Any new but low tech cars?

[NibbanaBanana]

I bought a 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage just for the low tech. Not so much user interface but powertrain. Very much like the 1.2L normally aspirated, multiport injected three banger. Easy user maintained cvt. Looks like I can handle everything without a super expensive scan tool and a lot of technical info.

Don't use the infotainment screen but it's not all that complicated. Don't like the power windows, climate control and FOB lock key.

Other than that I love the car. Very comfortable, I'm 6'2". Super great mpg.

Heard a lot of bad about the Nissan Versa and a lot of good about the Mirage. Neither are available with MT despite the website claims.

 

[Cujet]

A Nissan Altima is about as low tech as is possible today. With conventional speedo and HVAC controls, although it does have a touchscreen. Heck, even the VW Jetta now has a digital dash.

 

[VQLT]

How about a quality preowned vehicle from the 90s? Might have less tech than modern cars.

 

[JonesZ]

Bought a '25 Kicks for the teens. It has knobs for the volume and HVAC controls. Excellent!

 

[Patman]

Bought a '25 Kicks for the teens. It has knobs for the volume and HVAC controls. Excellent!

I love having a volume knob for the stereo! My Corvette has one but the Civic doesn’t

 

[jkhawaii]

The question was low tech. I can not think of any other vehicle that has a radio, that is just a dumb radio like the mirage. Most cars are fully data bussed where everything is a module and everything talks to each other. Even the window switches are just that.

 

[barryh]

Look for a car with the most physical buttons. After that the most you can hope for is that a new car will have a lot of tech that you don't use and don't need to use. Just a shame you have to pay for it. 6 months into my current car there is still lots of stuff I haven't used and wouldn't be able to use without reference to the manual. It annoys me that I have to use the touch screen to dim the instrument lighting at night or to lower the head light aim. The chances of me finding those options safely while driving at night are zero.

There is an irony in the way touch screens have been implemented. If there is something that you need to do frequently as at least once every time you use the car day or night, then you will learn and remember where they are in the touch screen menu. But those are the very actions that shouldn't have been on the touch screen in the first place because of their frequency of use.

There is no chance that I will remember where infrequent actions are located on the touch screen, at least while driving.

 

[goblin]

Nissan Sentra.

Tried a Civic Hatchback Hybrid as well, and was very impressed. Simple buttons, hybrid but with large enough displacement engine, feels very natural.

If you're looking for something with more pizzazz' - Mazda, hands down. Buttons, knobs, clean interface, no bs controls, and the cx-50 hybrid has a rav4 powertrain with Mazda interior, exterior and dynamics.

 

[duck__dodgers]

2025 CX5;
2025 Passport (has cyl. deactivation);
or last gen Sequoia (2022?? I think);
or last gen 4Runner (2024 i think);
or last gen Passport (2024 i think, but has cylinder deactivation)

 

[GR_CoB]

I’m not sure I would put the Kicks into the basic category. I’m driving a 2024 Kicks as a rental right now and it’s got a decent amount of tech in it. Apple CarPlay, backup camera, adaptive cruise control, automatic climate control, heated seats and steering wheel, push button start. The 2025 boasts having even more tech on Nissans website with crash avoidance technology and wireless connectivity. So it’s pretty far from basic.

The cheapest one is pretty basic, but as you move up the trim levels it does get all the bells and whistles.

 

[goblin]

The cheapest one is pretty basic, but as you move up the trim levels it does get all the bells and whistles.

From all the reviews it's main issue is that it's extremely noisy. Otherwise a solid offering.

 

[rondg]

suzuki jimny base model. twist key. not shown is the old school mechanical transfer lever. mechanical hvac vent controls. but you still get AA/carplay which is of course nice to have. but the screen is completely independent i.e. you don't need the screen to change any settings in the car. actually there are no settings to configure in this car LOL

engine is non-turbo, non DI, no vtec just variable valve timing

 

[goblin]

View attachment 299468

suzuki jimny base model. twist key. not shown is the old school mechanical transfer lever. mechanical hvac vent controls. but you still get AA/carplay which is of course nice to have. but the screen is completely independent i.e. you don't need the screen to change any settings in the car. actually there are no settings to configure in this car LOL

engine is non-turbo, non DI, no vtec just variable valve timing

Yeah, thanks for rubbing it down our faces
You have Toyota Technicals there too, don't you ?

Here in the US we lost Suzuki cars in like 2010. No longer imported.

 

[Patman]

The cheapest one is pretty basic, but as you move up the trim levels it does get all the bells and whistles.

I’m driving one as a rental car right now and it’s just the cheapest version they sell and it’s still packed with tech

 

[BC1]

How about a quality preowned vehicle from the 90s? Might have less tech than modern cars.

Town Car is always the answer to all these "what car should I get" questions where it does not snow.

 

[Skippy722]

No.

Yes, it’s the Ram 1500 Classic Tradesman with the basic stereo… though that does have Bluetooth. The only way to make it better is ditch the push button t case and go back to old school lever action.

Even comes with a functional (at least for a 9 year old) bench seat!

 

[svtrit]

I was excited and proud to have purchased a 2020 Wrangler with hand crank windows and manual locks. All the HVAC controls are manual as well.

Now I wish I had power locks. Manual locks suck. There are some tech things that we all get used to and don't realize how good they are until they are gone.

 

[zzyzzx]

Any new but low tech cars?​

Not available for sale in the US.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Android Auto/Apple Carplay is pretty much standard now in any vehicle. It looks like the Ford Ranger XL trim doesn't have it, but Maverick XL does. My suggestion would be Maverick, Ranger, or F150 XL trim. The trucks are going to be as basic as it gets.

The HVAC controls on the maverick are a disaster. One of the 4 reason I dumped the thing in two short months

The lower trim Hyundai Venue are easy. Also the car has port injection and the 1.6 is a great engine, car is very light with great steering feel. lightest thing on 4 wheels next to a Miata. Another plus - about 20k even, brand new out the door !

And Hyundai didn't hit it with the weird and ugly stick ... yet!

The cheapest Nissan I would touch would be the Sentra. Then you have their nasty cvt programming to deal with. The Versa makes a Yugo or Chevette feel and look good!

 

[IndyIan]

I was excited and proud to have purchased a 2020 Wrangler with hand crank windows and manual locks. All the HVAC controls are manual as well.

Now I wish I had power locks. Manual locks suck. There are some tech things that we all get used to and don't realize how good they are until they are gone.

Wow, I'm surprised they still made one like that still! We bought our 03 Tracker that way, had to slide in our own radio too. We live in the sticks so we just didn't use the locks except for the odd trip to the big city, and eventually I forgot to lube and exercise them, so they seized up. We took our chances with some Christmas shopping trips, but no one expects a car to be unlocked in a toronto shopping mall lot I guess? Lol
My Focus has roll up windows but power and remote locks. I don't mind roll up windows but I hurt my right shoulder and reaching across to do the passenger window seems to be the exact wrong movement! Reminds me to book some physio and fix it...