Dear car makers, it's 2022. Telescopic steering adjustment should be standard on all cars

• Modern cars are chock-full of great features
• Telescopic steering adjustment isn't one of them
• It's 2022, this should be a standard feature in any new car

As we forage into 2022, and look forward to all the cars that will be launched in Malaysia and reviewed by us at WapCar.my, there is something we hope will become an increasing trend (or standard item) in every modern car from here on in, regardless of size, segment or body type, something so fundamental it's almost criminal not to be included in the first place. 

No, we're not talking about Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, nor are we talking about ADAS suites (though the adoption rate for this is actually quite high). We are talking about rake/telescopic adjustment on steering wheels.

Can you believe that there are still some new cars that are sold in Malaysia that omit this feature? Never mind that some do not even have height adjustment. 

Flying before you learn how to even walk

That's the exact feeling yours truly had when sampling WapCar.my's Perodua Ativa. I absolutely adored the power delivery, the zippiness, and the fact that you get so much car for your money. It was something I genuinely would buy and live with, that's how good it is.

That is, until I had to live with the ridiculous driving position. Ok, so I'm a rather large bloke, but the lack of telescopic adjustment in the Ativa's steering rack just made things so much worse. I had to contort in ways I never thought I'd ever have to, in a brand new car, that you can buy off a showroom now.

It was so bad that I even considered installing a boss kit to extend the steering closer to me, but there were warranty issues to contend with. Look, if this was a budget car of any sort, it might be less glaring a problem. This was a mid-range, but range-topping Perodua Ativa, that comes with the latest toys like Autonomous Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Automatic High Beam to name a few.

How is it that a modern car can be laden with so much technology, but forget a simple, fundamental feature like telescopic adjustment on the steering wheel? Isn't that perplexingly frustrating? What's the point of having a full suite of ADAS when the driver has sore back from being seated wrongly while driving? Yep, flying before you even learn how to walk, isn't it?

Please car makers, give us telescopic steering adjustment

The Perodua Ativa is hardly alone in committing this crime, because the Myvi is just as culpable, never mind the Bezza and Axia (both do not even have height adjustment). The Proton Iriz and Persona are also guilty of having no telescopic adjustment.

Is this a Proton/Perodua-only issue? Hardly. The Toyota Vios (which starts from RM 74k, mind) and its Yaris (starting from RM 71k) sibling only allow height adjustment on its steering column. Please, this needs to stop. It's 2022.

Also read: Pros and Cons: 2020 Perodua Bezza – Excellent fuel economy but why the fixed steering?

We're halfway towards eradicating antiquated 4-speed automatic gearboxes in new cars, can we do the same with the inclusion of telescopic steering adjustment? Cost clearly isn't an issue seeing that there are way more expensive features on these cars (ADAS, LED headlights, for example).

It's not like we are asking for electrically adjustable steering columns, we just want to have a full range of steering adjustment so that drivers of any size can fit comfortably into any modern car. Please, get the fundamental things right before putting fancy toys into your cars. A good, comfortable driving position, is fundamental. An ADAS suite, - whilst nice to have - is not.

Also Read: Selling cars with a 4-speed automatic, in 2021, should be illegal

WapCar's Opinion

Yes, car buyers are a demanding bunch. They want a car to handle like a sports car, ride like a Rolls Royce, have the performance of a supercar, but with the fuel economy of a Nissan Almera. Thing is, all these are wants, not needs.

A four-way steering adjustment should be a need, in the hierarchy of needs. In fact, just as new cars are subjected to unified crash tests, and international standards for lighting, there should be a new mandate to make tilt and telescopic steering adjustment something compulsory for car makers.

Everything else, can be optional. Because at the heart of car manufacturing, isn't the driver central to decisions involving features and ergonomics?