Essential Features to Look for in a New Car

Car manufacturers compete aggressively on feature lists — sunroofs, connected cars, ventilated seats. But many buyers later regret prioritising gimmicks over genuinely useful features. Our team at Multi Brand Automotive Hub breaks down what truly matters.

Non-Negotiable Safety Features

• ✓Minimum 4 airbags (6 strongly recommended for family cars)
• ✓ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) with EBD
• ✓Electronic Stability Control (ESC) — mandatory on all new cars from 2023
• ✓Rear parking sensors and camera
• ✓ISOFIX child seat anchors (if you have children)
• ✓Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• ✓Hill Hold Control (if you drive in hilly areas like around Pune)

Comfort Features Worth Having

• ✓Automatic climate control: Far superior to manual AC — maintains temperature precisely
• ✓Keyless entry and push-button start: Convenient in everyday use
• ✓Auto-dimming IRVM: Reduces glare on night drives
• ✓Electric sunroof: Popular, though of limited practical use — ensure it doesn't compromise headroom
• ✓Wireless phone charger: Useful if your phone supports it
• ✓Rear AC vents: Essential for 5-seat cars with rear passengers

Infotainment and Connectivity

• ✓Minimum 8-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• ✓OTA (Over the Air) software updates — increasingly important
• ✓Wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay (better than wired)
• ✓Connected car features: Remote lock/unlock, tracking, alerts
• ✓6-speaker minimum for reasonable audio quality

Convenience Features That Make a Real Difference

• ✓Automatic headlights and wipers: Genuinely useful in Pune's variable weather
• ✓Auto-hold brakes: Useful in Pune's stop-and-go traffic
• ✓360-degree camera: More useful than single rear camera in tight parking
• ✓Cruise control (even basic): Reduces fatigue on Pune–Mumbai and Pune–Nashik routes
• ✓Fast USB charging (USB-C Type): Old USB-A ports are rapidly becoming obsolete

Features You Can Skip

• ✓Ventilated seats: Nice but usually weak in Indian cars — adds ₹50,000–₹1 lakh to cost
• ✓Panoramic sunroof: Looks impressive but increases cabin temperature; rarely used
• ✓ADAS (on budget/mid cars): Inconsistent reliability on Indian roads currently
• ✓Head-Up Display on budget cars: Usually low quality and more distraction than help
• ✓14+ speaker premium audio: Overkill for most buyers and adds significantly to price

How to Evaluate Features Across Variants

List your must-have features. Find the lowest variant that has all of them. If the next variant adds features you'll actually use for a small price increment, it may be worth it. The top variant is usually 20–30% more expensive for features used by fewer than 10% of buyers.