Avoid the Gimmicks, Get the NecessitiesNew-car shopping can quickly become an exercise in sorting through a long list of features that sound impressive on a window sticker but may not improve the daily ownership experience much at all. It's tough to sift through the oversized touchscreens, spectrum-happy ambient lighting, aromatherapy scents, and other fancy tech-heavy doodads, but the equipment most owners appreciate after the initial excitement fades tends to be much more practical.2027 Lincoln NautilusLincolnThen there are the vehicles that provide convienience and comfort that will be hard to live without once you experience them. The following features can make commuting, parking, loading groceries, managing winter weather, and taking road trips easier. Here is a consumer-friendly guide to what is generally worth it—and what may be easier to pass by depending on your needs and budget.Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoFordFor many buyers, smartphone integration is more useful than a vehicle's built-in infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow drivers to use familiar navigation apps, music services, podcasts, calls, and messages without connecting a cable each time they get in. Then, there are new the vehicles that don't have it. Drive one, and you'll immediately notice the inconvenience caused. Tesla, Rivian, and many GM vehicles don't hav either.These regularly used features are especially valuable if you find yourself needing Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps, Spotify, Audible, or your preferred podcast app. Built-in navigation can be perfectly functional, but phone-based systems often feel more current because maps, traffic data, destinations, and apps update automatically and they look like your phone's home screen. In this case, familiarity doesn't breed contempt but appreciation.Wireless connectivity is the important upgrade, and many vehicles (even non-premium ones) come with this feature. Plug-in smartphone integration works well, but it can become irritating on short trips when you do not want to take your phone out of your pocket or bag. Look for a vehicle that includes a wireless charging pad, too—but test it before buying. Some pads are slow, allow phones to slide around, or cause overheating during longer drives.A 360-Degree Camera SystemKyle EdwardA rearview camera is now standard equipment on new vehicles, but a 360-degree camera system is one of the best upgrades for drivers who park in tight garages, crowded lots, city streets, or narrow driveways. Once you use it, you'll wonder how to ever go without the ability to navigate dicey situations with ease. It's one of our favorite features, and larger vehicles with tall bodies and big blind spots almost require it, three-row SUVs and full-sized pickup trucks, especially.GMCThese systems combine images from cameras around the vehicle to create an overhead, bird's-eye view on the center screen. They help reveal curbs, low obstacles, painted parking lines, and objects that may be outside the normal rear camera's view. Some models even feature underbody cameras for off-roading or even a nifty transparent view, as if you're peering through the car to see beneath it. This system utilizes exterior cameras and software stitching to let drivers see a virtual view directly beneath and in front of the vehicle.A 360-degree camera can't replace awareness and common sense, but it can reduce everyday parking and maneuvering stress. It can also more than pay for itself by avoiding the financial burden of scraping a wheel, bumper, garage wall, or another car.Adaptive Cruise ControlKristen BrownTraditional cruise control simply holds a chosen speed. That's old school now. Adaptive cruise control goes further by using sensors or cameras to maintain a following distance from the vehicle ahead, slowing down and accelerating as traffic changes. Some newer systems are navigation-based. This driver assistance feature uses a vehicle's built-in navigation system to automatically adjust the vehicle's speed on Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control Insights pairs standard adaptive cruise control with real-time map data to anticipate upcoming road layouts.If the system is a full-speed (meaning stop-and-go) and it's paired with lane-centering assistance, it can significantly reduce fatigue during highway commutes and longer trips, where traffic often fluctuates between open-road cruising and slow-moving traffic. This is useful on well-marked highways, but it's not hands-free like GM's SuperCruise or Ford's Blue Cruise. Road conditions, weather, lane markings, and system limitations still require full attention.Heated Steering WheelJohn Beltz SnyderA heated steering wheel sounds like a luxury until you use one on a cold morning. Most Chicago winter mornings make bare handed driving uncomfortable, and gloves reduce feel and safety. In places with real winter weather, it may become one of the features you miss most when driving a vehicle without one.Heated seats warm up quickly, but a heated steering wheel solves the more immediate problem: gripping an ice-cold steering wheel after the car has been parked in subzero weather. Some heated steering wheels also work with remote start, allowing the wheel to begin warming before you leave the house. There are also models with staged heat for their steering wheels, letting you choose the intensity level.Hands-Free Power LiftgateVolvoA power liftgate is convenient; a hands-free version is even better when your hands are full of groceries, luggage, sports equipment, or a stroller (and a baby). Most hands-free systems open when you stand behind the vehicle with the key nearby and make a motion under the rear bumper, though the exact method varies by brand.This feature is most valuable on crossovers, SUVs, and minivans used for regular errands or family duties. It is not essential, but it is one of those small touches that improves ownership more often than buyers expect. It's more convenient than the typical power liftgate because you don't actually need to press a button on the remote key fob in order to open the back. You might think this little convenience isn't worth the money…. until it's pouring rain and your hands are full.