Report: LED Fog Lights Are the Most-Wanted Feature in New Vehicles

Chris Teague
by Chris Teague

New cars come packed with all sorts of advanced tech and safety features, but buyers have gravitated toward certain amenities over others. AutoPacific recently released its 2023 Future Attribute Demand Study (FADS), which rates the 10 most-wanted vehicle features, according to buyers.


This year’s FADS asked buyers to rate their interest in 145 vehicle features and express their intentions around powertrains, brands, pricing, and segments. The firm surveyed more than 11,700 consumers who said they plan to buy a new car within three years. AutoPacific then shared that data with automakers and noted that its study serves as a testing ground for companies to gauge interest in a feature or product before investing time and money in bringing it to market.


The most desirable feature in 2023 is LED fog lights, surprisingly. Almost half – 48 percent – of respondents rated the feature as a must-have. The same number of people also said that wireless device charging was important. Unresponsive driver stop assist was a must-have for 43 percent, followed by folding exterior mirrors. Wireless charging for rear passengers was next.


AutoPacific’s 2023 FADS found the top ten most-wanted features to include:

· LED fog lights

· Wireless charging for front passengers

· Unresponsive driver assist

· Automatic power-folding exterior mirrors

· Wireless charging for rear passengers

· Heated and ventilated front seats

· Household power outlets

· Sunroof/moonroof

· Self-cleaning exterior cameras and safety sensors

· Drive profile settings


Interestingly, some of the features AutoPacific found as dealbreakers for buyers also ended up on the list of most frustrating options in J.D. Power’s 2023 Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2023 IQS found that new vehicle owners are increasingly frustrated with their wireless charging systems and more reported issues with advanced safety tech this year.


[Image: Lanski via Shutterstock]


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Chris Teague
Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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  • Bof65705611 Bof65705611 on Aug 30, 2023

    My 2018 M3 does not include any of the top 10 most desired features (with the possible exception of the driver profiles…useless on a car only I drive). This is one reason why I love this car so much…all the tech I will ever need and nothing that I don’t.

  • CRAIG D. SKOGERSON CRAIG D. SKOGERSON on Aug 31, 2023

    People need more attention to driving. You don't need fog lamps! You don't know how to use them if they are on all the time. Self-cancelling turn signals are for your benefit, so you don't have to watch them in front of you...but do you ever use them yourself? No, nobody does! But they are there for a reason...use them!

  • FreedMike Yeah, this trend needs to die a painful death.
  • THX1136 This reminds me of a 'fad' back when I was in high school that was equally silly. A few folks would put spacers in the rear springs to lift the back end of the vehicle to ridiculous heights. We would joke that they must think it makes the car go faster since it feels like you're driving downhill all the time. Dangerous for all the reasons Redapple2 mentions.
  • Arthur Dailey Just a couple of questions. Are you adding a stabilizer to your gas tank as the gas sits so long? Aren't tires usable for up to 10 years after manufacture, rather than 7? And should you wait so long between oil changes? Even with the low mileage can the oil degrade? Eagerly awaiting responses from one and all.
  • Redapple2 I m afraid I d hate the crazy color 2 yrs down the line of a 6 year ownership. So, after dark blues, and dark reds I m back to a wonderful deep, pearly, lustrous white. Looks good at night. In the day. Clean; and when dirty, hides it.
  • THX1136 Some folks down the street from me had a beautiful blue/green Jeep. I stay away from grey, brown, silver and black. Ironically I own a white vehicle at the moment due to not being able to afford the blue one I was considering and not wanting the aforementioned colors. A nice emerald green, most shades of blue (Santa Fe Blue is a favorite) and the 'hotter' colors like orange, purple and yellow appeal, but as KOKing mentioned it's got to look 'right' on the car in question.
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