Let’s be honest: cars today are more advanced than ever, and, in many ways, better than ever, but that doesn’t always mean they’re perfect. Somewhere between the push for sleek tech, electric power, and futuristic convenience, a few “upgrades” have actually made driving more frustrating, less reliable, or downright confusing.
Sure, they look impressive on a spec sheet, and sometimes, certain tech can really make a car more fun to live with, but sometimes, you spend a few months with them, and you start to realize that some old-school tech worked just fine—maybe even better. From dazzling LEDs that can’t cut through real fog to “smart” suspensions that break more than suspend, these are seven modern car “upgrades” that somehow make things worse instead of better.
To provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, this article uses data sourced from various manufacturers and authoritative sources.
LED Fog Lights
Pretty, But Useless In Real Fog
There’s no denying that bright, bluish-white LED fog lights look expensive and modern. They’re crisp, clean, and match those slick DRLs that automakers love to show off in commercials. But when it comes to doing their actual job—helping you see through fog, snow, or heavy rain—they’re about as helpful as sunglasses at night. Not only do they do the job worse, but they also blind every other driver on the road. White/Blue headlights need to be abolished from the face of the earth. Cut it out, automakers. Stop.
Aside from enjoying having vision, the problem with the techy lights is simple physics. Blue and white light scatter more in fog and precipitation, bouncing back toward your eyes and reducing visibility for you and other drivers. The old-school yellow halogen bulbs, on the other hand, had longer wavelengths that could cut through the haze without blinding you with glare. This is why you always see rally cars with big racks of yellow lights at the helm.
So why do automakers keep using LEDs? Because they look modern, and marketing teams know “modern” sells. Meanwhile, drivers are left squinting through the murk, wondering why something as basic as fog lights got worse in 2025.
Giant Touchscreens
When Will It Stop?
Automakers love to brag about their “seamless infotainment experiences,” which is a fancy way of saying they replaced every button with a giant iPad glued to your dashboard. It looks great at first—minimal, futuristic, Tesla-inspired—but then you try to change the cabin temperature while driving 70 mph and realize this “upgrade” is a safety downgrade.
Touchscreens demand precision. You have to look down, aim your finger, and hope you don’t accidentally turn up the seat heaters instead of the fan speed. Physical buttons, by contrast, offered something touchscreens can’t—feedback. You could adjust volume or defrost by feel, without taking your eyes off the road. And unlike screens, analog buttons don’t move around. If you’ve ever owned an older car for a long time, your hand knows where the radio, A/C, and other controls are without ever taking your eyes off the road.
The worst part? Many drivers actually hate these all-screen interiors. A 2024 J.D. Power survey showed declining satisfaction with infotainment systems, but that hasn’t stopped automakers from doubling down on the “clean dash” look. Because who needs safety when you have aesthetics?
Lane-Keep Assist
Confused By Bad Roads And Snow
In theory, lane-keep assist is brilliant. The car uses cameras and sensors to detect lane markings and nudge you back into place if you drift. But in practice, it tends to resemble something closer to a backseat driver who panics too easily.
On well-marked highways in perfect weather, it’s fine. But throw in faded lines, construction zones, or snow-covered roads, and the system can get confused—or worse, overcorrect. Many drivers have reported their steering wheel jerking unexpectedly when the system misreads the lane.
Even more concerning, these systems often deactivate silently when they can’t detect the lines, leaving the driver to suddenly realize they’re on their own. It’s a safety feature that might fail precisely when you need it most.
Auto Start-Stop Systems
Saving Fuel Or Killing Starters?
Ah, the infamous start-stop feature—the one that kills your engine every time you hit a red light, supposedly to save fuel. It’s a smart way to improve efficiency, but is the juice worth the squeeze? In real-world driving, it’s often an exercise in irritation.
The engine shuts off, the cabin goes quiet, and for a moment, you feel environmentally responsible. Then the light turns green, and there’s a half-second lag before the car restarts. Multiply that by every stoplight in your commute, and it’s no wonder some drivers disable the system entirely.
Even worse, frequent restarting can put extra strain on your starter motor and battery over time. Automakers claim they’ve upgraded those components to handle it—but early wear and tear aren’t unheard of. While this feature can save a little fuel, it often feels like more hassle than help.
CVT
Smooth But Boring
Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVTs) were supposed to be a revolution—always keeping your engine in the ideal power band for smooth, efficient acceleration. And they are smooth… maybe too smooth.
The problem is that CVTs eliminate the traditional gear shifts that make driving engaging. Instead of the satisfying rise and fall of revs, you get a constant, droning hum—like a blender with no off button. Some even develop a “rubber-band” effect, where acceleration feels delayed and unnatural.
To be fair, CVTs work fine in city cars and hybrids. But for enthusiasts, they drain all the character out of a vehicle. Worse, early CVT designs for brands like Nissan were notorious for premature wear, prompting extended warranties and recalls. Modern ones are better—but they still leave drivers nostalgic for a proper gearbox.
Radar Cruise Control
Great—Until It Rains Or Snows
Adaptive, or radar-based, cruise control sounds like a dream: your car automatically adjusts its speed to maintain distance from the vehicle ahead. On dry, clean highways, it’s incredibly convenient. But the system’s Achilles’ heel is weather.
Heavy rain, mud splatter, or snow buildup can block the radar sensors, disabling the system mid-drive. Sometimes you’ll get a warning message; other times, it simply shuts off without notice. When it fails, you’re suddenly thrust back into manual control—often right when visibility and traction are at their worst.
And since many modern vehicles now bundle radar cruise with lane assist and other safety tech, losing one can mean losing them all. It’s an unsettling reminder that even the smartest systems can go dumb in real-world conditions.
“Smart” Suspension
Did Springs Stop Working?
Adaptive air suspensions and magnetorheological dampers sound like something out of Formula 1 or Hell, Battlestar Galactica—and in some cases, they work beautifully. But in most daily-driven vehicles, they’re overkill.
These “smart” suspensions adjust stiffness and ride height on the fly, promising comfort and handling in one neat package. The catch? They’re complicated, expensive, and not built for long-term durability.
A single air strut can cost thousands to replace, and failures are surprisingly common in extreme climates or off-road use. That’s why serious off-roaders and long-term owners still prefer good old-fashioned steel springs—simpler, cheaper, and far less likely to leave you stranded with a “suspension fault” warning. It’s a classic case of tech chasing perfection and landing somewhere closer to inconvenience.
TopSpeed’s Take
Automakers love to tout progress—bigger screens, smarter tech, more sensors—but sometimes, they fix what wasn’t broken. The truth is, driving hasn’t fundamentally changed. We still need good visibility, intuitive controls, and reliable mechanics.
Yet somewhere along the line, the industry started prioritizing comfort over function. The result? Cars that are objectively more advanced but subjectively less enjoyable. The tactile feel of a button, the warmth of halogen lights, the predictability of a mechanical gearbox—those weren’t flaws. They were features that made driving feel human.
So while the latest model might promise “innovation,” it’s worth asking: does it make the car better—or just newer? Sometimes, the best thing you can do for a car is knowing when to leave it alone.