Auto Industry Trends We Just Can’t Get Behind

Here at Donohoo Auto, we pride ourselves on keeping abreast of the latest trends in the automotive world. We understand that the auto industry, like any other, constantly evolves with technological advancements and consumer preferences. However, not all changes are celebrated universally. There are certain trends that, even though they might be gaining traction, haven’t exactly won our hearts – or, it seems, the hearts of many consumers.

Let’s dive into some of these controversial trends:

• Touchscreen Overload: While touchscreens can undoubtedly make the dashboard look sleeker and offer a range of functionalities, sometimes it feels like they’ve gone too far. Do we really need a touchscreen to control the air conditioning or open the glove box? Physical buttons and knobs provide tactile feedback which can be much safer to use while driving.

• Oversized Grilles: It seems like every redesign or new model is trying to outdo the last in terms of grille size. Sure, a prominent grille can give a car a distinct face, but there’s a fine line between distinctive and downright gaudy.

• Fake Exhaust Ports: Authenticity matters. While aesthetics play a huge role in car design, faux exhaust tips that serve no real function can feel a bit misleading, if not unnecessary.
• High Gloss Interior Trim: It looks fantastic when it’s clean and new. But after some use, every fingerprint and scratch becomes all too visible, making the interior look less than pristine.

• Feature Phase-out: Drawing a parallel with the smartphone sector, certain automakers seem to be sidelining traditional and popular features, perhaps in pursuit of profitability. It’s increasingly noticeable to see cars devoid of CD players, lacking headphone or auxiliary ports, and astonishingly, some are even omitting integrations like Apple CarPlay.
• Subscription-based Car Features: Some manufacturers are now rolling out features that necessitate monthly subscriptions, such as heated seats or sophisticated driving assists. This shift appears to be steering us away from the traditional concept of full ownership of a car and its inherent features. To exacerbate this trend, as highlighted in Point #5, some manufacturers are deliberately eliminating features only to reintroduce them under a subscription model, further commodifying car functionalities.

• Enhanced App and Accessibility Features: Modern innovations allow for unlocking and driving your car using facial recognition or a phone application. While promising in principle, these technologies sometimes grapple with connectivity issues or inconvenient updates. For users to truly rely on these advancements, they must boast a 99.9% reliability rate. While the future may hold wide acceptance for these features, it’s evident that many car manufacturers currently struggle with fine-tuning their app designs and functionalities.

• The Promise of Electric Cars: We’re optimistic about electric cars and foresee them playing a pivotal role in the future automotive landscape. However, they’re not quite the complete package just yet. As a secondary vehicle or for those specially equipped for electric utilization, they present excellent value. Yet, for the broader population, current limitations like charging durations and range restrict them from wholly replacing gasoline vehicles. Once charging becomes as quick as refueling a tank and range allows for nightly-only charging, electric vehicles will undoubtedly resonate with the masses. For now, they remain a specialized choice.

At Donohoo Auto, we always prioritize the needs and preferences of our customers. While we can’t control the trends automakers choose to adopt, we can certainly voice the opinions of the community we serve. And remember, no matter how the auto industry evolves, one thing remains consistent here: our commitment to offering quality vehicles without any hidden dealer fees.

What are your thoughts on these trends? Love them, hate them, or somewhere in between? Let us know! We love hearing from our community.

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