Hands-Free Driving Now Top Priority for American Car Buyers, Study Finds

There’s a major shift happening in the automotive world, and it's not about horsepower or leather seats anymore. A recent study by AutoPacific reveals that hands-free highway driving has become the most desired feature among new car shoppers in the U.S. This change signals a dramatic evolution in what consumers want from their next vehicle — with many now prioritizing Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) over traditional luxury or convenience tech.

According to the survey, 43% of potential buyers now want a car with a hands-off, eyes-on driving system, such as GM’s Super Cruise or Ford’s BlueCruise. That number is nearly double last year’s figure, when the most requested feature was something as basic as wireless phone charging.

These hands-free systems don’t make the car fully autonomous but can control steering, speed, and lane changes on pre-mapped highways. As more vehicles with ADAS hit the roads, exposure is building trust. GM recently announced that over 500,000 of its vehicles now come equipped with Super Cruise, giving consumers more opportunities to experience this tech firsthand.

Interestingly, this growing interest is driven by a younger demographic — this year’s respondents had an average age of 39, indicating a shift toward more tech-savvy and automation-friendly buyers.

Meanwhile, 48% of those surveyed say they want fully autonomous driving capabilities, marking a 10% increase from last year. While that dream remains just out of reach, systems like Mercedes-Benz’s Drive Pilot are inching closer to it. Still, current limitations — like speed caps, weather conditions, and restricted geofencing — mean that truly self-driving cars are not yet a reality.

The road to full vehicle autonomy is still long, but consumer interest is accelerating faster than ever.