Should these 11 car trends DIE?

One thing you can guarantee in 2024 is that there will be loads of new car releases!

However, while we love to get our hands on a new car, we can’t help but feel that new cars are coming with a whole load of trends - and they’re not always good trends!

With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of 11 current car trends which must be stopped!

For example, take electric cars. We know they all need to charging, but why do the charging port covers have to be so BIG! With some of these cars the covers look like they’re a wing that’s been attached to the side!

Or take the decreasing size of digital dials. Why are manufacturers looking to put so much info into the infotainment screen rather than having a big, easy to read dial screen? Or in the worst cases (we’re looking at you, Tesla…) why are they removing the dial screen completely?!

So what do you think - do you agree with our list? Or have we missed something? Let us know in the comments!

[lukef]

I remember that time (many years ago) when Jeremy Clarkson was reviewing a Mercedes and, to prove that it was perfect, he showed that he could close his eyes and find all the buttons he needed because they were exactly where they needed to be. Today he wouldn't even find the turn signal.

[lightinabox]

Not only are the lack of buttons and overtaking of touchscreens creating incoveniences, I think they're incredibly unsafe regarding how you have to mess around with them in the middle of driving.

[canton-]

Bring back physical buttons for ANYTHING you need to feasibly use while driving. A/C, volume, cruise control.
If a touch screen makes you take your eyes off the road its a safety hazard IMO

Also, headlights are way too bright. Im sick of having my retinas burned in by the latest Lumens LED. Bright enough=/=as bright as you can produce

[craignelson]

the ability to permanently turn off all of the stuff you don't need would be great

[smoketinytom]

The wheels being "small" are fine. Some of us prefer comfort and not worrying about curbing the rims that cost £1500...

[UzairW]

Lack of physical buttons is the worst trend right now and it seems to be getting worse. Cost saving aka penny pinching disguised as "cutting edge"!😅

I consider it a safety issue to have to faff around touchscreen menus for important functions that are frequently used. Easy to use buttons and knobs please! And if a manufacturer wants to differentiate they should use premium engineering and materials for the controls instead of getting rid of them altogether.

[The_Greg_]

I actually like smaller wheels with taller tire walls. They improve ride quality, prevent curb rashes and you wont crack your wheel when you hit a pot hole

[Grid]

Agree with the buttons thing. With so many drivers actually hating the touch screens I don't understand why the manufacturers persist in foisting them on us. With proper switches muscle memory means you don't have to think about them, screens, on the other hand, are so distracting.

[TheGreatHuman]

It's already been said in the comments but the lack of buttons and display dials needs to stop, it's honestly dangerous to have a person constantly checking over to the infotainment system for feedback on speed, battery consumption, temperature etc. I'd go so far as to make it a legal requirement on safety grounds. Also, new Model 3 Tesla removing paddles for indicator, wipers etc. is just another level of madness. It completely rules them out as an option for me.

[TheKalkalash]

Point number 9 is actually true. A Finnish insurance company recently published data that EVs are more likely to get into accidents when compared to internal combustion cars. They theorized that the reason is that most people are not used to the fast acceleration and great performance they have. An alternative explanation was that their increased weight increases braking distance on snow and ice, which also increases risk. But the increased accident risk seemed to happen year around.

[geekandguide]

Reminds me of the VW Golf I rented through ZipCar. Seat position was done via the touchscreen and I could not work it out. Drove 40 miles pretty much looking through the steering wheel!
Let's bring back good old buttons and switches (and not just on cars!).

[tarun]

1) Bring back physical buttons
2) Bring back small alloys which can improve ride quality.
3) Bring back analogue speedo & tachometers
I think car manufacturers should focus on prioritising function over aesthetics

[drivexyz]

high profile tires are pretty good for tackling potholes. With those low profile wheels you need to watch out for bumps and drive extremely cautiously in order not to get them wrecked. Not to mention the driving comfort over the low profile tires.

[XyLoTec]

Less expensive Cars with less bullshit that we dont need

[stephenkelly]

Touch screens to control heater etc should be banned as not safe to adjust when driving

[bongmuon]

Very much agree with the touch screens and engine power. We have gone so astray when a modern SUV has the same fuel economy of a brick shaped saloon of the 80's. Imagine how much more efficient we could have vehicles with all this tech if we kept to a reasonable weight and power with the tech to get lighter vehicles that use half the fuel of 80's cars. Instead we got 4000 lb SUV's that have 400 hp.

Also we need a maximum lumen limit for brake lights. The modern ones blind me when I come off the highway, have to block the light with my hand.

[CrazyChemistPL]

I think the contemporary popular car styling really reached its peak between 2000-2010. Cars like original Ford Focus, BMW E46 (though these two slightly predate that timeframe), Peugeot 307, Alfa Romeo 159, latest Mitsubishi Lancer have all aged extremely well.

[Bradleyschaeffer]

Now is definitely NOT the time to be buying a car. Average car cost $47K?! That's insane!
Check your ego at the door - you need a vehicle to get back and forth to work, not to impress anyone. An auto finance rate of 7%+ is an insult to anyone with excellent credit. No thanks. Those new cars can sit on the lot and rot away for all I care.

[craigthomas]

One thing I think doesn't get discussed enough with new cars is general ownership costs. Having 20+ inch wheels is all well and good but best hope you have deep pockets when replacing a tire. A lot of these cars especially the EVs are fast, and as a result fall into very high insurance groups. I even hear horror stories of entire headlight units needing replacing if the LED running lights go out instead of a simple bulb change like in older cars.

[icecreamgecko]

I do not have a problem with thicker tyres and smaller rims at all to be honest. They can look fantastic when properly designed and offer some peace of mind when the terrain gets a bit more "technical". Making the smaller options look hideous on purpose is what bugs me though. I often have trouble imagining that the professional designers, who came up with the usual standard-options, did the best they can.