Five technologies that made driving easier, safer and more fun in the 2010s

The 2010s were a great decade for technological innovation, and that includes innovations that made driving safer, easier, more efficient and more fun. So before we jump into a whole new decade of groundbreaking technologies, we thought we’d take a look back at some of the automotive developments that really came into their own in the 2010s. While not all of these were invented in the 2010s, many of them gained widespread acceptance in the past decade, finding their way into even lower-priced vehicles. And when you’re ready to get behind the wheel of the vehicles of the future that you can drive right now, come see us at McLarty Daniel Nissan, or check our our great selection of quality Nissan vehicles online right now.

High-Definition Digital Gauge Clusters: While having a high-definition screen to display the functions of your vehicle would have seemed like the stuff of science fiction twenty years ago, today it’s actually uncommon to find a new vehicle without one. These days, high-definition automotive displays are quickly supplanting analogue gauges in many vehicles, giving drivers the ability to customize the information they receive from their vehicles and even customize the way the way the virtual gauges look, with some systems having the ability to switch between retro-look or futuristic digital gauges and more.

In-Dash High-Definition Touchscreens: Similar to the digital gauge clusters we talked about above, center-dash high-def touchscreens are becoming standard equipment in most new vehicles, giving drivers instant access to helpful functions like turn-by-turn navigation, smartphone integration and hands-free calling, backup cameras, hitch-view cameras that take the anxiety and guesswork out of hitching a trailer, 360-degree birds-eye views of the surrounding area and more. Some touchscreen systems can even make restaurant suggestions for you, or allow you to pay for fuel right from the screen.

Hands-Free Liftgates: While there was a time when opening the rear hatch of your SUV or van while you had your hands full meant precariously juggling your packages while digging in your pocket for your keys, many vehicles today offer the convenience of a hands-free liftgate. On SUVs and vans equipped with the feature, the vehicle automatically detects the keyfob in your pocket as you approach, then opens when you perform a specific gesture, such as waving your foot under a specific spot below the rear bumper. At that, the hatch magically pops and lifts without so much as an “open sesame” or “abracadabra.”

Hybrid and full-electric cars: Finding our way toward a more eco-friendly and sustainable future means that at some point, a large portion of society is going to have to make the change-over from gasoline and diesel vehicles to vehicles powered by sources that pollute less and conserve more. The world took a great leap toward that goal in the 2010s, with the widespread acceptance of hybrid and all-electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf. With the rollout of better battery technologies, more efficient electric motors, and the construction of widespread fast-charging networks, the 2020s should see another big leap forward for hybrid and electric vehicles.

Overall Fuel Efficiency: The 2010s started with a fuel crunch, which led many manufacturers to take on the engineering and technology hurdles associated with making cars, trucks, vans and SUVs go further on less fuel. From hybrid technologies to modern turbocharging that allows smaller engines to make big power from less fuel, the 2010s saw fuel efficiency skyrocket, even in traditionally fuel-hungry vehicles like full-size trucks and SUVs. Today, it’s rare to find a vehicle that doesn’t manage at least 20 miles per gallon fuel economy, a figure which was pretty much unheard of in larger vehicles only a decade ago.