Across the automotive industry, innovation has been crucial in remaining relevant. And while General Motors has developed some awesome solutions (the center-airbag, and the safety alert seat, to name a recent few), there are a few head-scratching omissions from what can be found in all of its vehicles. We’ve come up with five features that should be present across the board.
You’ll glance upon this list and realize that yes, most of these features can be found in select GM vehicles, but surprisingly not all of the offerings from The General. In no particular order, they are:
1. A 110-Volt Outlet
A three-prong outlet has turned into a necessity in today’s fast-paced world, and provides fantastic convenience to passengers. Want to fiddle on your laptop or tablet without worrying about battery life on the carpool commute to work? A 110-volt outlet is the answer. Power inverters are so 1990.
2. Rear Seat HVAC
Just about every compact (and smaller) GM vehicle is without this creature comfort. Anybody who has ever carpooled with a Chevrolet Cruze can vouch for the fact that it gets pretty hot in the second row in the warm months of the year. To compensate the lack of ventilation, the driver and front passenger must crank the AC all the way to the point of near-hypothermia, just so that a breeze can reach the back seat and passengers can stop sweating. But by the time this happens, front row occupants need a blanket. The Cruze isn’t the only guilty party, either. The Chevy Sonic, Spark, Volt, and Buick Verano all lack this simple feature.
3. A Capless Fueling System
Take into consideration the fact that the every Ford has this neat little feature, while the only vehicle in GM’s current line up offering a capless fueling system is the Cadillac XTS — which should not be the unique selling proposition for a $44,000-plus luxury sedan. It’s the 21st century, GM. Let’s go.
4. Wi-Fi
It might be a tall order to fit every GM vehicle with Wi-Fi, but it’s possible. Perhaps this is something that can be integrated with GM’s latest batch of world-class infotainment systems, including Chevy MyLink, GMC/Buick IntelliLink, or Cadillac Cue. Couple the availability of the internet with a 110-volt outlet, and the vehicle quickly becomes a mobile office, and the perfect carpooling machine.
5. Push-Button Start
It’s 2012. Why do cars still need keys? Realistically, they don’t. This simple feature may be found across the lineup sooner than the others, but the fact that GM’s refreshed Lambda crossovers (Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, and even the luxurious Buick Enclave) still lack this feature is a bit of a surprise.
That said, we praise GM for offering OnStar, automatic light control and remote start (on vehicles with automatic transmissions) across its entire range — because some manufacturers can’t find a way to the latter two features in the same vehicle (we’re looking at you, VW Jetta). Of course, there’s plenty more where those five came from. Suggest your own in the comment box below.
Comments
Allow me to add #6 — something for all of us who need a roof rack but who also care about how our cars look. Most cars have weld-seams covered by rubber stripping running along the edges of the roof. Many cars (European and some Asian) have small sections of the stripping that can be easily removed, uncovering studs or holes designed for the attachment of roof rack towers. What baffles me, in particular with regard to GM, is that Opels have these, including the rack kits that can be ordered in Europe, whereas the comparable Buicks do not. This design does not preclude using clip-on systems, but it does give owners who tend to leave the rack on, and who want a better looking system, some choice.
I did not realize that so many non-American made cars have this capability until recently when I looked at a European sedan parked at a convenience store with a paddleboard on top. It was, by the way, a Jetta. The owner showed me the system. Since then I’ve looked and found them on the new Hyundai GT and many Mazda’s, so the idea is obviously making its way from Europe to Asia. Why not America? This would cost almost nothing and would not be noticeable to those who don’t need the feature.
I would love to see GM Authority do a feature article on this. It needs to get in front of some people inside GM.
And #7 … Every vehicle should have either a center armrest, or the capability to add one as an option. The fact that all of GM’s Gamma II vehicles overlook this need is a travesty. I can point to other cars that are even more narrow but that still include a center armrest.
Right on, Manny!!!!!! Very good thoughts…..I wonder why the all-new ATS does not even have fogs, remote start, locking fuel door, folding seats, back-up camera, etc…………..when Chevy and Buick and even Honda have more than Cadillac….at no cost….makes me wonder 🙂
I love the new 2013 Buick Enlcave, the only thing that I am disappointed about is the key fob…………..
