6 car essentials that make a big difference
Many of these features have gradually gone from being nice extras to things drivers genuinely find useful in everyday life
Innovation moves fast, and has been on such an upwards exponential tangent that, if you compare a car from this year with one that came out five years ago, it will take no time for you to find out how much technology and convenience features have changed.
At the same time, many of these features have gradually gone from being nice extras to things drivers genuinely find useful in everyday life. While with innovation, there are some set standards that have become essential to have in every car to make everyday driving feel less of a chore. For this issue of Wheels, we have listed five such essential accessories that car owners must have.
1. Fast charger
While most modern cars come with a wireless charger under the dash, having a proper fast charger in the car can still be incredibly useful, especially when multiple devices need charging or wireless charging simply isn't fast enough.
This is where a fast car charger comes in. There are plenty of great options with USB-A and USB-C outputs from UGREEN, Baseus and Havit, just to name a few easily available brands.
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More powerful models now offer 45W, 65W or even higher outputs, meaning they can charge compatible phones considerably faster and, in some cases, even power tablets and laptops. Just make sure your charging cable is also capable of handling the charger's advertised output.
Where to buy: Ryans Computers
Price range: Around Tk350 to Tk3,100
2. Apple CarPlay supported infotainment
Most reconditioned cars, even modern ones, come with proprietary Japanese-language based head units supporting nothing more than Bluetooth connectivity. Swapping it for an aftermarket head unit with CarPlay or Android Auto gives you easy access to maps, calls and music the way your phone already does, instead of guessing through hieroglyphs, unless you understand the language.
Nakamichi head units are some of the best if you are on a budget, but options are truly endless once you are in the hunt. Depending on how much you spend, aftermarket units can also bring wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, larger displays, 360° camera support and improved audio controls.
Before buying one, however, check the dashboard size and wiring requirements of your particular car.
Where to buy: Shops around Banglamotor
Price range: Around Tk8,000 to Tk35,000
3. Automated tyre inflator
Nobody checks tyre pressure until a warning light or the tyre is visibly slack, and by then you're standing at a gas station pump trying to remember the last time you actually got your tyres checked.
A portable inflator that plugs into the car's 12V socket, reads the pressure and shuts off automatically once it hits your target PSI takes that whole chore off your plate. Keep one in the trunk and you can catch a slow leak before it turns into a flat on the side of the road.
More convenient rechargeable models from brands such as Baseus and 70mai do away with the 12V cable altogether. While they are not a replacement for repairing a puncture, of course, they can be enough to get you somewhere safe if a tire is slowly losing air.
Where to buy: Daraz
Price range: Around Tk3,000 to Tk7,000
4. Dashcam
A dashcam earns its keep simply thinking about road safety and your own protection. Even a basic front-facing model with loop recording gives you something to point to when it matters, and dual-channel versions add a rear camera for parking lot dings and rear-end claims from the Bangla Teslas, i.e, electric rickshaws.
Most run off the same 12V socket, or a hardwire kit for a cleaner setup, and none of it needs to interfere with the car's own electronics. The better options now record in 2K or 4K, while features such as GPS, HDR, parking surveillance and improved night recording become available as you move up the range.
70mai is among the more readily available brand choices locally, with everything from relatively simple front cameras to dual-channel 4K setups.
Where to buy: 70mai Bangladesh
Price range: Around Tk5,000 to Tk16,000
5. Portable car jumper kit
Imagine this, it's 2am in winter and you are stuck in the middle of the road. Your battery died with no notice and you have nowhere to go. Car batteries can fail without much warning. A lithium jump starter fixes that without having to wait for another car and a pair of jumper cables.
Most are small enough to fit in a glove box or boot and can jump a dead battery several times on a single charge. Many double as a phone charger and come with a built-in flashlight, which turns out to matter the one time you actually need it at night.
When buying one, pay attention to its rated starting and peak current. Larger engines generally require more starting current, so the cheapest unit may not necessarily be suitable for every car. Something around the 1,000A mark is common among branded portable units intended for regular passenger cars, while more powerful options are available for larger engines.
Where to buy: Baseus Bangladesh
Price range: Around Tk6,000 to Tk15,000
6. Phone mount
Let's just say you don't have the budget for a complete head unit overhaul, or perhaps you simply prefer using your phone for navigation. It's a small thing, but a solid phone mount is what actually makes a navigation app usable while you're driving.
Magnetic mounts are the easiest to use one-handed, and they hold up well as long as the metal plate or magnet sits properly against the phone case. Vent clips are the least intrusive option if you'd rather not stick anything to the dash, though they don't grip quite as firmly over rough roads.
There are also suction-mounted holders for the windscreen or dashboard and MagSafe-style mounts for compatible phones. Which one works best depends largely on the dashboard.
For a little more money, wireless-charging mounts combine the holder and charger into one device, so dropping your phone into the mount is enough to start charging it.
Where to buy: Mobile-accessory retailers
Price range: Around Tk300 to Tk2,500
