If you’ve been driving – or even shopping for – a new car in recent years, you’ve likely noticed the increasingly dominant role technology plays in today’s automobiles. Whether it's larger display screens, smarter cruise control systems or 360-degree cameras, today’s new cars are much closer to “The Jetsons” than “The Flintstones” – though we’re still anxiously awaiting the flight option.

Flying cars aside, there’s plenty of advanced automotive technology coming for 2021, with most of it already available in the cars at your local dealer. To help you identify the coolest car technology for 2021 we’ve assembled a top 10 list of tech features you should be thinking about when shopping for your next new vehicle.

1. 2021 BMW X5

l. Big, Beautiful, Informative Head-up Displays — Like many of the technologies on this list, head-up displays are not new. In fact, they first appeared in an automobile in 1988, on a limited-production Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. But that display, and the many that followed over the next 20 years had as much visual allure as the original Pong arcade game. In recent years the technology matured, offering multiple colors and multiple dimensions of valuable information while looking exactly where a driver should look – at the road ahead. With a head-up display available on close to half of all new cars, include affordable models like the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Camry, there’s no reason to forego this tech. It can take some getting used to, but a head-up display is ultimately a highly functional, safety-enhancing technology.

4. Remote Control Parking – This tech takes driver assist to a new level. The ability for a car to “park itself”, with minimal driver input, first showed up about 5 years ago on luxury cars like the Volvo XC90 and Tesla Model S. Then it transitioned to more mainstream models like the Ford Escape. In the last few years, however, the ability put a car into, or pull it out of, of a parking slot – all while standing outside the car – debuted on mainstream models like the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Sorento. It might sound gimmicky at first, but as an alternative to the exit/entry limbo we’ve all had to perform in tight parking spaces? Well, this tech may not be a lifesaver, but it’s definitely a dignity (and door ding) saver.

7. Wireless Phone Charging and Connections – Wires are so 2014. In 2021 all the cool kids, or at least all the cool cars, are like Pinocchio after The Blue Fairy visits – no strings attached. This includes both charging and connecting to the infotainment system (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto). Just set your phone in the right spot and its instantly integrated into the car’s charging, audio and communication platform. Wireless charging and connecting was pretty rare just a few years ago. Now it’s offered in multiple premium and mainstream models, including the Dodge Durango, Ford F-150, Honda Accord, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Sorento, and Nissan Rogue.

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