As easy as it is to complain about the ever-growing complexity of cars, sometimes creature comforts make things a little more pleasant. Be it a gadget or a bit of trim, it’s historically not uncommon for home-centered things to eventually make their way into cars, and some of them make perfect sense. For context, I’m driving a new Toyota Sienna this week, and it’s made me want to ask a question.
More specifically, I’m testing a 2025 Sienna Platinum, which means it has a freaking vacuum. For someone who keeps their home a bit messy but their car spotless, a built-in vacuum seems like a godsend. Even though the Sienna isn’t the first van with a vacuum, it got me thinking — what things from home would you want in a car?
This probably isn’t controversial, but carpet is a stupid material for a trunk. It makes a ton of sense for a cabin where sound deadening is of the essence, but in a sealed trunk with the rear seats up, big whoop. Instead, I want to get a bit classy and shift the weight distribution rearward. I’m talking a hardwood floor for the bottom of the trunk. Easier to clean than carpet, plus if you don’t want stuff to slide, you could just segment it off with suction cupped dividers. Simple as.
The other big thing from home I’d want in a car? Well, even though I don’t eat in any of my cars, I love a picnic, and keep a picnic blanket in my Boxster at all times. What pairs well with a picnic? You’re right, an espresso. Sadly, the sort of shot you’d get at most chain coffee shops isn’t very good, so I’d quite value a good portable espresso maker harnessed in the trunk. Fiat actually offered an in-car espresso maker, but it took pods, and that’s not quite my jam.
So, what would you take from your home and put in your car? Whether a simple gadget, or going full “Top Gear” and putting a wood-burning stove inside, I want to hear it.
(Photo credits: Toyota, Fiat)
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The Crotch Cooler™
I just wanted my crotch to remain cool without freezing my feet during the hot summer days, especially in Texas.
So much this, people look at me like I’m nuts (pun absolutely intended) for driving with the convertible top down on mornings in the 30s, but I’m far more tempted to put the top up on 100 degree summer days just so my nether regions don’t fry.
I was once staring at the piece of chrome trim covering the hole where the optional 8-track player for my ’66 Thunderbird isn’t (base model, no optional extras), and thinking about what kinds of things you could fit in a rectangular hole that size, and figured it’s a large enough space you could install a toaster slot there.
So that’s what I want in my car: a toaster. I don’t know how I’ll butter the toast on the go, but I want to be able to toast bread in my car for a quick hot breakfast. Or, a pop tart, or a bagel, or even an English muffin. All good breakfast carbs.
In a similar line of thinking, I think minivans should have microwave ovens in the dashboard. Minivans are family vehicles built for road trips, traveling anywhere in the US by van means 8+ hours on the road per day, this means you’re packing lunch and snacks for the journey to be eaten in the van. Being able to microwave meals while cruising on the highway would be an epic luxury feature! Granted, securing the food item being heated in place on the turntable could be a challenge when not maintaining a specific speed on smooth roads (could use double-sided tape, maybe?), but it’s still useful to have.
For extra snobby families who despise microwaves, you could replace the microwave with an air fryer in your minivan.
Sorry clean people, I just really want to eat in my car I guess…
I want a pressure cooker. I want to be able to quickly prepare meals that are usually time consuming while on the go. I want to put some short ribs in a pot, start driving and then have soft tender fall off the bone meat by the time I reach my destination, even if it’s a short distance away.
Screens that can be moved independently from the windows, to keep bugs out (and keep honest people honest). Trash can or similar space for one.
I disagree with your trunk carpeting only for sound’s sake. I want a better-insulated car, dammit!
But that’s also not necessarily something one gets at home either.
A fence line. Stop dinging my doors!
I can’t think of much I’d want from my house moved into my car.. BUT from my car to my house I’d sure love to have the quiet contained space for myself and the legal expectation that if I’m sharing that space with children they should be strapped securely to a chair.
A “drive-in” or “camping” mode for the accessories. There’s a drive-in theater near me that my wife and I like to go to occasionally and having to hit the radio power button every 15 minutes because accessory mode only stays active that long is irritating.
Uhhh… Nothing. I guess. A car has a stereo and a place I can sit down. If I buy the right one it already has a place where I can sleep. For everything else I can just use a laptop that isn’t a part of the car. I mean like… The only thing missing would be a shower. But you don’t want that in a car. That’s what RVs are for.
Waste basket
Dude, that’s the floorboard. Or a box on the floorboard works too I guess..
Generally my dog, he loves rides and doesn’t complain about the music, just sits there and enjoys it, fueled by head pats. He also loves drive-thrus so I try to oblige him as much as possible.
Also a couple 110v outlets, would rarely use, but would be nice to have in case the house lost power.
I have a couple 110v outlets in my truck and now I don’t ever want another daily driver without them.
