Top 5 Factory-Fitted Optional Extras

In the ever-evolving landscape of automotive innovation, selecting the right optional extras on your brand-new car can transform your driving experience from ordinary to extraordinary. The possibilities are endless, from cutting-edge Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) to advanced connectivity and infotainment systems integrating you seamlessly with the world.

Imagine the convenience of a heated windscreen on chilly mornings and luxury interior options to redefine what you believed was comfort. Join us as Motorscan explores the top five factory-fitted optional extras that promise to elevate your new car journey to new heights!

Influence of optional features on driving experience and resale value

Optional add-on features play a pivotal role in tailoring the driving experience and enhancing the overall value of a vehicle. Whether it’s advanced safety technologies, luxurious interior upgrades, or revolutionary entertainment systems, these optional extras allow drivers to customise their cars to suit their preferences and lifestyles.

Moreover, the presence of certain factory-fitted options can significantly impact the resale value of a car. Potential buyers are often prepared to pay more for vehicles equipped with desirable features as they recognise the added convenience, comfort, and safety they provide. Therefore, understanding the influence of factory-fitted options on resale value is crucial, as it can ultimately affect the long-term ownership experience and financial return on your investment. So, what are the top five optional factory-fitted extras:-

1. Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems

ADAS represents a transformative leap in automotive safety and convenience, integrating innovative technologies to assist drivers in various aspects of their journey, collectively improving safety, reducing accidents, and enhancing the overall driving experience by providing drivers with advanced assistance and awareness when they’re on the road. The most common ADAS components include the following:

• Adaptive Cruise Control: Maintains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead by automatically adjusting the vehicle’s speed. This advanced feature reduces driver fatigue during long journeys and mitigates the risk of rear-end collisions by ensuring a consistent following distance.

• Blind Spot Detection: Alerts drivers to vehicles in their blind spots, thereby minimising the potential for lane-change accidents by providing timely warnings.

• Lane Departure Warning/Assist: Alerts drivers when the vehicle unintentionally drifts out of its lane, helping prevent accidents caused by lane departure, especially during drowsy or distracted driving.

• Forward Collision Warning/Assist: Alerts drivers to imminent collisions with vehicles or obstacles ahead, warning drivers to react promptly and avoid collisions.

• Automatic Emergency Braking: Automatically applies the brakes to prevent or reduce collisions, enhancing safety in emergency situations.

• Parking Assistance: Assists drivers in manoeuvring the vehicle into parking spaces, making parking easier and reducing the risk of colliding with surrounding objects or cars.

2. Luxury Interior Options

Several optional interior upgrades are available when purchasing a new vehicle, each designed to enhance comfort, convenience, and overall driving experience. Some of these optional extras include:

• Leather Seats – they add luxury and sophistication to a car’s interior, enhancing the vehicle’s overall aesthetic appeal. Leather seating is more durable and easier to clean than standard cloth seats, making them highly desirable. And cars with leather seats typically command higher resale values due to their perceived luxury and premium quality.
• Climate Control Systems provide personalised temperature settings, ensuring comfort in various weather conditions. Vehicles with climate control systems offer superior convenience to those with manual air conditioning, leading to higher resale value.
• Heated and Ventilated Seats offer adjustable heating and cooling functions, enhancing comfort during extreme temperatures and long drives. Due to their added comfort, vehicles with heated and ventilated seats generally attract higher resale values.
• Power-adjustable Seats with Memory Functions allow personalised seating settings, enhancing comfort and convenience, and will ordinarily command higher resale values due to the added convenience of having saved seat settings at your fingertips.
• Interior Ambient Lighting throughout the interior creates a luxurious ambience and improves visibility at night, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal. Again, vehicles with this additional feature often attract higher resale values due to their upscale and modern feel.

3. Heated windscreen & Wing mirrors

Having the luxury of heated windscreens and wing mirrors offers invaluable benefits, particularly during adverse weather conditions. Utilising electrical heating elements within the glass, they swiftly clear mist, frost, and ice buildup, ensuring optimal visibility and eliminating potential blind spots caused by frosty mirrors. Moreover, heated windscreens and wing mirrors help prevent fogging, maintaining a clear view of the road ahead and surrounding vehicles, reducing accident risks, and boosting driving confidence.

4. Panoramic Sunroof

Panoramic sunroofs offer a myriad of benefits, boasting expansive glass panels extending across a vehicle’s entire roof. These sunroofs come in various types, including fixed, sliding, and tilt-and-slide, providing different levels of openness and ventilation, depending on the style. Beyond their functional aspects, panoramic sunroofs flood the interior with natural light, creating a spacious, open feel and a connection to the outdoors. They also offer excellent ventilation, allowing fresh air to circulate. Furthermore, second-hand buyers often seek panoramic sunroofs due to their perceived luxury, offering a premium driving experience with added visual appeal, making vehicles with panoramic sunroofs alluring in the resale market.

5. Advanced Connectivity and Infotainment

Systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have revolutionised the driving experience by seamlessly integrating smartphones with vehicle dashboards. Beyond these popular options, the latest infotainment offerings include Wi-Fi hotspots and advanced navigation systems, providing real-time traffic updates and intuitive route guidance.

Indeed, connectivity features are paramount for modern drivers in today’s tech-savvy world, who rely on them for navigation, communication, and entertainment while on the road. As a result, vehicles equipped with advanced connectivity and infotainment systems are highly sought after in the second-hand market, reflecting their enduring appeal and influence on the overall driving experience. Features will vary across brands and models, with some offering more comprehensive connectivity suites than others, so always do your research and compare.