I don’t know if you’ve seen the more-advanced instrument cluster LCDs that are on the Cruze and Camaro, or even the full-color ones on the Malibu and LaCrosse, but GM should also have included them in the 2013 Lambdas, especially considering the price of entry. That, combined with the keyfob, lets me know that GM is still doing parts-bin construction on its cars…
Am I the only one who hates push button starts? Being able to start the car from the Key-less entry is nice to have in the winter but I stil love to turn that key. Im not against non-traditional keys either, I drive a Saab 9-3 and I love the key fob system in my car.
As for having Wi-Fi in a car, it seems pretty useless to me if there are no passengers. I highly doubt anyone would ever use Wi-Fi in a Corvette or a Camaro so why bother to offer that at all?
One practical way a driver could utilize WiFi is by streaming internet radio music from their smart phone via an aux jack (I do this all the time) or infotainment system like MyLink. This would allow streaming over the internet instead of their data plan.
Every Cadillac should offer the option of ventilated seats (I’m looking at you, ATS). For those in warmer climates, it’s as much a necessity as heated seats are for those in cooler climates.
Every Buick at least should have a heated steering wheel. I’m still scratching my head that the Enclave has ventilated seats and heated seats, but no heated steering wheel, but the Encore will have a heated steering wheel, at 1/2 the price.
Mike….ATS has a very long list of missing standards for sure….vinyl seats would be very hot in summer!!!!!!!!!!! It also has manual steering wheel adjuster like the Buick….no auto-dimming mirror, and on and on….I wonder if the launch year will make or break the perception of this car…I am thinking of one but maybe next year would be better?
It’s clear they were trying to keep the base price down on the ATS to beat the 3 series, which I’m fine with (reminds me of the Verano stripper). But a lot of this stuff needs to be part of option packages. I was shocked that ventilated seats were not an option. Granted, it’s not in the 3 series, either, but I wouldn’t consider a car I could spec out at $50K without ventilated seats living in Arizona.
Verano has a long list of standards that should be in EVERY Cadillac free of charge…just sayin’
ATS base could include everything that is in Verano and still make plenty of $$$$….it is after all $10k more for what????? No backup…that comes in a Honda!!
I can agree with that. Mystifying, really. I had read at one time that GM wanted to be more like Honda, option-wise, where you have a few levels of what’s included and what’s not. For a while, it seems that they were headed in that direction. I do appreciate that the higher end versions of vehicles (premium/platinum in Cadillac, LTZ in Chevy) usually have everything standard, except for a sunroof, navigation, and/or special wheels. That makes sense to me. The ATS stripper I don’t get.
Mike….I am very surprised…yes, as I once said, Cadillac is more like Honda; sad! Traditionally, Cadillac is first with all the newest and best…I am seriously thinking of Verano Convenience over ATS…at least it has much more…ride and quiet is the same if not better, etc, etc, etc……
Mike, I asked Cadillac service about adding fogs and they acted like I was from another world….had no info or pricing on that; same with adding backup (altho’ salesman checked and said 600–800 dollars!!!!) at their price. No remote start, but salesman said the dealer does give that free to clients who purchase a car…I should hope so, as I would NOT buy without that one. Hate to say, but Buick is looking very appealing each day I think about all this “stripper” ATS…hhaaa!
I wish that ATS would have everything the Verano has and I’d quit thinking about one and just get it………..I am waiting til Summer to see how the sales go for it…it is a wonderful car but just too lacking at this point….maybe next year the car will be what it should be….or a huge sale and I’ll add a few things to it……a waiting game for now
Am I the only one who thinks that we’re over-teching cars? I work in the technology industry. I do want some tech in my cars. I think the Buick and Chevy systems are perfect. Cadillac’s CUE I’m not enthused about. I won’t even look at Ford due to their system.
Mike…some truth to all this tech business….I drove ATS and it was confusing to me even in the base with no CUE….hard to drive and watch the dash…also the shiny black finish could be a real problem in bright sun? Just not sure about it all yet either 🙂
We’ve got a Cadillac SRX with CUE in the garage this week. Agreeably it’s a lot to digest, but pretty cool once you get the hang of it.
