6 features that most cars have, but some Teslas don't

Steven JohnSep 3, 2019, 16:12 IST

Zhang Peng / Getty ImagesDespite their one-of-a-kind features, Tesla cars lack certain functions common in other luxury cars.Tesla Motors makes some of the most impressive vehicles on the road today, packed with features not found in other cars.Tesla's automobiles have unique functions like automatically opening and closing doors, adjustable trunk sizes, and a self-cooling "dog mode" when the cars are parked.However, despite all their features, there are still a number of things found in other cars that are conspicuously absent in Tesla vehicles.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.Back in 2008, when Tesla Motors released its first vehicle, the all-electric Roadster, the vehicle was celebrated for the speed and power created by its clean, battery-powered motor. Flash forward more than a decade, and Tesla has three vehicles for sale - the Model S, Model X, and Model 3 - with more in the works. Electric vehicles have also generally become more common. Today, Teslas are hardly unique for being electric cars. Rather, these vehicles stand out for all the special features available. From an autopilot function to a HEPA air filtration system to the Falcon Wing doors of the Model X and Ludicrous Mode acceleration option, Teslas have features that no other vehicles offer.On the other hand, there are a few features many cars have but that Teslas are missing.Here are seven of the most notable features that many other cars have, but Teslas surprisingly do not.Get the latest Tesla stock price here.

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Head-up displays

Head-up displays, usually called HUDs, beam critical information onto the windshield so a driver can monitor speed, directions, and other details without moving their eyes off the road.

Many higher-end vehicles today have a HUD standard, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been consistently opposed to them, finding HUDs "annoying" and saying that as Tesla cars move toward autonomous driving, they aren't going to be needed anyway.

Heated steering wheels

"There is no heated steering wheel available on the Model 3, but it's standard on the Model S and Model X. A heated steering wheel might seem frivolous to those living in warm climates, but its absence in cars costing anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 (or more) is a regular source of frustration for customers who deal with cold winters."

Cooled seats

Tesla vehicles allow you to cool down the seats (or warm them up) remotely via app, but if you forget to do so, chances are you'll be sitting on an uncomfortably hot seat when you're driving in the summer. And while cooled seats have been common in many cars for many years, they are nowhere to be seen in Teslas.

360-degree bird's-eye view for parking

Even a number of moderately priced vehicles now feature an array of downward-facing cameras and sensors that, when in reverse, create a digital 360-degree bird's-eye view of the vehicle and its immediate surroundings. This makes parallel parking much easier.

That said, many Teslas can parallel park themselves automatically.

Self-closing trunks

"Those little orange lights that light up on side-view mirrors when a vehicle is in the blind spot are almost ubiquitous these days. But Tesla's system is a bit different. Tesla's blind-spot monitoring feature uses cameras, in addition to ultrasonic sensors, and will show vehicles in an owner's blind spot on the touchscreen. Tesla cars do have other blind-spot features, including an option to activate an audible chime that sounds when someone is in your blind spot, but not the lights that give quick reference as you check your mirrors."

Blind-spot assist lights on side-view mirrors

Those little orange lights that light up on side-view mirrors when a vehicle is in the blind spot are so ubiquitous these days that their absence in Teslas vehicles is not only a surprise, it's almost unsafe.

Tesla cars do have other blind-spot features, including an option to activate an audible chime that sounds when someone is in your blind spot, but not the lights that give quick reference as you check your mirrors.

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