Switch lights, tailgate steps, block heater cords -- these touches make a car special

Jil McIntosh

Carmakers often sing the praises of major engineering accomplishments in their new models. But more often, I'm wowed by brilliant little touches that make you wonder why no one thought of them before, and make you wish everyone had them.

Volkswagen's headlight switch: Whenever the headlights are off, the switch lights up. If you've ever fumbled to find a headlight switch in the dark, you'll appreciate how important that is.

Saturn Astra's block heater: Many vehicles come with an engine heater that you plug in overnight, so they're easier to start on icy winter mornings. And on most of them, you have to go under the hood to reach the cord, or drive around with the plug hanging out of the grille. Astra has a covered outlet on the outside front fascia: pop one end of an electrical cord (supplied) into that, the other into the wall outlet, and then remove it entirely when it's time to drive away. Nice and clean for next time.

Ford's capless fuel fill: There's a flapper valve on the inside of the filler, instead of a gas cap on the outside. You just push the gas nozzle in. Your hands stay clean, and you'll never see the "check engine light" that can come on if you don't tighten the cap securely.

Ford's tailgate step: This option on the F-series pickup includes a step that folds out of the tailgate, along with a handle to help pull yourself up to get into the box. If you've ever balanced on a bumper with work boots, you'll appreciate it.

Honda Ridgeline's two-way tailgate: It drops down like a conventional pickup truck tailgate, but can also be opened sideways, like a door, so you don't have to reach across the lowered gate to access the load.

Hill holder: Offered by numerous manufacturers, this holds the car steady for a couple of seconds when you're stopped on a hill, and you've got to take your foot off the brake to get to the throttle. It's just as handy on an automatic as on a stick-shift when the car behind you is right on your bumper.

But is everything brilliant? Not in my books, and here's one that should go the way of the dinosaur:

Rain-sensing wipers: In theory, they come on or adjust their speed to suit whatever precipitation is falling. In practice, they can't figure out light snow or drizzle, and that's on every one I've used, from Hyundai right up to Bentley. They either don't come on, or furiously swipe away on dry glass. Something this essential that only works "most of the time" isn't good enough: variable intermittent wipers that you turn on when you know it's raining are still the gold standard.

jil@ca.inter.net; wheels@thestar.ca

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