Nappa leather seats are covered with premium leather from the skins of calves, kids, or lambs. Nappa leather seats can be constructed of full-grain or top-grain leather. No definitive test exists for Nappa leather, though it’s generally understood to be uncorrected, supple, and high-quality.
Memory seats are driver’s seats where seat positioning can be electronically preset, saved, and recalled for when a particular person sits there. These seats two or more settings, which is handy for shared driving. Most memory-seat systems use a hard button on the door, though some advanced systems use the key fob to trigger adjustments.
Leatherette seats are covered in a synthetic textile that mimics the look and feel of leather. They lack natural leather seats’ suppleness but are more scratch-resistant and require less maintenance.
Automotive leather seats are covered in an upholstery made from animal hides (mostly cowhide) that’s been tanned and coated for color and protection from wear and tear. Leather seats are an optional upgrade in almost every vehicle on the market. Even luxury brands may offer simulated leather upholstery on the seats in base models.
Lane-keeping assist is an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) that uses front-mounted cameras to detect the road markers and intervenes should the vehicle stray too far to one side of the lane, potentially crossing the boundaries. Lane-keeping assist works with lane departure warning to alert the driver.
Lane departure warning is an advanced safety assistance system (ADAS) that alerts drivers drifting out of their traffic lane. Alarms can be audible, visual, and haptic (vibration). The technology makes no course correction, and the driver must respond to prevent potential collisions.
Lane-centering assist is a safety technology that uses front-facing cameras to monitor the vehicle’s spacing between the lane markers, then takes an active role in electronic steering and braking to maintain the vehicle’s lane position.
Keyless entry is a feature that enables drivers to actuate their cars’ door locks at a distance. The simplest systems require a driver to press a button on their key fob to actuate the locking mechanism. More advanced systems, called “proximity keys,” use near-field communication to detect a matching key fob and automatically unlock the doors when the fob is in a pre-defined proximity.
An in-car PA (personal address) system is a feature that allows drivers to communicate with rear passengers via onboard speakers or headphones. In-car PA systems are typically available in minivans, 3-row SUVs, and other large vehicles preferred by buyers with large families.
A heated steering wheel is an amenity, often optional, in automobiles that warms the steering wheel before or during driving. The function can be operated manually or automatically and be paired with remote start as part of preconditioning the cabin during cold weather.