As for the tech, it depends on the customer mostly, don’t you think? But I would personally love an all-analog interior.
Manoli…yes, Cadillac is very “fancy” and I like it….the ATS has the analog dash and the digital display also…..I admit the infotainment/ac controls look very sharp.
Wi-fi? Um… No. If anything, that should be an option, but not standard.
I prefer a key over push-button start. There’s just something about the feeling of turning the key and hearing the engine roaring to life. Push-button start just seems anti-climatic to me.
I’d like to see key/push button choice…have them both!
The only cars I’ve seen with both a key and push-button start are Volkswagen and Bentley vehicles, both of which are owned by Volkswagen Auto Group…
My parents’ 2010 LaCrosse has push-button start as well as a key backup. They key is in the fob.
Overlord….it did seem very odd not having a key…………I was afraid I’d lose the little remote the salesman gave me! Having it in your pocket is all that is needed. Just another tech feature most of us are not used to?
Maybe it’s just me being stuck in my ways, but it just feels more secure to use a key. The push-button start seems like it might be more trouble-prone. But, that’s probably just a perception and not actually the case.
I had a 1949 gm auto that had both a key and a push-button start.
What I like about push button is that I can leave my fob in the pocket, open/unlock the door via proximity sensor, and start the car.
I think the Ford Escape allows the trunk to be opened closed with proximity combined with moving your foot under the back bumper, and that’s just genius.
Another genius thing that GM needs to do — when you add air into a tired on some Nissans, the car honks when you’ve hit the right pressure. Brilliant! You don’t need an air gauge!
I saw that. The 2013 Pathfinder and Altima both employ this feature.
Have to admit, Gm needs to kick it up on a lot of the standards in their cars…maybe be financial woes messed up the plans,,,nevertheless, I think in a year or two things will look much better…..I may have to wait a year or so to get that ATS….IF more things are improved for the same price 🙂
ALL I can hope for is that GM is listening to what we all have to say on this site…..our questions/views are very legitimate and should concern the General…..If we all did not want GM, we would buy a tricked-out Honda or whatever after all.
If the folks at GM are listening, I think they should replace that “bong” chime they’ve been using for however long. It’s very annoying and frequent…
GM cars already come really well equipped. Other car companies throw out things like power windows and A/C but it’s pretty much standard on every GM car. I will say not all Chevys should have push start. The LS stripped models shouldn’t to keep costs low. Every Cadillac should come with HID headlamps, Bose stereo, power passenger and driver seats, push to start and Electric telescoping steering wheel. GM has been doing pretty good in this regard recently
Matt, Cadillac is very lacking in standards…at least in ATS..even CTS. For $35–40k, I should think the Standard of the World could have what Buick has, don’t you?
So if you want all these features standard in the ATS, then I guess you don’t want them to put money into developing the suspension to have the best ride and handling in the segment. Oh wait, you want that? Ok, then they can add all the standard features to the base car with the good handling. That will be $10,000 more please. What’s that? You don’t want to pay more? Sorry, can’t be done. Be happy that Cadillac put their money where a good car really counts. They were catering to the enthusiast, which is a good thing.
Matt…yes, GM spent a lot on this car; I still think the standards could be vastly improved…it is a Cadillac. That means luxury, high-end features, and . Fogs, folding seats (due to small trunk), and remote start are all standard in cars far less expensive and do not cost that much money….the base model does not even have a CD player; we will see how the public thinks about it and then we will see, I guess. I still like the car a lot
Here’s something: there is no reason to illuminate the reverse lights when the car is unlocked via the key fob. GM should remove this feature.
Kyree…yes odd, isn’t it? How about adding some door courtesy lights instead or standard rear-view mirror puddle lamps (of course, you can get them for $5000 more on the upscale models!)
I own a 2011 Camaro and would LOVE wifi in the car. you use it when parked or when a passenger needs to use it……
I hate push button start.. what is wrong with just using a key? It’s a terrible feature that a lot of people I know do not like or want. It’s the most useless bit of technology to be put in cars since the power trunk closers that luxury cars used in the late 80s and early 90s.
