#connected car features

It’s 2026, let’s establish the bare minimums for in-car tech with five features that should be standard. It’s easy to get lost in the sauce or blinded by all of the tech features available in new cars today. So, to help you navigate the fun-filled world of automotive tech, I’ve assembled a list of 5 tech features cars should have in 2026. [gallery ids="214851,214850" size="medium"] Map data, media playback, media controls, notifications, and voice assistants are only some of the features that these smartphone pairing functions offer, and what’s cool about them is that they almost eliminate the need for a phone mount in the car. Automatic Emergency Braking or Forward Collision Mitigation Now, this may be a feature that’s out of reach for the most affordable cars out there, but if you’re paying over a certain price point, it’s not unreasonable to want your car to have certain safety features. With this move, Google is positioning Android Automotive OS as a full-stack platform for connected vehicles, reflecting the industry’s shift toward software-driven car architectures. Read more in our articles including "5 Tech Features Cars Should Have in 2026" and "Moo Mini Cards: An Expensive Lesson in Proofreading".