The newer your new car is, the more features you'll get

The pace of change in the automotive industry is catching out the top end of town.

The onslaught of new safety technology — and the rapid trickle-down to cheaper cars — means that some prestige models can look dated as they near the end of their product cycle, while others can launch a new model that doesn't even have features available on a $14,990 tiddler.

Carsguide picked up a Mercedes-Benz CLS this week — a car that has an on-road price of roughly $180,000 — and the first thing that struck us was the handbrake, or more accurately footbrake.

The CLS still has parking brake that you activate by pressing a pedal on the floor. To release it, you have to pull a lever, which releases with an undiginified clunk. In contrast you can get a $30,000 family car with an electronic park brake.

It's only a small thing but it demonstrates how quickly state-of-the-art can become passe these days. The same goes for the Audi TT that launched earlier this year without a reversing camera.

We've also got a Nissan Micra Ti in the garage this week — and it has satnav, media streaming, voice activation and rear camera.

Then there's the new Ranger ute. Ford released details of the technology on its top-line Ranger this week and it reads like a spec sheet from a top-end limousine — lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, forward collision alert and drowsy driver detection.

The boffins are calling it the democratisation of technology, a trend that must be taking a large bite out of prestige car makers' profit margins. Until recently they've been able to charge thousands of dollars for these features.

So if you're buying a new car, it's important to find out what stage of the life cycle it's at. If your dealer doesn't know, or is being vague, research it online. Now more than ever it pays to know how "new" your new car is.

On the flip side, the more new stuff that's on the latest model, the better the discount you're likely to get on the run-out model.