Underrated Feature: Heated Side Mirrors
By Jakob Hansen, 6/14/2021
It’s one of those “don’t need it until you need it” type deals.
Have you ever been driving and know there is a car behind you, but just can’t quite find it? Frustrating, isn’t it? For those of you in the southern states, this really only affects you when you have a fellow motorist that like to hang out only in your blind spot, but for us cold-hardened Yankees, this is a daily occurrence in the winter. It’s officially driving half-blind with our windows covered in snow and ice season, and it’s time that a feature that has been saving our butts for years now gets some recognition. Heated Side Mirrors
Heated side mirrors have been a part of the automotive landscape for some time now. Ever since the early 80’s, the heated mirror has been slowly showing up in cars more and more as we move further into the 21st century.
This convenient feature is now available on nearly everything from Nissan to Mercedes and more, and it’s time the heated mirror gets the recognition it deserves.
Now, many of you may be thinking, what’s the big deal?! It’s just a heated mirror, it’s not like we solved the mystery of prime numbers. But trust me, if you have ever driven around with your mirrors covered in snow, hoping the wind will eventually blow them clean, this is something you need.
Photo: Ford
See the thing with heated mirrors is that they aren’t just some luxury like cooled-seats, Apple CarPlay, or a smartphone app for your car. It comes down to the fact that it’s not only convenient, but also a safety feature. Not being able to see out of your side view mirrors is a major safety concern. Blind spots are a major issue, and you subconsciously use your mirrors to keep track of your surroundings more than you may think. With your mirrors covered in snow, you may think it’s just an annoyance, but not knowing at all times the vehicles around you is a legitimate concern.
That’s why we are so focused on this great feature! Not only is it nice that you don’t have to brush off your mirrors in the first place, but built up snow and ice from driving also becomes a major safety concern. You may love all of your advanced safety features, and so do we, but sometimes it’s the simplest thing that can save a life.
Beyond the safety issues, heated side mirrors are, in reality, just really nice to have too! Even if you brush off the snow before you leave, the turbulent air behind your mirrors has a nasty little habit of blinding us. Simple pop that rear defroster button on, the mirrors heat up, and snow-no-more.
Anyways, you all know what side view mirror heaters are, and why they're good, I just felt that they deserved a little more attention than they have gotten lately.
Most manufactures have this handy feature available. Speak with your local dealer today and get this excellent feature on your next ride.
Contact Your Local Dealer Today
|
|
Jakob is our writer with a love for all things automotive. He comes from a dealer background with experience on both sides of the fence. Knowing the system inside and out, he knows the best cars and the best deals. No matter what. |
