Skip advert
Advertisement

Drivers think new cars have too much expensive tech

A survey by budget car brand Dacia shows that a third of UK drivers don’t use 75% of the features fitted to their cars

Dacia Sandero Stepway - reversing camera

A whopping 78 per cent of UK drivers don’t want unnecessary technology in their new cars, while a third of car owners only use 25 per cent of the features fitted to their vehicles.

Those are the headline claims from survey results published by Renault-owned budget brand Dacia. The published figures also suggest that 61 per cent of UK drivers would prefer not to pay for this raft of redundant features.

Dipping further into the survey reveals 76 per cent of drivers believe cars overloaded with tech can be dangerously distracting, and 69 per cent believe in-car technology is simply too complicated these days.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Dacia data shows young drivers between 25-34 tend to use their in-car tech features the most, but even they use less than half of the available features. On average, drivers are said to use just 40 per cent of the available tech, so premium features such as in-car Wi-Fi or self-parking often go completely unused.

While Dacia has scored big sales hits with models such as the Sandero and Duster that have relatively low-specifications compared to pricier rivals, it didn’t limit its survey to owners of its own cars - the results came from a nationwide sample of 2,000 drivers in a bid to reflect the views of UK motorists as a whole.

What’s your view on the technology fitted to modern cars? Is there too much? How many of your car’s tech features do you use?

Skip advert
Advertisement
Current affairs and features editor

Chris covers all aspects of motoring life for Auto Express. Over a long career he has contributed news and car reviews to brands such as Autocar, WhatCar?, PistonHeads, Goodwood and The Motor Trader.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2024, 2025 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon - header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2024, 2025 and beyond

These are the biggest and most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
6 Nov 2024
Dacia in talks with Ampere over next-generation EVs
Dacia badge

Dacia in talks with Ampere over next-generation EVs

Renault Group’s electric sub brand could provide EV technology for Dacia
News
1 Nov 2024
New Dacia Bigster is the antidote to the confusion of modern car tech, says brand’s boss
Dacia Bigster - reveal front

New Dacia Bigster is the antidote to the confusion of modern car tech, says brand’s boss

And value brand’s approach is working, as it lures in customers from more expensive rival companies
News
17 Oct 2024
Paris Motor Show 2024: full show round-up and all the exciting new cars
Paris Motor Show 2024 - header image

Paris Motor Show 2024: full show round-up and all the exciting new cars

The all-new Renault 4, MINI John Cooper Works and Dacia Bigster were among the models on display at this year’s Mondial de L’Auto
News
16 Oct 2024

Most Popular

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys
Opinion - Vauxhall Corsa-e

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys

Editor Paul Barker takes a closer look at our 2024 Used Car Awards
Opinion
20 Nov 2024
A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success
Opinion - cheap EV

A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success

Mike Rutherford thinks there would be demand for an electric car with a modest 100-mile range if it only cost £10k
Opinion
17 Nov 2024
Best used cars to buy 2024
Best used cars 2024

Best used cars to buy 2024

From city cars to large SUVs, here’s our annual pick of the star performers that’ll save you thousands when you buy them used instead of new
Best cars & vans
20 Nov 2024