10 Car Features Many Drivers Never Realize They Have, From The Fuel Door Arrow To Heated Steering Wheels And Hidden Storage

You have probably sat behind the wheel of your car thousands of times and never noticed half of what it can do. Dashboards are crowded, owner’s manuals are thick, and most of us learn only the buttons we need on day one.

A black and silver steering wheel in front of the gauge cluster of a sports car.

That is how a tiny arrow, a snowflake light and a button for a warm steering wheel can go unused for years. Here are ten built-in touches that motoring writers say plenty of owners overlook.

The Little Arrow Beside The Gas Pump Icon, As Motor1 Explains

The Motor1 Motor101 explainer, written by Jeff Perez, says the arrow next to the fuel pump icon shows which side of the car the fuel filler door is on. In the article’s words, “If it points left, the gas cap is on the driver’s side.”

Motor1 says the indicator became common in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when drivers were switching more often between rental, company and family cars. It is handiest in rentals, fleet vehicles, borrowed cars and newly bought ones, and the article notes many drivers never notice it. Motoring Research, in a 2019 feature, credits Jim Moylan with inventing the arrow.

The Snowflake Warning That Flags Icy Roads, Per Quartz And Reader’s Digest

Quartz, relaying Reader’s Digest, says that as temperatures approach freezing, some cars show a snowflake symbol, flash a warning or sound a chime to signal possibly slippery roads.

The alert can appear before freezing because bridges and overpasses ice up sooner than the rest of the road. Quartz adds that many newer vehicles include the feature.

Adaptive Cruise Control Does More Than Hold A Speed, Quartz Reports

Quartz, again citing Reader’s Digest, explains that sensors track the distance to the car ahead and adjust speed to match traffic. When the road clears, the car returns to the speed you set.

Some systems also handle stop-and-go traffic. Reader’s Digest highlights it as one of the most useful modern features, according to Quartz.

The Rear Seat Reminder That Asks You To Look Back, Says Quartz

If a rear door was opened before or during a trip, the vehicle may display a message or sound a chime after you park and switch off the engine. The prompt is meant to remind the driver to check the back seat.

Quartz, citing Reader’s Digest, points to it as one of the most meaningful safety technologies introduced in recent years. If your car does it, you may have heard the chime and wondered what it was.

A Heated Steering Wheel Is Probably One Button Away, Quartz Notes

A heating element in the steering wheel rim warms it at the push of a button. Quartz says the controls are usually near the seat heater buttons or on the wheel itself.

Reader’s Digest lists it among comfort features that owners often overlook. On a cold morning, that button is worth a hunt in the dashboard.

The Dipping Rear View Mirror Tab, From Motoring Research In 2019

Motoring Research describes a tab below the mirror that switches between day and night settings. Flip it at night and the glare from headlights behind you is reduced.

It is an old trick that is easy to miss, since the mirror looks fine either way until a pickup with bright lights pulls up behind you.

Color Coding Under The Hood, Motoring Research Says In 2019

Open the hood, which that British writer calls the bonnet, and you may find yellow or blue guides on the parts you actually touch. Motoring Research says they mark the dipstick, oil cap, coolant, brake fluid and washer fluid.

That makes a quick fluid check less intimidating for anyone who has never done one. Your owner’s manual can confirm what each marked part is on your own car.

Puddle Lights Shine The Way Out Of The Car, Motoring Research Reports In 2019

Some cars, such as the Seat Tarraco in the article, project a light onto the ground when you open a door. The idea is to show you where you are about to step.

If your car has one, you may have thought it was a design touch. It can also help you avoid stepping into a puddle on a wet night.

The Pop Out Bag Hook, As Motoring Research Described It In 2019

Nissan says it invented what Motoring Research calls the curry hook, which debuted on the 1996 Almera for carrying bags. The article says it appears in the Qashqai and X-Trail, and many cars have a pop-out hook in the trunk, which it calls the boot.

Next time grocery bags tip over on the drive home, check the cargo area for a hook before buying an organizer.

Hidden Storage Compartments Tucked Around The Cabin, Per Motoring Research In 2019

The Seat Alhambra has two covered compartments in the second row floor, Motoring Research reports, and other cars hide storage under the front seats, in the dashboard, in the roof and in the trunk.

It is a reminder that carmakers tuck useful space into odd places, and a slow walk through your own car with the manual open may turn some up.

What ties all ten together is that none requires a trip to the shop or a new gadget. These are things already built into the car, waiting for a driver to notice.

The easiest way to find more is to sit in the driveway with your owner’s manual and flip through the pages on dashboard lights and cabin features. Check the index for terms such as fuel filler, cruise control and storage.

Features vary by make, model and year, so what a Skoda or Seat offers in a European article may not match what is in your garage. Treat each of these as a hint on where to look, then let your own manual settle the question.

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