5 Modern Car Features for More Luxurious Road Trips

By Jim Burch –

With gas prices at a low, driving is now at a high. AAA reports the median gas price in America sits right at $2 per gallon, the lowest it has been in years. But while fuel prices drop, airline fees stay mostly the same, which means the road trip is once again a popular method of transportation for family vacations.

The road trip has come a long way since “National Lampoon’s Vacation.” Modern cars offer a more luxurious experience on the road compared to the old station wagons you grew up with. And unlike cars made 30 to 40 years ago, today’s luxury offerings are surprisingly affordable. Something as high-end as a pre-owned BMW sells for less than $18,000 in metropolitan areas such as Phoenix, Arizona. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle and hungry for future road adventures, here are some modern features that can help your excursion feel like a first-class drive.

Smarter Cruise Control

Cruise control is a great tool to give your pedal foot a break when you’re on the road for hours, but it doesn’t do so well when there are other cars on the road. Approach a slow car with no way to pass and you’re forced to tap the brakes until the highway clears again. But modern cars (mostly luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes and Lexus) have sensors that detect a car in front and automatically slow your vehicle to match its speed. Your foot can stay off the pedal and cruise control stays engaged. This also is a handy feature if you’re following a friend on the road.

Dozing Driver Protection

Driving long hours can deplete energy and focus. You should never drive when overly fatigued, but in case your eyes get heavy behind the wheel, the same proximity sensors that power smart cruise control also will alert you when your vehicle is drifting out of its lane. Assuming your road has white and yellow lines, those sensors can see the boundaries of your lane and play a loud alarm to jolt you awake in case you begin to wander.

Built-In Navigation

No more than 10 years ago, in-car navigation systems were part of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. But with the growing popularity of GPS navigation in smartphones, the same technology is now much more affordable inside the center console. Navigation is a technology you never knew you needed until you finally have it. No matter how remote your destination, GPS connection works without a cell signal, so you’ll have detailed guidance from start to finish.

Heated Seats and Steering Wheel

Traveling in the winter? Heated seats aren’t a brand new technology, but they are becoming more standard in mid-range vehicles, while luxury brands are introducing heated steering wheels to top off the warm, cozy luxury on the road. Sure, regular heating will eventually make the seats and steering wheel warm, but having that instant heat after a stop at a restaurant or gas station … sometimes you can’t put a price on that.

Luxury Is Relative

Know what “luxury” means to you. A vehicle that has smart cruise control, dozing driver protection, built-in navigation and advanced heating features is going to be expensive. Pick and choose the extra features that matter most, and your experience on the road will be much better than Clark Griswold on his way to Wally World.

Born and raised near St. Louis, Jim developed an obsession for baseball and the Cardinals. College days brought him south to Kentucky where he studied creative writing and journalism while working as an editor for the Murray State News. These days, he writes diverse and sexy copy and hone my physical prowess at his CrossFit gym in Chandler, AZ. His specialties range from movies and television to consumer technology to health and fitness.