AutoPacific study ranks seating, safety and driver-assist features atop shopper wish lists

AutoPacific’s 2026 Future Vehicle Planner found seating, safety and driver-assistance features lead the list of wants among new-vehicle shoppers, based on surveys of more than 19,000 licensed drivers planning to buy within three years. The results point to rising demand for advanced safety tech, stronger interest in autonomous-driving features and clear differences by shopper segment.

Why it matters: - AutoPacific’s findings show what new-vehicle shoppers are most likely to pay for, which can shape standard equipment, option packages and trim strategy. - The study also signals where consumer demand is moving next, especially in safety, comfort and automated driving features. - The survey covers more than 160 features, giving automakers a broad read on shifting preferences.

What happened: - AutoPacific released its 2026 Future Vehicle Planner, now in its fifth year. - The study surveyed more than 19,000 licensed drivers who plan to acquire a new vehicle within the next three years. - Seating, safety and driver assistance features topped the list of most-wanted features. - Six of the top 15 features repeated their top-rank status from 2025. - Nine of the top 15 features were either new to the list or returned after appearing in a prior year. - Auto Park was the only all-new feature to break into the top 15. - Auto Park was defined for respondents as a feature that lets the vehicle park itself in a spot identified by the driver while the driver is inside the vehicle or standing nearby.

The details: - AutoPacific surveyed more than 160 features and also collected vehicle considerations, purchase intentions, views on Chinese-brand vehicles, autonomous driving technology and EVs. - The 2026 study added 25 new features and restructured some questions to capture more detailed consumer preferences. - Top must-have features came from safety, convenience and seating/comfort categories. - All-Wheel Drive and Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto led the must-have list. - AutoPacific began measuring the importance of having a feature in 2025, in addition to measuring demand for the feature. - The expanded approach is meant to help clients decide on standard features, optional packages and model and trim enhancements. - Segment-specific questions covered EV and PHEV intenders, pickup intenders and shoppers who plan to tow. - Among EV and PHEV intenders, the top must-have feature was an extended-range battery pack. - DC ultra-fast charging ranked second for EV and PHEV intenders. - Demand is rising for Lane Change Assist, Unresponsive Driver Stop Assist, Safe Vehicle Exit Alert, Blind Spot Cameras and Adaptive Smart Headlights. - Other features showing notable increases include Remote Summon, Four Wheel Steering and Auto Seat Adjustment.

Between the lines: - More features are becoming mainstream as adoption rises, which may be pushing shoppers from basic safety expectations toward more advanced driver-assistance systems. - The strength of seating and comfort features suggests buyers still value everyday usability alongside technology. - Gen Y new-vehicle intenders, ages 32-49, are 6 percentage points more likely than the total sample to trust automatic safety systems and to feel comfortable with features that help the vehicle handle tasks like lane keeping and parallel parking. - Interest in autonomous driving technology appears strongest among people who already have it in their vehicle. - Demand rises further among shoppers who have personally used autonomous driving features. - Satisfaction among users is high, with 91% satisfied with ease of use, 89% satisfied with reliability and 87% satisfied with value for money. - Some features once tracked by AutoPacific, such as backup cameras and emergency braking systems, are now standard or legally required in every new vehicle.

What's next: - AutoPacific is likely to keep evolving the Future Vehicle Planner as automakers need more precise data on feature priorities. - Continued growth in advanced safety and automated-driving adoption could reshape future must-have lists. - Consumer response in EV and PHEV segments will remain important as range and charging continue to drive purchase decisions. - The company says the study’s demographic and psychographic detail is intended to uncover who wants each feature and why.

The bottom line: - New-car shoppers want practical tech first: comfort, safety and driver assistance are outpacing flashier features, and usage experience appears to be making autonomous driving easier to sell.