Top tech upgrades for your car

Your car may not have all the latest tech, but there are a few gadgets you can still install that won’t cost you thousands.

Vehicle technology has undergone a revolution in the past decade.

Tablet-sized touchscreens can mirror your smartphone, while driver assistance tech can monitor your blind spot and steer you back into your lane if you wander.

If your car is more than five years old, chances are it’s light years off the pace in terms of technology.

But there’s no need to despair. Aftermarket outlets such as Autobarn, Repco and JB Hi Fi can bring your old banger up to speed for as little as a couple of hundred dollars. Better still, they can make your P-plater’s car safer.

BLUETOOTH

If your car was made before USB ports became commonplace, you can upgrade for as little as $60 with an FM transmitter. You simply plug your phone into the transmitter, plug the transmitter into your car’s auxiliary outlet, tune it to an FM station and select a playlist or podcast on your phone. Most devices will also have a USB plug so you can charge your phone while listening. For about $120 to $150 you can pick up a Bluetooth speaker. Most can connect to two devices at once, stream multimedia – including GPS directions – and allow you to make and take calls using your voice.

You can pick up a Bluetooth speaker for about $120 to $150.

PHONE HOLDERS

With tough fines and huge demerits in place for using an unsecured phone, a cradle is a wise investment, but not all are created equal. You can get a clip-on holder for less than $20, while more sophisticated units use magnets for a cleaner look. At the top of the range they come with a wireless charging plate for QI-compatible phones. They’ll set you back more than $100 but are a sensible option if you are continually losing your USB cords. If you’re looking to entertain the little ones on long trips, buy a clip-on iPad holder that fastens on to your front seat.

A phone holder is a wise investment.

HEAD UNITS

If you want to go the whole hog with an infotainment upgrade, then a new head unit is another option. You can get a basic good quality unit with Bluetooth and USB capability for between $100 and $150, or a touch screen that allows you to run Apple CarPlay or Android Auto from $500 to $1700. It’s not as simple as that, though. Unless you’re a tech head, you’re going to need to get it installed – prices start at $100 for the simpler units – and you also need to be careful to check it’s compatible with your car. If your current car has steering wheel-mounted controls for the stereo volume and changing channels, then you’ll also need a kit to allow the buttons to communicate with the new head unit.

The Kenwood head unit.

GPS UNITS

There was a time not that long ago when car companies would charge thousands of dollars for satellite navigation. That cash cow has all but disappeared these days with the advent of CarPlay/Google Maps and portable GPS units. You can get a basic GPS unit for less than $100 these days, while more expensive units add features such as speed limit/camera warnings, live traffic updates and 3D displays of intersections. Pay about $350 and you can get an in-built dash cam, voice activated navigation commands and collision warning technology.

The Navman MY75T portable sat nav.

DASH CAMS

Dash cams have evolved rapidly in recent years and they now do much more than simply record crashes. Aside from noting the direction and severity of an impact, the top-end models can now pinpoint the site of an accident to within a couple of square metres and call emergency services. Prices range from as little as $500 to close to $1000. The top-end units incorporate a variety of the latest driver assistance features only available on luxury cars until recently. Common inclusions include a reversing camera, lane departure warning, forward collision alert and a digital speedo. Some will also download crash footage directly to your smartphone, making it easier to pass on details to your insurance company. Richard Browning, director of dashcam manufacturer Nextbase, says roughly 15 per cent of people who buy a dashcam do so to update their current car’s technology.

The Uniden dash cam.

REVERSING CAMERAS

The basic reversing camera kits, available for less than $100, display a small screen in your rear view mirror. More sophisticated units include dash cams and some project a video feed of your rear view instead of the conventional mirror. This is handy if you’ve packed the rear load area of the SUV or hatchback to the roof, as it allows you to virtually “see through” the luggage.

Reversing cameras can save lives.

HEAD UP DISPLAY

Another piece of technology that was once the domain of luxury cars and fighter jets, the head-up display projects information on to windscreen, allowing you to keep an eye on your speed, the prevailing speed limit and navigation directions while keeping your eyes up and on the road ahead. You can buy a basic one for less than $100.

WHAT’S IN THE FUTURE

If you have the money to splash out on a new car, your technology options go to another level entirely.

Autonomous cars may still be more than a decade away, but every year driver aids and safety nets become more sophisticated. Modern cars can steer you back into your lane if you drift, slam on the brakes if you’re going to hit the car in front and warn you if you’re getting tired. Here are some of the features that will become commonplace on new cars this year.

Stop and go

Radars and cameras monitor the car in front and keep a safe distance at highway speeds. In town they can come to a complete stop and take off again without you needing to hit the accelerator.

Blind spot cameras

The new Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe display a camera feed of your blind spot on a screen in front of you when you indicate.

Wireless smartphone mirroring

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have been a huge hit with car buyers, but most cars still require a physical USB cord to hook up your smartphone to your central screen. Wireless mirroring is available is some vehicles already, although it can still be glitchy. Wireless phone charging is also becoming more popular.

Voice activation

Mercedes has taken this tech to the next level by introducing its own version of Siri and Alexa. Simply say “Hey Mercedes, navigate to …” and it will load the destination you ask for. Be warned, though, some makers are way off the pace with this tech and can’t understand simple commands. When voice activation works it’s brilliant, when it doesn’t it’s incredibly frustrating.

Originally published as Top tech upgrades for your car