the complete guide to
consider
your options
Once you’ve selected your new
vehicle, what options do you
want? The choices have
changed—some didn’t
even exist five years
ago! Here are some
of today’s most
popular.
buying a car
Hid HeadligHts
High-intensity discharge
(Hid) bulbs light the road
ahead more effectively
than standard halogens,
but without dazzling
oncoming drivers. auto-
matic dimming lights can
also detect an oncoming
car and dim the beams
without any driver input.
dual-zone
climate controls
Voice actiVation
Voice activation learns
the sound of your voice
and will turn on or
off many of the car’s
features with just a
spoken command. While
convenient to use, be
mindful about how often
you use voice activation
as it can still contribute
to distracted driving.
power
open/close
many vehicle models offer
power opening and closing
options for the trunk (or
tailgate for pickup trucks)
to keep your hands free.
Just press a button and
the trunk lid or tailgate
will open or close itself
securely. some vehicles
even let you wave a leg
under the rear bumper to
open the trunk.
this allows both the driver
and passengers to set
their own heating and ac
levels. You can also opt for
automatic climate controls:
in auto mode, the system will
fine-tune the temperature to
keep everyone comfortable.
this can also help reduce
driver distraction by
eliminating the need to
fumble with buttons.
Heated seats
they used to be a luxury,
but they’re much more
commonplace today,
and are often coveted in
manitoba winters. they’re
usually available on the
mid-priced-and-up levels of
vehicles. some offer heated
seats in the rear too.
cameras
electronic
sensors
much more common and
effective than they used to
be, radar and sonic sensors
detect other objects and
vehicles around your car,
and step in to help prevent
collisions. some even help
drive the vehicle by keeping
it in its lane or parking in a
tight spot.
Backup cameras can
reduce collisions, when
used in combination with
attentive checks by the
driver. By may 2018, they
will be compulsory for new
cars in canada. surround
cameras—more common
on luxury cars—display
everything around the car
on a central screen, as if
seen from above.
CAA MANITOBA
FAll 2017
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