These are the WORST New Car Trends!

[ruSTynutz]

https://youtu.be/yYDfe5uVyvM

These Car Trends ARE NOT OKAY...

As 2025 comes to a close and we roll into 2026, one thing is clear: cars are getting smarter… but also sillier.
Every year brings new tech, new designs, and new “features” manufacturers swear we need. The problem? Some of these trends are making cars worse, not better.
In this video, we run through the worst car features of 2025 - the trends that seriously need to die. From auto stop-start systems that ruin the driving experience, to
fake design elements, subscription paywalls, touchscreen-only controls, piano black interiors, and badly executed infotainment software.
Some of these started with good intentions. Others should never have left the design studio. Either way, they’ve got no place in cars heading into 2026.

[ruSTynutz]

Another trend that needs to go are electric pop out door handles...

[Dragonstaff]

I'm with the guy in the first comment. Every car that is even slightly likely to do long distance country driving in Australia needs to have a full-sized spare.

[ruSTynutz]

I couldn't agree more, Dave...
A full size spare was a must when we bought our Sportage.

[ruSTynutz]

The wife's Kia Stonic has the stop/start crap and it's a pain in the bum.
We switch it off every time we fire it up but of course it defaults to on next time we start it...

[StinkyPete]

I drove a mate's car a week or so ago, and it had the full Driver Assist Package.   It was horrid, bombarding me with beeps, and also suddenly braked as I went around a small roundabout as it thought it saw a car.  It read roadside speed limit signs and if I was just 1 km/h over it had a hissy fit.   It was distracting and I did not feel in control of the vehicle.   I understand that every new car sold now is required to have this complete driver assist package.   

[STeveo]

Be interesting to see if the new cop cars have all the driver 'aids'?

[ruSTynutz]

Good point! 

[Biggles]

These Car Trends ARE NOT OKAY...

Look out John Cadogan- the Gen Zeds are stealing your thunder!

Even offering to buy your new car for you!

[ruSTynutz]

Look out John Cadogan- the Gen Zeds are stealing your thunder!

They both appeared in John's review of the JAC Ute so I'm assuming they are on friendly terms...

Even offering to buy your new car for you!

Speaking of buying a new car, has anyone (apart from me) bought a car from a broker?

[Williamson]

Speaking of buying a new car, has anyone (apart from me) bought a car from a broker?

Yeah, no ....

Helen's Kia was through a broker.  At the end COVID dealers were playing it tough, all our best efforts at three Kia dealers did not bare any fruit, a call to MVM (Melbourne Vehicle Management, in addition to $500 less with the on-road cost it also resulted in carpet mats, slim line plates and a dull tank of diesel - ovrall around $700 better price.

My 2020 Pajero was direct through a dealer, Cadogan's mob couldn't do any better.  That was early COVID, dealers were getting worried about getting stuck with stock, negotiating down was easy then.










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[ruSTynutz]

We tried a number of Kia dealers and they all just jumped online and quoted the exact price that I could've got online myself.
Obviously they didn't want a sale as they didn't show any interest in negotiating...

That was enough incentive for me to try Auto Expert.

The guy we dealt with (I can't remember his name) made it all really easy.
He simply asked what vehicle, what model and what "extras" we wanted to be included.
He came back a day or 2 later with prices and after some consideration we settled on a model and that was pretty much it...
He told us what dealer it would be coming from (Werribee Kia).
A full tank of fuel would be included, 12 months rego, slimline plates and free delivery by Transporter right to our door.

I think we ended up saving over $3000... 

[Biggles]

Pity it's only for new cars.  We never buy new, just one-year-old Used, often from a fleet turn-over arrangement.  That way we save the cost of the savage immediate depreciation on new vehicles.

[ruSTynutz]

I've never been a big fan of buying second hand vehicles although, in saying that, I have owned a few over the years.
I'm always concerned that I could be buying someone else's problem.
Perhaps that's because I've watched so many dash cam videos and have seen the way drivers abuse their vehicles... 

[Bodø]

I drove a mate's car a week or so ago, and it had the full Driver Assist Package.   It was horrid, bombarding me with beeps, and also suddenly braked as I went around a small roundabout as it thought it saw a car.  It read roadside speed limit signs and if I was just 1 km/h over it had a hissy fit.   It was distracting and I did not feel in control of the vehicle.   I understand that every new car sold now is required to have this complete driver assist package.   

