Your faithful steed has braved the elements, traffic jams, and the cries of children throughout the year. As the festive season approaches, why not return the favour? Out with the pretentious perfumes and useless gadgets, and in with clever accessories that combine functionality and modernity. Here are five practical ideas, often on promotion, to make your car shine like a Christmas tree.
The dashcam: a vigilant witness that never blinks
Among the gift ideas to offer your car, the dashcam undoubtedly tops the list. Ideal for protecting your vehicle against assaults, it proves to be a valuable asset in the eyes of your insurance.
Imagine for a moment that your car becomes its own guardian, recording every urban bump or nighttime break-in attempt. A 4K dashcam, like the Nextbase 622GW or the Full HD Garmin DashCam Mini 3, captures in ultra-high definition the front and rear views, thanks to a gyroscopic stabilization that ensures smooth images even on degraded roads. These compact units attach behind the rearview mirror, detect collisions, and automatically save critical footage on a 64 GB SD card (often included).
There are a multitude of models on the market. Prefer those that allow for automatic recording with physical and cloud backup.
Prices range from €140 to €250, not counting regular promotions of 10 to 20%. The interest of the dashcam is twofold: to provide objective proof in case of an accident or hit-and-run, but also to deter theft and vandalism. Unlike some European neighbours (Austria, Luxembourg, Portugal), who strictly prohibit or restrict this type of recording, France adopts a nuanced position: the dashcam is not prohibited. However, recorded videos – particularly those showing faces, license plates, or any element that can identify a person – cannot be disseminated as is, since they fall under GDPR regulations.
The Qi2 wireless charger: goodbye tangled cables
How many times has your smartphone died at the worst moment, buried at the bottom of a pocket or your bag? A Qi2 magnetic mount, such as the Belkin Boost Charge Pro or the Anker A2216, recharges your iPhone or compatible Android with induction charging up to 15 watts, while offering a 360-degree rotation for optimal visibility. The shape-memory alloy arm adapts to the air vent, while the adhesive base withstands the most irregular dashboards, with an integrated ventilation to prevent summer overheating. The primary interest of these mounts is to avoid bulky cables in the cabin while allowing you to use your smartphone as a support.
If you don’t have a multimedia screen, a smartphone mount that includes induction charging is a must-have. Even better if it is ventilated.
These MagSafe devices withstand road vibrations and charge from 0 to 50% in about thirty minutes. Expect to pay between €25 and €50 at online stores, often in Christmas packs with a spare cable. You can finally use your smartphone’s GPS without fearing a dead battery, and your passenger will finally stop whining about their failing battery after 200 kilometres.
The HEPA air purifier: for a cabin that finally breathes
The cabin of a car recycles stale air ten times an hour, trapping dust, pollen, and the smell of stale sandwiches. The PurCar air purifier or equivalent is a model treating 45 m³/h, filtering 99.97% of pollutants down to 0.01 micron thanks to a HEPA H13, with three self-regulating speeds and a universal strap for headrests. Although it is not the most compact (13 x 13 x 34 cm), it sucks up bacteria, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and volatile organic compounds without excessive noise (20 to 50 dB depending on the filtration power). Its autonomy reaches eight hours via USB, with charging on your car’s 12-volt socket. Prices range from €50 to €250, with washable filters included. Useful for eliminating musty smells or if you regularly transport a furry four-legged companion.
We rarely think about it, but an air purifier is an excellent way to chase away bad smells in the car, especially on long journeys.
Universal winter mats: elegance and protection every day
Snow, salt, mud: winter can quickly turn the inside of your car into a swamp. Even more so if you enjoy outings in the forest. By the way, have you ever said this to your passengers: “Tap your shoes outside before getting in!” To avoid being the killjoy, you can turn to a complete set of universal PVC mats for €20 at general auto retailers like Norauto or a set with a metallic look if you are more sporty. In fact, there are even Sparco sets for under €30. In any case, these universal mats generally adapt to all car interiors and are perfect for protecting the floor. Durable, easy to wash and install, they come with anti-slip spikes underneath for good stability. If you want to do things right, add a boot mat. Some are thermoformed; however, ensure they resist grease and solvents as well as temperature variations.
A set of floor mats is certainly basic but very useful for preserving the interior of your car.
The aftermarket car radio to connect your car to Android Auto or CarPlay
For an older but still valiant car, an aftermarket radio compatible with Android Auto or CarPlay is undoubtedly one of the best gifts to offer your carriage. Rather than a simple “modernised CD player,” it is now a true multimedia station with a large touchscreen from 7 to over 11 inches, capable of transforming a Clio 3, a Golf 5, or an old minivan into a nearly connected car. Once the original radio is replaced by an Alpine, Kenwood, or Pioneer model, you can access Waze or Google Maps navigation, Spotify, WhatsApp, Google Assistant voice control, all via wired or wireless Android Auto depending on the ranges. The highest-end references like the Alpine Halo11 iLX-F511 or the Kenwood DMX9720XDS add the management of rear or 360° cameras, DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth 5.0, and audio DSP processing worthy of a serious hi-fi installation. But there are also references for under €250 at Norauto, for example. Just be careful of the system’s slowness, which can sometimes be frankly annoying.
Aftermarket radios are very popular for having Android Auto or CarPlay.
However, installation requires a bit more than just plugging in a charger into the cigarette lighter: you need to remove the original radio, connect the harnesses (with dedicated adapters), and sometimes reconfigure the steering wheel controls or certain vehicle menus. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it’s better to go through a specialist installer (auto centre or independent), who charges an average of around €200 for a clean installation that complies with the electronic constraints of recent models. The result: for around €300 to €1,000 all-inclusive, you give your car a second digital life, especially ideal for navigation, calls, and music management without needing to change models.
