Test driving about 80 new vehicles a year is a sweet gig.
Readers of the Saturday (and sometimes Sunday) Times Free Press may see my byline in the Business section associated with the column called "Test Drive." On those days, I put on my car-guy hat and offer reviews of the latest cars, trucks and SUVs.
To some, that makes me a lucky duck. But candidly, the vehicles eventually blur together.
Mark KennedyView other columns by Mark Kennedy
Over time, I've become more a connoisseur of car features than car models. (OK, I do have an enduring crush on the Jaguar F-type coupe.) Poring over the fine print of hundreds of window stickers gives you interesting insights on which options are near-essentials (backup cameras), and which options are expensive and silly (aromatherapy).
Since this is a family column, I'd like to update you on what automotive features are on my current list of "must-haves" for moms and dads.
» Forward collision mitigation. Often part of a suite of safety-tech features, this one covers a multitude of sins. Basically it takes control of the brakes if, for some reason, you become distracted. Using radar, forward collision mitigation can sense when the car is about to hit something - a brick wall, a stalled car - and brakes in time to save everyone's bacon. In my experience, this feature quickly pays for itself, quickly, and sometimes over and over.
» Captain's chairs. This is not a safety feature; it's a sanity feature. Many midsize and full-size SUVs offer three-row seating. The second row is often a bench seat designed for three passengers. Checking the box for captain's chairs cuts second-row seating to two. But this option also separates children who might otherwise end up slap-fighting on a long trip.
' Heated seats. Ten years ago, heated seats were a luxury option. Now, they are nearly ubiquitous. Subaru was the first car maker to equip many of its models with seat heaters. (Don't forget to giggle when your kids mispronounce them "heat seaters.") What was originally sold as a cold-climate option is now considered standard equipment on all but entry-level autos. Here's the secret: Millions of Americans have chronic or occasional back pain, and seat heaters actually make driving more tolerable for them.
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» Essential apps. My two favorite smartphone apps for families are an oldie (AAA) and a goodie (Life360). AAA is the app of the traditional AAA car club - the one that used to send your parents hand-marked vacation maps when you were a kid. AAA's essential feature is roadside assistance for battery service, fuel delivery, lock-out services and tire service. (Did you know that some modern cars don't even have spare tires? Just an air pump and a can of fix-a-flat.) If you get in a jam, you can summon help on your phone and track the AAA as it progresses to your location. Life360 is a GPS tracking app that's great if you have kids who carry smartphones. It can tell you, within a few square feet, the location of your teenager at any given moment.
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Now, here are a three automotive features to pass on.
» Start-stop technology. Many modern autos have a start-stop feature. Basically, when you pull up to a stop sign or stoplight, your car engine cuts off for a few seconds to save drops of gas. While this may sound smart, in real life it's just an annoyance. Also, if you have to accelerate to enter traffic, that millisecond of delay can feel like a safety hazard.
» Summer tires. More and more performance vehicles are being equipped with so-called summer tires. These are tires made with shallow tread and rubber optimized for grip in warm weather. This is great for fast launches, but not for snow and ice. In fact, summer tires are dangerous when it comes to stopping, starting and cornering in winter road conditions. All-season tires are the better family choice.
» Cooled (ventilated) seats. It stands to reason that cooled seats should be just as valuable as heated seats, right? Well, not exactly. First, there is the disconcerting sensation of having cool air blown into unfamiliar places on your body. Second, fewer new cars are coming equipped with black upholstery - a trend that has thankfully begun to wane. Black upholstery in the deep South is problematic. That's why a white exterior with beige interior is still the best color combination for resale.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645.