When you're paying thousands of dollars for a new car, the last thing you would want is to pay more money to access the car's features.
However, car subscription services are becoming the new normal, with some car makers locking certain functions behind a pay wall, forcing some drivers to cough up extra fees just to use a range of specific functions.
But it's worth noting that digital subscription isn't anything new, with various streaming giants like Netflix and Spotify spearheading the success of the payment plan. With this in mind, what are some car features that you have to pay for in Australia? Drive finds out.
Volkswagen recently announced it will restrict the ID.3 electric hatch’s full power output behind a subscription in the UK.
According to a report by UK-based news outlet Auto Express, the ID.3 Pro and Pro S are advertised with a 201 brake horsepower (149kW) power output.
However, owners will have to pay an additional subscription fee if they want to utilise the electric car’s full 228bhp (170kW) potential.
The optional power subscription starts from £16.50 ($AUD34.56) after a one-month free trial, with a yearly fee costing owners £165 ($AUD345.50).
Alternatively, a lifetime subscription is available for £649 ($AUD1358), though the car maker said the service is attached to the car rather than the owner, meaning its power output will be unlocked after the lifetime fee has been paid, regardless of who owns the vehicle.
Pictured above: Volkswagen ID.3
In response, Volkswagen UK told Auto Express, “offering more power to customers is nothing new – historically many petrol and diesel vehicles have been offered with engines of the same size, but with the possibility of choosing one with more potency.
“These traditionally are higher up in the product range, with more specifications and a higher price point.
“If customers wish to have an even sportier driving experience, they now have the option to do so, within the life of the vehicle, rather than committing from the outset with a higher initial purchase price,” it added.
A Volkswagen spokesperson confirmed it does not plan to introduce the optional power upgrade subscription for its newly launched ID.4 and ID.5 electric SUVs.
It’s worth noting that Volkswagen isn’t the only brand to lock its cars' full power output behind a subscription service, with the likes of Polestar featuring a similar performance package in the Polestar 2 in Australia.
According to the Swedish car maker, its optional performance software upgrade feature increases the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor’s power output to 350kW/740Nm, up from its initial 310kW/740Nm.
While keyless cars have become the new normal, proximity keys – where the car unlocks if it detects the key’s signal within a set distance – have been scrutinised by experts and the public due to thieves bypassing the security system.
Depending on the car maker, some brands like Mazda offer added security measures as part of their connected services subscription. The Japanese marque offers a stolen vehicle assistance feature on its My Mazda app.
If your Mazda car gets stolen, the feature enables the car to be tracked in real-time, with the brand sending the details to local authorities.
Additionally, Mazda’s connected feature subscription also includes a vehicle locator and geofencing, where the owner can set a predetermined area and get notified if the vehicle enters or exits the location.
Meanwhile, Tesla's $9.99 Premium connectivity package features a suite of safety features like its iconic 'Sentry Mode' live camera feed, which records the car's surroundings in the event something happens.
Additionally, the US electric pioneer's subscription also features a 'dog mode' function that allows owners to view the in-cabin directly through a camera, while a dashcam view – accessible through the Tesla mobile phone app – is also available.
While most cars are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, meaning drivers can use various free navigation platforms like Google/Apple maps and Waze, some car makers like Audi offer a navigation system as part of its Audi Connect Plus.
The connected service subscription is only available in various Audi models in Australia, with the car maker's 'myRoute' function offering drivers online map and traffic updates, as well as parking information.
Interestingly, Audi's Connect Plus subscription also provides owners with real-time weather alerts and local fuel pricing.
Unexpected road hazard alerts
When you're driving on Australian roads, coming across an unexpected road hazard like a car crash or a stretch of icy road can be daunting.
But for Mercedes-Benz, its navigation package subscription service features 'Car-to-X communication', which allows vehicles with this function to communicate between each other and drivers.
The feature allows drivers to report real-time hazards, which will then be relayed to other vehicles and motorists who have subscribed to the service.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the Car-to-X communication function warns other drivers by “a marking on the navigation map and, where appropriate, by a spoken announcement”.
Remote lock and start/stop
Though it's not an essential part of daily driving, numerous car brands like Toyota offer the convenience of remote functionality on a range of car features.
According to the Japanese car giant's Australian website, its Toyota Connect+ subscription – which starts from $9.95 per month after a one-year complimentary period – offers owners the chance to remotely start their vehicle, as well as the car's climate controls.
Depending on the model, Toyota's subscription service enables drivers to remotely turn the engine on, while also locking/unlocking the car's doors and boot.
If that isn't enough, the marque's Connect+ service also offers the chance to remotely use the horn, buzzer, hazards and headlights.
We'd like to hear from you. Do you think car subscriptions are getting out of hand? Vote down below and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
