The four tech features you need to get into your next vehicle

The technological features of modern vehicles can make driving easier and more enjoyable. But when shopping for your next car, it can be hard to know which features are useful and which are more like gimmicks. And many times, these features are only available on certain trim levels. To help you out, the car experts at Edmunds have compiled a list of their top four features and provide information on how to get them.

Easy phone pairing: wireless connectivity and wireless charging

Most modern vehicles include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These features allow you to display and use many of your smartphone’s apps and features on the vehicle’s touchscreen. Normally, you’ll need to connect your phone with a USB cable for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to work. But some vehicles also support wireless connectivity. A wireless connection allows you to pair your phone and stop fiddling with a cable every time you go for a drive.

To make the most of it, buy a vehicle that also has a built-in wireless phone charger. Having a wireless charger completely eliminates the need for a cable. The charging pad also serves as a dedicated location for your phone, which is not a given in all cars.

How to get it: Research whether the vehicle you’re interested in supports wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Most vehicles either have it or not, although some offer it as part of an upgraded infotainment system. A wireless smartphone charger is usually an option or one of the extra features that come with a more expensive trim level.

Perfect Parking: Surround View Camera

A surround view camera, also known as a 360-degree camera, uses a series of cameras placed in different locations in the vehicle to create a stitched image on the entertainment screen. The view, which appears to be taken by a single camera floating above the vehicle, is as surprising as it is useful.

A surround-view camera system is useful when you’re in a tight parking lot or when you’re parallel parking. The top-down view makes it much easier to park perfectly between lines or be the right distance from the curb. The most useful camera systems also include parking sensors that provide auditory or visual feedback to indicate how far you are from an obstacle.

How to get it: A surround-view camera system usually comes on a more expensive trim level or as part of an optional package.

Less fatigue in heavy traffic: adaptive cruise control

If you frequently navigate stop-and-go traffic on the freeway, adaptive cruise control can help ease your traffic fatigue. Like regular cruise control, it allows you to set a speed that the vehicle will maintain. In addition, adaptive cruise control can automatically brake the vehicle when it detects a slower vehicle ahead, then accelerate back to the set speed when traffic is moving again. These systems also allow you to set the following distance behind the vehicle in front of you.

Some versions of adaptive cruise can bring your vehicle to a complete stop, reducing the following distance as speed decreases. Adaptive cruise will then return your vehicle to a predetermined speed as traffic begins to move again. And it all happens without touching any pedal.

How to get it: Adaptive cruise control is often standard equipment on many new vehicles, even low-cost ones.

Protection from what is not seen: rear cross traffic warning

How many times have you backed out of a parking space or driveway, unable to see if there is a vehicle approaching you from the side? It’s an all-too-common scenario that a rear cross-traffic warning system often solves brilliantly. Sensors in the back of the vehicle can detect what’s coming before you can and sound or display a warning that a vehicle is approaching.

These systems usually warn you early enough that you will have time to hit the brakes and stop. Some vehicles can also apply the brakes automatically if the driver does not react in time.

How to get it: Rear cross traffic warning is usually bundled with blind spot warning because the two features are based on the same sensors and technology. However, both features are not always standard equipment.

says Edmunds

Edmunds editors consider these features to be most beneficial in adding a layer of protection without interfering with the driving experience. It’s worth researching how to get these features in your next vehicle.

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This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds.

Josh Jacquot is an Edmunds contributor.