended period.

Enhanced Soundproofing

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Listening to some good music in your car? Modern soundproofing makes it a lot easier to hear all the subtleties of an orchestral piece, as well as the not-so-subtle whining from your kids in the backseat. According to the New York Times, makers are not just adding extra layers of insulation around engine and suspension mounts—some are also adding active noise cancellation, like the type you can get in headphones. The Buick Enclave Avenir SUV uses the company’s QuietTuning technology, which means the doors are triple-sealed, the windows have special glass, and the sound system creates waves that counteract the sound waves coming from the engine and road noise, according to wardsauto.com. You won’t miss it when your kids ask, “Are we there yet?”

Drowsiness Detector

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According to the New York Times, sleepy drivers caused more than 800 accidents in 2015. Even with enhanced safety measures like stability control and collision sensors, a driver who is dozing off behind the wheel is a hazard. Makers including Audi, Mercedes, and Volvo are solving the problem with detection systems that monitor how well you’re staying in your lane, along with how long you’ve been driving—a coffee cup icon will pop up on your dash if the car thinks it’s time for a break. But manufacturers are also working on sensors that monitor a driver’s heart rate and breathing, and even track your posture and eye movements, so it can warn you well before you’re drifting off to sleep (and off the road).

Adaptive Cruise Control

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If you want a little taste of what self-driving cars will be like, engage your adaptive cruise control. Unlike old-fashioned cruise control, which lets you lock in a steady speed without having to keep your foot on the gas pedal, new systems use lasers, radar, and/or cameras to adjust your driving speed so it matches the car in front of you, according to Consumer Reports. The publication reports that 75 percent of owners who used adaptive cruise control were satisfied with it.

Tire Pressure Monitor

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Since 2008, all new cars have been made with sensors that monitor your tire pressure and let you know if you’re low on air by turning on a dashboard light that usually looks like a cross-section of a tire with an exclamation point in it. On some newer cars, the indicator even tells you which tire is going flat. Check your car’s manual to find the optimal tire pressure for your vehicle.