Mercedes Piles Tech Into Cars Nobody Actually Likes Using
KEY POINTS
- •JD Power surveyed 68,084 owners of 2026 model vehicles 90 days after purchase.
- •The survey covered 40 tech categories including comfort, driver assist, and electric vehicle features.
- •Consumers showed a clear preference for subtle features like smart ignition over flashy infotainment systems.
In 2026, automakers like Mercedes apparently think more screens and glitchy software equals progress, shoving a tech circus into their new models. But JD Power’s survey of 68,084 blissfully unlucky owners after just 90 days revealed people secretly adore the features they barely notice—like smart ignition—while sneering at giant, uncooperative touchscreens. This from a detailed poll spanning 40 vehicle tech categories: comfort, driver assist, EV tech, and the ever-mysterious ‘connected vehicles.’ Apparently, drivers prefer the background humming while battling the infotainment chaos. Because if tech fails quietly, maybe it’s earning a gold star instead of a Google rage review.
Share the Story
(1 of 3)Car companies cram your ride with flashy tech nobody asked for; surprise, folks like the simple stuff that just doesn’t break under pressure.
They say size matters, so automakers keep adding giant screens nobody can operate without accidentally setting off the fire alarm.
When your car’s software glitches more than your ex’s texts, it’s comforting to know you really just wanted a steering wheel.
Source: Theverge | Published: 8/31/2026 | Author: Andrew J. Hawkins
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