Free Car Tech Features You Might Be Paying Extra For
Key takeaways
- Some automakers are charging for tech amenities while others include them as standard equipment.
- When buying a new car, shoppers typically choose between standard equipment that comes with a vehicle and options that cost extra.
- Making matters even more complicated, automakers sometimes bundle certain desirable features into options packages.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
Some automakers are charging for tech amenities while others include them as standard equipment. Knowing the difference can save you money.
When buying a new car, shoppers typically choose between standard equipment that comes with a vehicle and options that cost extra. The decision to upgrade a vehicle’s engine, interior upholstery, or exterior paint is usually straightforward. But with the proliferation of technology in new vehicles, the line between standard and optional has become less clear-cut. Increasingly, one automaker may offer a tech feature at no cost, while another decides to charge for it as an add-on option or via a subscription.
Making matters even more complicated, automakers sometimes bundle certain desirable features into options packages. To help you keep track of it all, we looked at several of the most common and popular new technology features that exist in the gray area between free and fee so you can be better equipped to research and ask about them and how much extra they may cost you—before you sign on the dotted line.