I won't buy a used car in 2025 without these 5 must-have features

Summary

Standard tech features in 2025 cars make used cars compete against new ones, not just for safety
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, & heated seats are non-negotiable in used cars
Blind spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking are must-have safety features

In 2025, more automotive features that were once premium add-ons are becoming standard equipment than ever before. From screened rearview mirrors to augmented reality displays, new vehicles are stacked to the brim with technological advances.

However, that means that used vehicles have more to stack up against, especially in terms of standard features. Whether it’s a used hybrid to maximize fuel economy or a real work horse, nobody should buy a used vehicle in 2025 if it doesn’t have these features. There are simply too many options out there at every price point to say no.

5 gadgets I use to make my old car feel like a 2025 model

Stuck in that old beater, or just waiting for the payoff? These five gadgets can bring any old car up to speed for 2025.

1

Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

There may be ways to add CarPlay or Android Auto to any vehicle now, but it’s too standard to ignore

Yes, I hear the fact that just about every vehicle out now can have wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto added to it, but there’s quite literally no reason that it shouldn’t come standard in any vehicle now. After all, the first car to have CarPlay was released over a decade ago now.

No used vehicle, unless you’re looking for something that’s older than a 2020 model, should come without these infotainment system integrations, whether it’s wired or not. Connectivity should be standard today, and there’s no reason to live without it if you don’t have to.

Google Maps Android Auto settings screen.

You can now play Candy Crush on your car’s Android Auto infotainment system

If you’ve been waiting to be able to play games on your in-car infotainment system, you’ll be thrilled with this update.

2

Dual Zone Climate Control

As someone whose partner never agrees on a cabin temperature, this is a must

Chevrolet

My fiancée needs the perfect napping temperature on our road trips, and for whatever reason, that temperature never aligns with my own preferences in the driver’s seat. However, thanks to dual climate control, this isn’t really an issue for us. She turns her side up, and I keep my own nice and cool.

Side not here, I recommend going with any car that uses knobs or buttons as its climate control features rather than touch-sensitive buttons. There’s a very good reason those are disappearing from the new car space – they don’t hold up long term.

The reality of the situation is that, while this is a recent standard feature on most cars, there are too many upper-tier or premium cars on the used market with this feature at a great price. There’s no reason not to look for this feature in any used car purchase. It just makes your car a more comfortable place to be.

A dark grey 2024 Tesla Model 3 drives along a pacific coast highway

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3

Heated seats

Steering wheels are a great option if you can spring for them, too

Kia Motors

I won’t go as far as to say that cooled seats should be nonnegotiable, as they’re still not a standard feature on most new 2025 vehicles. However, heated seats have been standard on most models for quite some time now, and should most definitely be on the list of must-have creature comfort features on any used car you might be looking at.

These first three might be negotiable when it comes to what you want out of a car. What if it’s not your daily driver? What if it’s meant to be a workhorse? That’s all a-OK, as these are just small touches that can make any car more comfortable. However, these last two features are related to road safety, and should be nonnegotiable from both a peace of mind and insurance perspective.

HUDWAY heads up display in a Ford Fusion.

5 gadgets I use to make my old car feel like a 2025 model

Stuck in that old beater, or just waiting for the payoff? These five gadgets can bring any old car up to speed for 2025.

There’s no reason to be less safe on the roads

Ultra Sonic Blind Spot Detection system mounted in a car. — Tadi Brothers

Tadi Brothers

Blind spot monitoring is nowhere close to a new technology, and every car should have it in 2025. It’s one of those pieces of equipment that you don’t realize how helpful it is until you’ve used it, then gotten into a car without it. If you don’t have an extra tow mirror, these monitors give you a much safer driving experience on the highway.

Taking your eyes off the road in any situation is dangerous, especially if you have to turn your head to check a blind spot. These monitors take that stress away from the everyday driver and make the highway a safer place to be. You can even fit your car with aftermarket monitors, but this is the one technology that most OEM’s get right straight from the factory.

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5

Automatic emergency braking

Reports of these randomly engaging are not just overexaggerating, they’re dangerous

A Hyundai automatic emergency braking system at work.

1001Cars YouTube

At this point, I’ve ridden in countless cars with automatic emergency braking systems. Not a single time has one ever randomly engaged, as some have reported. The reality is that if this feature malfunctioned, as some have reported, manufacturers still wouldn’t be putting it on most vehicles released today.

What’s more is that, aside from blind spot monitoring, this feature saves more lives each year than just about any other. The machines simply react better than people to do pedestrians and other potential hazards on the road. I’ll tell you the same thing I was told from a young age — it’s not you I’m worried about on the road, it’s other people, and automatic emergency braking keeps more people safe with each year that passes.