4 Reasons to Upgrade to a Newer Car
The average age of any given car on the road is approximately 10 to 12 years old. This means that many people are not driving up-to-date vehicles. If this applies to you, it may be time to trade in your old clunker and upgrade to a more contemporary and dependable ride. Here are just a few of the useful features you can find on most current cars, trucks, and SUVs.
- Improved Airbags
Vehicles built in the early 2000s or earlier typically only have airbags in a few locations. Most commonly, they have a front passenger’s side airbag within the dashboard and a front driver’s side airbag behind the steering wheel. These offer sufficient frontal collision safety, but they leave you highly vulnerable during a side collision.
Most newer vehicles are equipped with full-body airbag protection that is essential in the event of a side crash or rollover. Side torso airbags shield your abdominal region, while side curtain airbags are designed to keep your head from hitting the window. Knee airbags are also becoming commonplace. These deploy in the event of a high-speed crash and prevent your legs from hitting the dashboard. Moreover, airbags are now frequently located in both the front and the back seats, meaning that passengers in the back receive the protection they would not otherwise have in an older vehicle.
- Better Performance on Diverse Terrain
In response to increased consumer demand for four-wheel drive, auto manufacturers are presently building more car, truck, and SUV models with this feature than ever before. This means it is a great time to upgrade to a car with four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drivetrains are more frequently found on trucks and SUVs. Although, some sedans now include four-wheel drive systems as well. When all four wheels draw power from the engine, it results in improved traction, acceleration, and handling capabilities. On most cars, the four-wheel drive remains disengaged until you need it to help you accelerate out of a sticky situation. If you currently have a front-wheel drive vehicle that struggles with snow, mud, or steep hills, consider making the switch to a four-wheel drive car.
- Driver Assistance Systems
Driver assistance technology adds an entirely new layer of safety to modern vehicles by helping to reduce accidents caused by human error. While older cars may have some of the simpler assistance systems such as anti-lock brakes or cruise control, new cars boast even more advanced equipment. This includes things like lane departure warning, automatic braking, blind spot detection, and collision avoidance. Recently, some car companies have even incorporated highly-sophisticated sensors that can detect when a driver is becoming drowsy at the wheel. The wide variety of innovative driver assistance packages available on today’s cars makes them significantly safer than those of the past.
- Luxury and Comfort
From grocery bag holders to built-in Wi-Fi to spritzing the cabin with air freshener fragrances, the latest vehicles have luxury options to meet the needs of any buyer. You can get touch-screen infotainment, top-of-the-line navigation systems, automatic temperature control, and more. The best part is that getting a high-tech car does not have to break the bank. No matter your budget, a new car can give you the luxurious driving experience you have always dreamed of.
The repair costs and hassle of maintaining an outdated vehicle can quickly become more trouble than it is worth. There are great options for donating your old car to a good cause and securing the financial assistance to purchase a new one can be easy regardless of your credit history. There is truly no reason to delay in upgrading to a modern vehicle with the driving capabilities you need and the features necessary to keep you and your family safe.