Handy features you didn’t know your car had

The modern day motor car is truly a thing of wonder. Depending on the chariot, they can transport you just about anywhere on land, and, more often than not, are filled with clever features that make your life so much easier… at least once you know they exist.

Check out some of the coolest features we reckon lots of people don’t even know about that come standard in many cars already.

Sick of coming home from a grocery shop to have your apples and tins of tuna strewn across the boot floor? Well, you might not have to go through the annoyance of scrounging around for every last piece of fresh produce, because you’ve probably got some designated hooks somewhere in there to hold your bags in place.

Sometimes they’re obvious, but they could also be neatly folded away, so have a good look around your boot. One of our favs is the Volvo XC40, which not only comes with neat boot hooks but also an extendable hook in the glovebox for your hand- (or man-) bag.

You’ll find this more on newer vehicles and it’s a shock for many when they realise their car has this feature. Holding down the ‘unlock’ button on the key fob for around three seconds will simultaneously open your car’s windows – and sunroof, in some cases – while holding ‘lock’ for the same period will close them back up.

Why would you even need this feature? Just think of those stinking hot summer days when you’re approaching your car and just know the sweltering temperatures you’ll be met with… well, you can expel the hot air from afar before getting in, making it slightly more pleasant for you and your passengers.

If you’re in and out of different vehicles as often as a car reviewer, or you just have the memory of a goldfish, you’ll be glad to know that you can easily avoid the embarrassment of parking on the wrong side of the fuel bowser any time you go to fill up.

Just glance at the small fuel tank icon next to your fuel gauge on the dash cluster and you’ll notice a small arrow right next to it, that points to which side your fuel filler cap is. Genius!

Bonus tip for EV owners: same goes for many (but not all) electric vehicles. But instead of pointing to a fuel tank, the arrow near the EV gauge points to where the EV charge port is for your car.

Sometimes, buying a luxury car saves you money. Hey, even if it’s a few dollars on a Little Tree air freshener every few months, it’s still saving!

That’s because certain Mercedes-Benz models – including the C-Class and electric EQC, among others – can be had with a built-in air freshener dubbed ‘Air Balance’. Located in the glovebox, the small glass bottle device gives off a ‘discreet’ fragrance (of your choosing), and its intensity can be adjusted according to the driver’s preference.  

Don’t have the budget for a Merc? Check out our car air freshener hacks here.

Some cars have a fuel cap that’s connected to a string/cord so that you can’t possibly misplace it at the servo, but if yours doesn’t, you should have a bracket inside the fuel filler lid (the part connected to the car) that neatly holds your cap while you fuel up.

If you own a late model Skoda or Rolls-Royce, chances are, you’ve got at least one secret umbrella on board. You’ll find the handy brolly wedged inside the driver’s door trim of the Skoda, however, Rolls normally uses a hole in the door jamb/vehicle body, making it easier to locate without having to reach out into the rain. 

Ever had to change (or check) a fuse in your car, but couldn’t get your chubby fingers in to grasp the tiny gadget? Well, you’ll be pleased to know that many cars offer a built-in fuse puller, usually stored neatly within the fuse holder/compartment.

If you can’t find it there, check your glovebox, or secondary fuse box (most cars will have a fuse box within the engine bay and under the dash).

In order to maximise storage and space inside vehicles, automotive designers have come up with clever ways to hide storage compartments. A good example, is certain grades of the Jeep Compass, which come with under-cushion storage in the front passenger’s seat base.

Meanwhile, other cars – including various older Volkswagen models – come with a storage drawer hidden under the front seat base, and even sometimes under the rear seat base (more so in space- or dual-cab utes).

As the saying goes, seek and ye shall find… or just read the owner’s manual to learn more about your car.

Related: The three easy car checks you should be doing every month

Related: How to save fuel and dollars on your next road trip

Related: Automotive style fads that are well and truly consigned to history