You likely spend a significant amount of time in your car, but how well do you truly know it? Regardless of your car’s make or model, it’s likely equipped with a feature you’ve yet to discover.
Sometimes these features are intentionally hidden, making them difficult to find, while others may have been in plain sight all along.
From safety enhancements to quirky additions, here are 10 hidden car features worth looking through.
1. Colors Under the Hood
You don’t need to be a mechanic to go under the hood of the car anymore. Modern cars are designed with color-coded parts, making it simple to identify essential engine components.
Key parts like the oil dipstick, and the caps for coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid, are marked with distinct colors.
This allows you to handle basic maintenance yourself, leaving complex tasks to the experts. Yellow and blue are commonly used, though some brands opt for green or red.
2. The Hidden Jeep
While not particularly practical, this one is just plain fun. Many major car brands, including Opel, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Chrysler, embed hidden messages or nostalgic nods in their vehicles.
Jeep is especially famous for this. According to Car and Driver, the Jeep Renegade alone contains over 30 such “Easter eggs,” many paying homage to the iconic WWII-era Willys Jeep.
If you own a Jeep, take a closer look—you might spot the silhouette of a Willys Jeep somewhere on your vehicle.
3. The VW Beetle’s Vase
Starting in the 1950s, Volkswagen added a charming detail to the original Beetle: a small vase mounted on the dashboard.
During the hippie era of the ’60s and ’70s, this quirky feature became wildly popular.
The vase was perfect for a fresh flower but could also hold pens, toothpicks, or lipstick. When Volkswagen introduced the New Beetle in 1998, they revived the vase feature.
It disappeared again with the 2011 redesign. So, if you drive an older or slightly newer Beetle, don’t forget to adorn your dashboard with a flower!
4. Hidden Cargo Areas
Compact city cars often surprise owners with innovative storage solutions. For example, the Honda Jazz and Civic feature a clever “Magic Seat” system.
This system lets you fold the rear seats upward to create extra cargo space, perfect for transporting long items that wouldn’t fit in the trunk.
You can even fold the front seatbacks down, providing extended legroom in the backseat—or a makeshift spot for a nap.
5. BMW’s Brake Dryer
Car manufacturers continuously develop features to enhance safety, and BMW’s Brake Drying System is an excellent example.
Wet weather can reduce braking performance, so BMW designed this system to activate when the windshield wiper rain sensor detects moisture.
It gently brings the brake pads closer to the discs, keeping them dry and maintaining optimal braking power. Chances are, you might not even notice when your BMW does this.
6. Neck Warmers
While seat heaters are now a familiar feature, some car brands have taken passenger comfort a step further by introducing neck warmers.
Mercedes-Benz pioneered this feature in 2015 with its Airscarf system, which blows warm air from the headrests.
Audi and BMW quickly followed suit, offering adjustable temperature and direction settings. This ensures convertible owners stay cozy even with the top down on chilly days.
7. Subaru’s EyeSight Traffic Light Checker
Waiting at a traffic light can be tedious, especially when it’s hard to see the signal change. Subaru’s EyeSight system offers a smart solution.
With subtle beeps, the system alerts you when the car ahead starts moving, perfect if you’re distracted or blinded by sunlight.
Additionally, EyeSight maintains a set distance from the car in front and warns of potential collisions. Other brands refer to this as adaptive cruise control.
8. Fatigue Detection
Even with regular coffee breaks, long drives can leave you fatigued—a dangerous situation if you’re the one driving. Automakers have developed systems to address this.
Mercedes-Benz’s Attention Assist, for instance, detects swerving and vibrates the steering wheel to alert the driver. If there’s no response, the system gently steers the car back between the lines.
9. A Hidden Vacuum Cleaner
Cleaning your car’s interior is often frustrating, with cables too short and nozzles struggling to reach tight spots.
Honda addressed this with the HondaVac, a built-in vacuum cleaner featured in the Odyssey model.
Equipped with a long hose, it can reach every corner of the car without needing a power outlet. Plus, it empties with the push of a button—a lifesaver for families with kids.
10. Fuel-Saving Frames
A car’s material composition plays a significant role in fuel efficiency. Lighter cars use less fuel, which is why many manufacturers now opt for aluminum frames.
Ford led the charge in 2015, reducing the weight of its pickup trucks by approximately 300 kilograms. This innovation decreased fuel consumption by up to 29%, depending on the engine type.
These features, both practical and whimsical, showcase the ingenuity of modern car design. Next time you’re in your car, take a closer look—you might discover something new!
