The Car Features Becoming History: Most Gen Z-ers Can’t Identify Car Aerials, Cassette Decks, Window Winders or Even Handbrakes

• Just 28% of Gen Z recognises a car aerial and 39% do not know what a window winder is.
• Up in smoke: Only a third of Gen Z recognises car ashtrays (35%), and only 41% can identify cigarette lighters.
• Despite this, 36% of Gen Z would like physical buttons and knobs to return as they are considered easier to use.

FEBRUARY 17TH, LONDON, UK – The majority of Gen Z isunable to identify car features such as aerials, cigarette lighters and pop-up headlights that were common just a generation ago.

The new research commissioned by Cazoo highlights how even features such as window winders, handbrakes and cassette decks are leaving many flummoxed - emphasising how dramatically car design has evolved in just a couple of decades and how many features are now unrecognisable to younger adults.

The feature that caused the most confusion was the choke - a feature common in cars made up until the early nineties. Just 8% of Gen Z said they could identify one, while only 28% could identify a manual aerial - used to pick up AM and FM radio frequencies.

Even more everyday features have faded from memory. Just over a third of Gen Z recognises car ashtrays (35%), and only 41% can identify car cigarette lighters - elements that were standard in vehicles for decades before shifting attitudes to smoking and modern design trends saw them gradually phased out.

And while nineties fashion trends might be popular with Gen Z, nineties music technology appears not to be. Four in ten Gen Zers (43%) wouldn’t be able to identify a cassette player - compared to 25% of Millennials.

Perhaps most surprisingly, four in ten (39%) could not identify a manual window winder, 38% a key ignition and 27% a proper lever handbrake (before they became buttons in some newer cars!)

The top 10 retro features Gen Z cannot identify

1. Choke (92% can’t identify)
2. T-bar / T-top (90%)
3. Manual aerial (72%)
4. Ashtray (65%)
5. Cigarette lighter (59%)
6. Pop-up headlights (50%)
7. Cassette player (43%)
8. Window winder (39%)
9. Key ignition (38%)
10. Handbrake (27%)

However, the research suggests the so-called ‘touchscreen generation’ may not be fully sold on digital driving. Despite growing up surrounded by technology, 36% of Gen Z say they would like physical buttons and knobs to return, with many citing the ease of use as a key reason.

Interestingly, 21% of the Gen Zers who recognised pop-up headlights are nostalgic forthem to make a comeback. These lights became synonymous with 'effortlessly cool' 1980s icons like the Ferrari F40 and Lamborghini Countach - the quintessential supercars of bedroom-wall posters.

The top retro elements that all respondents would like to see return to cars are:

• Physical buttons and knobs (33%)
• Handbrake lever (26%)
• Pop-up headlights (24%)
• Cassette/CD player (24%)
• Key ignition (22%)

To help drivers get the best of both worlds, Cazoo offers a marketplace full of diverse used cars -from retro favourites packed with character to modern models with cutting-edge tech -perfect for anyone chasing a nostalgia fix or living out their retro fantasy, even if they were too young to remember last century.

Charlie Harvey, Motoring Expert at Cazoo said,

“Car design has evolved massively in the last 20 years, and it’s interesting to see how quickly knowledge of obsolete car features has faded. Some features such as the choke are better left in the past, given how much better refined modern engines with fuel injection are, but there are other features that are sorely missed, such as physical tactile buttons and eye-catching pop-up headlights. There’s a sweet spot on the used car market for everyone, be that a car with the latest cutting-edge tech or classic retro design.”

END

The Study

Research was commissioned by Cazoo and conducted by Mortar Research amongst 2000 UK Adults, from Friday 6th February - Monday 9th February 2026.

About CAZOO

The Cazoo brand was acquired by MOTORS in June 2024 and relaunched as a used car marketplace in April 2025, with more than 200,000 listings from a network of over 5,000 dealers. With a brand new mobile app, it has become the flagship brand in the MOTORS network, aimed at challenging the dominance of the current market leader, providing more options and choice for UK car-buyers and car dealers. A particularly well-known brand, Cazoo, is still recognised by six in ten UK consumers and helps buyers find the right car for their unique needs and lifestyle.

Cazoo joins the likes of MOTORS, eBay, Gumtree and Parkers in the expanding MOTORS network, providing greater visibility for car dealers.MOTORS is an advertising ecosystem that helps dealers reach millions of in-market car buyers and sell cars fast. It provides dealers access to multisite advertising across some of the UK’s best-loved destinations for used cars. Since 2021, MOTORS has been owned by O3 Industries and Novum Capital.

For more information, please visit https://dealer.motors.co.uk/