Manoli; The whole AC thing cracked me up, could hardly contain myself, I inhailed my drink I was laughing so hard… So true on the 06 Malibu we have the Vents are so poorly designed the air never makes it to the back, long summer trips are misserable for my Kids in the back… And I have frost bite and need medical attention by the time I get to the destination…
All i care about is a button that says “traction controll off”
And GM cars allow you to not only turn traction control off, but also the stability control. Hold the traction control button down for about 7 seconds.
Capless gas entry is a terrible idea!!!!!! I already had a ford with that. the gaz always leaks on the car and ruins it all BAD Idea!!!
I think it’s a wonderful idea. It eliminates one of those pointless things in life (removing a gas cap).
Also, I’ve never had any gas “leak” with a capless system… which Ford did you experience this in?
Five features all my GM vehicles should have:
1. Diesel engine option
2. 4 wheel disc brakes
3. Green as a colour option (preferably dark, bottle, British Racing, or forest)
4. Rear backup camera
5. Gauges that sweep their needles as part of the diagnostic process
I’ll agree with you on point #5. The gauge-sweep looks classy.
I want needle sweeping!
Doesn’t Buick Verano have the sweep? I believe it does 🙂
I really hope they DON’T add WiFi to cars. Most people can’t seem to keep their cell phones down, imagine some idiot using a laptop while driving. I’m tired of hearing about distracted drivers and how many accidents they cause.
I think all Cadillacs should have the same digital speedometer setup like the ones in XTS do, come on it’s a luxury brand you have to have more technology than the CUE. The ones that are found in the ATS is just seemed so cheap!! And for the Rear HVAC those have to add on to not just the Deltas, Gammas, but needs to add on to Thetas, Epsilons too along with butt heaters on the back seat!! Sonatas/Optimas plus the Elantras have those so why not have that optioned??? As for the Volt, why can’t GM offer power seats??? You’re paying north of 40k and that stuff is not offered on the car?? Come on! even a Cruze and Prius have it. And also since Cadillac have the detection system where if it almost hit the car it’s gonna stop the car itself, shouldn’t it begin to offer it on Buicks, GMCs, and high end Chevys??
Yes, GM offers some very odd standard and optional equipment…every line is different yet so similar. Buick has really upped the game with their cars; seems that the base models have some of the nicest things! I hope in a year or so it gets sorted out so we don’t have to complain about.
Push button start? LAME! It’s a gimmick people. Besides I really like to have somewhere to put my keys (in the ignition) so they don’t get lost elsewhere in the car. Plus, I really hate it when I drive my wife’s Cadillac and I drop her off somewhere and she takes her purse with her. I go do my thing and shut the car off, and cuss up a storm, as I am stuck now. No fob, it was in her purse. I think the push button start is for the birds. I’m looking into having it removed and a regular keyed ignition installed.
My Buick Regal has a resistor inside the ignition key, so if I had push button starting, I still need the ignition key inserted. And, what if the fob battery was weak? Do you have a backup? The Volt has a mechanical key inside the fob and can start the car by inserting the key in a specific place (read the Volt Owner Guide to find where).
BTW, Advanced Auto Parts sells mechanical push buttons, so if you want to start your engine with a pushbutton, just get one and wire it in parallel with the ignition contacts. One of these buttons is big enough (3″ diameter) for starting with your foot!
Gm is so far behind in the tech field the new accord has camaras for their blind spot turning we didn’t even have nav available across the line up until this year! How about at least offering his/led across the board. This has been my frustration with gm for years. The worst is when they come out with an improvement mid model year and all the saps who bought a vehicle at the beginning of the year can’t even get it ie: my link equinox 2012
Jon….Yes, Honda and who else knows what other brands have the back-up camera, folding seats, fogs, etc, etc, etc. free of charge. Sad really that Cadillac is at the bottom of the list in a lot of this technology; just do not get it….STANDARD OF THE WORLD?
that blind spot camera system came across the world before the Accord has it…..
http://www.luxgen-motor.com.tw/mpv.html
Vic…ATS will have it for about $5k extra….Verano has it on the Convenience group…I imagine Chevy has it too…..GM has great technology….but it can be very expensive depending on the model is at all….
what thing are you talking about??
Vic…blind spot mirror