The cars coming out right now, on the bleeding edge, are full to the brim with tech, from integrated displays and Bluetooth to chargers and sophisticated audio systems, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to add.

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Whether you’re driving a motor fresh off the line, or have a much older vehicle that could do with some sprucing up, there is a huge range of gadgets out there that can help to make your car feel more modern. Or, to add some amazing features you might need and we’ve brought together some of the very best for you, right here. What is the best car gadget?

Our Top Pick: Best Car Gadget

For

  • All the convenience of Alexa in your car 8 microphone array Auxilliary and Bluetooth connectivity

Against

  • Vent mount only compatible with certain styles

It makes controlling the radio, setting reminders or timers and doing anything else you’d use Alexa for an absolute doddle, and is super useful on school runs or during commutes to make sure you can still be productive.

  • Versatile connectivity Includes a hands-free mic Easy mounting

  • DAB antenna install can be tricky

If you’re looking for a car gadget that’s all about the music, Pure has a great device to help in the form of the Highway 600. Its Bluetooth connection to your phone will let you access radio stations via DAB+, while this version also has the benefit of super-easy Spotify Connect integration, to make playing your tunes a matter of just a tap.

That’s really convenient, but if you’re happy to forego it, the more affordable Highway 400 offers most of the same benefits minus Spotify access.

  • Cheap way to upgrade your car stereo Bluetooth 5.0 support Built-in battery

  • Requires charging up

As we said at the start, though, we know many people are driving cars where a USB port or even a modern cigarette lighter might be wishful thinking - for many, tape decks are still the norm. That’s where a superb adapter like this one from Arsvita comes in - plug it into your deck and just like that you’ll have a Bluetooth device to connect to.

It’ll translate your tunes into a signal that the deck can read, and meld together old tech and new to let you pump out your tunes through a system built long before Bluetooth - that’s like magic, that is.

  • Small and lightweight Stylish and functional design Handy USB charging

  • It gets surprisingly loud while in use

There’s nothing worse than being stuck with a flat tyre, luckily Xiaomi’s Mi Air Pump makes it a breeze to get up and running again. With its small and lightweight form factor, it’s easy to find a spot to stow it in the glove compartment, boot or a backpack.

The included array of connectors ensures compatibility with most cars, bikes and even footballs for those summer road trips. It also features a built-in USB rechargeable battery that makes it super-convenient to keep topped up.

  • Lightweight and convenient Nice and affordable Great app

  • Some features require a subscription

Tile’s trackers are one of those little innovations that are so useful, in so many different walks of life, that we find ourselves putting them on a bunch of different lists, and no wonder. In this case, slap a Tile tracker on your car keys and you can basically forget about losing them - avoiding that terrible rush where you misplace the keys just as you need to get going.

A finding range of a good distance means that you’ll have plenty of range to play with, while the tracker’s also nice and small to make it totally convenient to have on your keyring. Best of all, it works backwards too, letting you use the tracker to make your phone ring if you’ve actually lost the phone not the keys.

How to choose a car gadget

If you’re on the hunt for some car gadgets, then there’s a good chance your car is lacking in the tech department. Luckily there’s an abundance of gizmos to solve every modern problem, but how will you narrow down the right option for you?

Here are a couple of things we recommend considering before you make your decision.

Car compatibility

Probably the most important of all is making sure that your new gadget is going to work with your car. This is mainly for the audio solutions, as some stereos will lack an aux input or Bluetooth connectivity.

Thankfully, manufacturers are well aware of this and offer a number of solutions for almost every eventuality, like cassette adapters or FM transmitters, but be sure to double-check before you buy.

Keeping it clean

With so many products on the market, it can be easy to get carried away with your car gadgets. If you have a diverse set of needs, we recommend looking for products that offer multiple solutions in one.

For example, some products offer a Bluetooth receiver, quick charge USB outlets and hands-free microphone all in one convenient package. You could, of course, buy each of these separately but you will end up with a mess of wires to manage. Keeping things simple allows for a cleaner aesthetic and less troubleshooting should something go wrong.