Safety technology features lead buyers' preferences

From time to time, manufacturers commission studies and surveys to find out exactly what buyers of their products are looking for. This is also the case with cars, and the results of the latest survey carried out by J.D. Power, called the U.S. Tech Choice Study, have just been made public. This study aims to determine what kind of technological equipment car buyers prefer.

The surprise is that, at least on paper, the technological advances that respondents rank highest are not related to infotainment, as one might expect, but to safety. The one at the top is one of those that prevents the most accidents: the blind-spot detector in the mirror, which covers that corner outside the mirror’s reflection and causes more than one scare.

The percentage who prefer this type of system, together with others for accident prevention, is 40%, a remarkable figure. If we also consider that 33% of respondents say they would like a night vision system to have full visibility at night, it seems there is genuine interest in this kind of equipment.

American buyers prefer safety equipment, according to this survey After this equipment, the next most preferred features are the rear-view camera and self-healing paint, which also rank among the most chosen. However, future buyers show little interest in new touchscreens and gesture recognition systems. It seems this kind of technology is good for generating headlines, but buyers aren’t especially interested in it.

Curiously, safety technology appeals to buyers of all ages, which shows a growing tendency toward safer driving. Systems that improve energy efficiency, however, do not enjoy the same popularity.

The iOS versus Android rivalry has also made its way into the car world. The study shows that users planning to buy a high-end car prefer Apple CarPlay over Android Auto as their connectivity feature. Interesting findings from this kind of study… What do you expect from your next car: safety or entertainment?

Via | Carscoops