One of the staff car changeover work vehicles has this.  it also reads speed signs on private driveways and thinks it applies to the street I am driving.  One is not a fan.  I hide the wing's gps maps these days, only opening it to check something if I need it.

[Bodø]

I've never been a big fan of buying second hand vehicles although, in saying that, I have owned a few over the years.
I'm always concerned that I could be buying someone else's problem.
Perhaps that's because I've watched so many dash cam videos and have seen the way drivers abuse their vehicles... 

I've never had a second have vehicle until I bought the wing.  Some of the things the previous owner did are baffling.

[ruSTynutz]

Another thing I hate about modern cars is the use of electric "handbrakes".
I'd much rather the old style handbrake in the centre of the console...

[Biggles]

Another thing I hate about modern cars is the use of electric "handbrakes".
I'd much rather the old style handbrake in the centre of the console...

Gotta agree.  Another thing that bugs me- after I start the engine I grab the gear lever and it won't budge.  Then I have to wait for it to forgive me before it will let me select Drive.  So it really wants me to wait after starting while it does its housekeeping, then it's OK for me to select D.   

[Williamson]

Even the younger generation can have trouble getting their mind around some of the newer gadgets.  One of the young sale persons (back in 2022) was telling me how to operate the foot activated hand brake and didn't appreciate being corrected when advised that it was't a hand brake then, it was a parking brake.  The response was whatever.

Speaking of which, over the years, there have been many methods for applying the parking brake, to recall a few:

• Pull-out mechanism under the dash board to apply, and then pull and twist to release - I recall these on early Holdens and Falcons
• Pull-up centre console / transmission tunnel hand levers to apply, and then pull-up, push thumb button, and push down to release - Cortinas, Datsuns, Toyotas, even Helen's 2008 Mazda6
• Similar to above, but mounted between drivers seat and door - HQ Holden
• Left foot operated - on the Jeep Grand Cherokee
• And now a range of electrically activated parking brakes. 

Generally the second one was my favourite, but it had a downside.  One day back in the early '70's, driving my Cortina a wet road, probably around 35mph, mate in passenger seat pulled on park brake, car when into an immediate slide and spin, crashed into kerb, no damage, but you don't need enemies when you have mates like that.

[Williamson]

Other trends I don't like.

The Kia Sportage has 19" alloys, these require 19" tyres (d'oh!), these are expensive - for the Pirelli Scorpions around $80 more than 16", lower profile (than 16"), harser ride.

Space saver spare wheel - not so on the Kia, another reason we bought it.  An early alternative (to the Kia) was a Lexus Hybrid, a space saver spare dropped off the short list pretty quick.

[ruSTynutz]

The Kia Sportage has 19" alloys, these require 19" tyres (d'oh!), these are expensive - for the Pirelli Scorpions around $80 more than 16", lower profile (than 16"), harser ride.

One of the reasons I went for the SX. It has 18" wheels and with our crap roads I figured it would ride a bit smoother than the GT-line's 19's...

My sister-in-law has a Mitsubishi Outlander and that has 20" wheels. Needless to say it rides like a billy cart and she hates it...lol.
I did say she could always swap them out for smaller wheels off a lesser model but instead she has put the vehicle up for sale... 

[ruSTynutz]

Getting back to the subject of handbrakes for a moment...

Here in Victoria Learners going for their drive test can only do it in a car that has the old fashion handbrake in the centre console.
Vicroads really needs to move with the times.
This requirement really limits what new vehicles driving instructors can operate which is/was a pain in the butt. 

[Langers]

I miss the button on the floor to activate and then dip the headlights. I also miss the reostat to change the volume of the radio (stupid beep, beep, beep to drop the volume). I also miss having a CD player.

[Williamson]

I miss the button on the floor to activate and then dip the headlights....

Bogan!

I also miss the reostat to change the volume of the radio (stupid beep, beep, beep to drop the volume).

I like that feature.

I also miss having a CD player.

I have one in the garage.

[Williamson]

I miss the button on the floor to activate and then dip the headlights.

Although, that frees-up one hand to wrap around the girlfriend's or girlfriends' shoulder(s) - one at a time though.