Would You Pay $1,499 More For In-Car Tech Features?

Automotive Editor

Armaan Almeida was an Automotive Editor who produced buying guides and sneak previews, in addition to publishing daily news stories and tracking monthly deals, incentives and pricing trends from Toyota, Nissan and Lexus.

, Automotive Editor - January 6, 2015

A Harris Poll says most shoppers are willing to fork over the extra dough for more tech.

With the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) underway, our initial peek into the 2 million square foot bubble yields a lot of oohs and aahs, namely from the automotive side of all things digital. And 2015 will be the biggest year for in-car tech--ever. Predictive maintenance, autonomous driving and in-car shopping are all finally here, but how much are you willing to spend for all that tech?

How Much?

According to a Harris Poll, the magic number is $1,499. That might seem like a lot of scratch, but let's think about it for a minute. How often would you use this tech? The answer is, every single day. Besides, when you factor in the price of options like a moonroof, bigger wheels and heated seats, the price of upgraded tech is well-warranted. Trust us, you won't use those $1,000 seat warmers everyday. But instant access to all 50 gigs worth of music stored on your home computer? While keeping your eyes on the road? Yup.

Loads of Value

Ford Sync

At the intersection of price and performance, you'll find value. But sometimes, we want more than value. We want convenience, sometimes regardless of cost. Consumers want everything to be seamlessly integrated into their vehicle. A home away from home, if you will.

Convenience

Ford Sync Apps

Streaming music services like Pandora and Spotify will make those tough two-hour commutes a little more tolerable. And you won't have to fumble with your phone to play what you want to hear. Moreover, integrated navigation and high-resolution screens are safer to use than your smartphone and feel more solid. We know all the iOttie users are there digress, but try using one of the new integrated Navi systems like the one found on the new 2015 Cadillac ATS. It's that damn good.

Is the ATS out of your price range? Keep an eye out for all of Ford's 2015 offerings which feature their newly-revamped Sync 3.0.