Simpsons did it…
https://youtu.be/ka_EamK6dKw?si=jS7IDdjHhUoHiLwm
I thought about this a bit last week during my drives to my parents house 7+ hours away:
A built in 20 Amp, 110V outlet. I’ve got ~60 kWh of batteries, why would this not be included?
Also, the ability to open/close the windows without walking around the car, getting in, pushing the brake pedal, and hitting the start button. The crank windows in the old Jeep are way more convenient when camping.
Finally, direct heating in the footwell, like the little mini foot heat vent under the kitchen sink. Just a bit of radiant floor heat would be all I’d need in addition to the heated seats and steering wheel in temps down to 0F, without all of the inefficiency of the combo battery/cabin heater under the hood that probably loses half its heat before it even gets to the cabin. Instead, for the next few months I’ll generally be nice and comfortable from my knees up, with frozen feet anytime I’m driving.
Nissan Maximas from the 90’s had the ability to roll down the windows using the key in the exterior door lock
My last car had that as well, but this one doesn’t have a normal exterior key slot, only some emergency doodad I’ve never used. Even that is annoying though when the key is in a tent a couple hundred feet away.
Agreed
Most HKG e-GMP vehicles have an outlet in the back row- though I’ve usually just ended up using the usb-c outlets for device power.
A built-in air compressor. Honestly not sure how it would work. The best would a way to inflate each tire via some kind of compressor built into each wheel like a Humvee, but that won’t work on 99% of the cars on the road.
A more practical solution would be four hoses, stored behind a panel in each wheel well. Open the panel door and a few feet of air hose drops out, then you can inflate each tire from there.
I have air compressors that go into the 12v port in every car I own. I know there are battery powered ones, but I don’t want to have to remember to charge them and risk letting the battery die, or forget to put it back in my car after charging.
Could you not just run a fused wire to your trunk and tap in a “permanent” compressor back there? Seems like a fun project.
I totally could, but snaking the long wire all over the place to air up all of the tires is annoying. The wire and compressor get dirty and have to be thoroughly cleaned before I can pack it up and put it back in my car. Having the wire be in the back isn’t any better than having it plug into a power port in the front.
A coffeemaker with a built in toasted Bagel dispenser. 😉
My books, recliner, fireplace and dog.
A memory foam bed. In my 94 Toyota Pickup with a camper top I used to put a twin memory foam mattress in the bed, with sheets, pillows, blankets, etc. and suddenly I had a bedroom I could take anywhere with roads. During the lockdowns I drove it the next state over and stayed in it for a funeral as the home where I was staying was short on bedrooms, but there I was warm and cozy in my bed in the bed of my truck. I’d just throw on some gym shorts and and undershirt when I needed to take a shower in the morning and evening.
Back when I used to party I didn’t have to worry about sober rides, I’d just sleep it off in the bed in the bed of my truck, and I had enough blankets that even in the coldest winter nights I was cozy.
Honestly I’d get more use out of a bed that takes up the right side passenger seats than I would the right side passenger seats, I’d just put a pet cover over it when I need to use the space for stuff and or doggos.
I figured out a couple years ago that our 6″ thick, twin folding guest mattress fits in our Bolt with the headrests removed and the entire interior folded mostly flat. The EUV version does even a bit better with flatness. If one of us is traveling alone, after a 10 minute setup at home, it takes about a minute to remove the driver’s headrest, move the seat forward and down, and flip the 3rd section of the mattress over. It’s a bit awkward getting in and out (I’m 6’5″, but can fully sprawl out), but super comfy. I recently spent 5 nights out in the desert with the setup in temps down to 20F, and only issue was a mouse in one spot that apparently figured out it can wiggle in through the trunk vents in cars to have itself a midnight snack. I did not enjoy listening to it running laps in the headliner in the middle of the night. It is indeed super convenient, I think basically all cars should have this ability.
A CD player.
Shocking notion, I know.
I actually want sliding doors from my van to be in my home. I mean I guess a garage door is that, but not quite the same in my eyes.
Proper door handles
Yes.
And do the windows in my home need electricity to operate? No they do not.
Actually anything that diminishes the experience of hurtling through space Superman* style seems like it would diminish the whole idea of a car. If you are worried about cake crumbs in your car, get an Ariel Atom.
*Superman doesn’t have the same problems with sudden changes in velocity that mere human bags of water have, so som allowances must be made.
My current car does not have the 120v ac outlets and room to lie down that I would want. I know I could add an inverter but they can be sketchy and expensive.
A better place to hide bodies. At home, I can just dig a hole in the backyard. In my car, I’ve got a lot less choices.
Jokes aside…
I have a coffeemaker at home (Miele CVA 6805) that “does it all”. Just fill the water and bean storage bins, empty the waste bin and drip tray, and you can make coffee until the water runs out. It’s “built in” to the kitchen.
FYI, these are HUUUGE machines, and would never fit inside a car without major concessions.
Ngl, I’ve always wanted one of those little Fiat espresso makers…
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