5 gadgets I use to make my old car feel like a 2025 model

Have you ever gotten into your friend’s new car and thought to yourself, ‘Wow, it’s crazy what comes as standard these days?’ Well, you’re not alone. I distinctly remember getting into my friend’s new 3-series BMW back in 2022 and immediately thinking of ways I could spice up my old Volkswagen.

I myself used a few of these gadgets right up until I bought the car I have now, and despite using other gizmos to make it a bit more user-friendly, I haven’t exactly needed as many of these. However, as the years have passed, new iterations and models have emerged that take old cars to even greater heights in 2025. These five gadgets can make any older model feel like a brand-new release if done correctly.

1

Modular heads-up display

All the information you need right inside your field of vision

HUDWAY

Heads-up displays are quite common on newer vehicles, and they’ve been proven to be a feature that can make your driving experience safer and enjoyable. This isn’t a new technology, though, and in fact, it was an option all the way back on the 1999 Chevrolet Corvette, but it’s one that has come a long way in terms of providing drivers with great information without distracting them from the road.

I’d recommend HUDWAY’s Drive system before anything else, as it comes with a fully functioning app to edit your HUD widgets and an OBD2 plugin that can show you live diagnostics information regarding your car itself, so if you’re running a little hot or a check engine light displays, the HUD will let you know.

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2

A CarPlay and Android Auto-compatible infotainment system

It doesn’t have to be a movie screen, but CarPlay and Android Auto make any drive easier.

World Wide Stereo

People have been upgrading their stereos just about as soon as they became standard equipment, but they’ve never been as advanced as they are right now. Sure, you can just take a tablet into the cabin, but sometimes it’s a custom fit you’re looking for. Of course, a lot of what you can and can’t do with your stereo system revolves around what car you drive. Luckily, Crutchfield has an easy-to-use menu to determine the answer to that exact question.

Truth be told, you can spend as much as $1,500 and as little as a couple of hundred dollars on finding a new touchscreen stereo for your car, but in this competitive marketplace, more often than not, you get what you pay for. For instance, Kenwood’s latest system goes for upwards of the $1,500 mark, but it comes with the ability to integrate the company’s new HD cameras at all corners of the car and embedded Garmin navigation software.

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3

Rearview mirror backup camera

Your mirror is the easiest thing in your car to replace. Why not do it right?

Much like a new stereo system, the shape and size of a rearview mirror camera system can vary depending on factors such as the type, size, and shape of the dash and vehicle itself. There are numerous options to choose from here, again, but the same principle applies — you get what you pay for.

Crutchfield doesn’t make this as easy as it does buying stereos, but they do have a helpful guide on deciding which system is best for you, especially if it’s a rearview mirror replacement. Most manufacturers are already shifting to a screened overhead mirror to monitor things like back seat activity without a funky-shaped mirror system, and even that option can be checked off in the aftermarket space.

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4

Aftermarket blind spot monitors

You’ll never know how handy they are until you use them

Tadi Brothers

Another safety feature that you may not realize you need until you try it is a set of blind spot monitors. Gone are the days of slapping on extra convex mirrors and other funky add-ons. Now, with radar assistance, any driver can have this modern piece of tech by replacing a few interior pieces, depending on their model. Additionally, some companies will manufacture mirrors to OEM spec with radar detection built in, but those require sitting through a waiting list, sending a deposit, etc.

As someone who used to drive a vehicle from the early 2000s, I would slap these on in a heartbeat now that they’re standard on my new car. They make highway and interstate driving a breeze, even through dense Atlanta traffic. Just ask my fiancé, who peacefully slept away through that portion of our last trip.

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5

Remote Start System

Because nobody enjoys just jumping into a hot car.

Compustar YouTube

The final step in equipping any older car with modern tech in 2025 is adding a remote start feature, and no company makes this easier than Compustar. There are some challenges when it comes to getting your hands on one — you can’t have it delivered straight to your door — but if there’s a dealer near you, it can take away one of the worst parts of an old car; having to get inside a scorching cabin during these hot summer months.

There are other ways to make your car more modern, like newer headlights, taillights, or even performance-enhancing braking systems. However, these five features are the fastest way to take any old car into 2025 from a comfort and usability standpoint.

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