Secret features of your Bond-style car are revealed, including hidden umbrellas and increased storage space

MILLIONS of drivers don’t get the most out of their cars – because they don’t understand their full specifications.

Almost half of the 2,000 car owners surveyed admitted they don’t know everything their vehicle can do, even though many have James Bond-style features.

5

And of those who activated a new item, 38 percent “accidentally triggered it,” while 44 percent were made aware of the hidden goodies by family or friends.

It was also shown that although 49 percent name safety reasons when considering high-tech features when buying a new car, 36 percent feel “confused” by them.

The survey was commissioned by the new vehicle dealer engine pointwho also created a video showing some of the useful features and hidden spec gems on the forecourt.

These include Skoda’s concealed ice scraper and umbrella, Honda’s Magic Seats and Ford Puma’s MegaBox.

As shown on the Jazz model, Honda’s Magic Seats fold up like cinema seats to allow for the carriage of large or bulky items in the cabin.

And Ford’s Puma has a similar party trick, as the MegaBox under the trunk floor increases the trunk’s capacity and height, making it one of the largest in the small crossover class.

Also highlighted was the center row of seats in the seven-seater Peugeot 5008, which allows three child seats to be installed side-by-side via individual ISOFIX points.

Some fun automotive “Easter eggs” popped up in the forecourt, including MINI’s disco mode, Vauxhall’s hidden shark emblem and the Jaguar E-Pace boy logo featured on the windshield of Jaguar’s small SUV.

The research also revealed that when purchasing a new wheelset, reliability is the most important factor (74 percent), closely followed by good fuel economy (72 percent) and low maintenance costs (60 percent).

And when it comes to standard equipment, more than half want a lot of space in the trunk, while 47 percent value good heating and ventilation.

Other essential requirements are adjustable seats and a heated windscreen.

However, nearly six in ten have discovered features in their current car that they were unaware of when they first got it, while 27 percent stumbled upon those features in the manual.

But those discoveries weren’t made immediately, as one in five drivers admitted it took them almost two years to discover some of their car’s hidden gems.

The study also showed that not understanding their car hurt drivers’ confidence, as 51 percent believe they would drive better if they knew more about what their vehicle could do.

Mark Carpenter, CEO of Motorpoint, said: “When it comes to technological upgrades in our daily lives, we typically think of phones, laptops – or even kitchen appliances, but the automotive industry has also seen something of a revolution when it comes to vehicle specification .

“Buying a car is a big investment, so it’s important that people at the point of purchase have access to the right knowledge.

“Access to an expert who can demonstrate key features before signing on the dotted line and during handoff can make all the difference.”

It also found that more than a quarter of drivers don’t use the features in their car because they just don’t know how.

Not surprisingly, 85 percent believe it’s important to have someone explain a car’s capabilities to them when they buy a new model, and eight in ten would like to have access to a tech guru to answer their questions after the purchase.

But although 46 percent say they love their current car, four in 10 say it’s not their ideal specification.

A fifth of those surveyed via OnePoll also felt their car was aging too quickly due to ever-evolving technology.

This led 1 in 5 people to believe they needed to buy a new car every year to keep up with trends and upgrades.

Mark Carpenter added: “We wanted to share some of our favorite features that make some cars great to live in, but also highlight the need for good advice when buying and during ownership.

“Ensuring that your car meets all of your needs will make it more valuable and enjoyable in the long run.”

5

5

5

5