Best Used Cars with Ambient Lighting – Updated 2024 List
What is Ambient Lighting?
This post will take a look at some of the best used cars with ambient lighting that you can buy in 2024.
When people refer to ambient lighting , their talking about soft indirect lights that are used in your cars interior. These lights are subtle and help to create a relaxing and calming atmosphere while your driving.
It is used in cars, trucks and other luxury vehicles to enhance the ambience of the design, providing a soothing and functional interior lighting solution.
You will find ambient mood lighting throughout the interiors of most modern cars. The positions of these lights vary but you will most likely find them in the foot wells, door cards, dash trims, climate control vents and on the dashboard.
Some car manufacturers even offer the option to customize the color of the ambient lighting found throughout the vehicle as well as cool features like the light system pulsing in time with the music your playing.
LEDs lighting are commonly used for ambient lighting due to their low cost and flexibility.
The brightness of ambient lighting varys from each manufacturer but it is usually less bright than other lights in the car. This is because ambient lighting focuses more on aesthetics rather then being a practical solution for low visibility.
Check out our list of the best used cars with ambient lighting in 2024.
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Adding Ambient Lighting To A Car Interior
You don’t just have to buy a new car with ambient lighting, you can add a range of different ambient lighting options to enhance the aesthetic appeal.
Ambient lighting, also known as mood or atmospheric lighting, primarily serves to create a comfortable and stylish environment within the vehicle.
It illuminates the interior indirectly, reducing harsh shadows and making it easier for passengers to see inside the car during nighttime travel.
Moreover, it can also contribute to the overall driving experience by offering customizable color options that can be adjusted according to personal preferences or mood.
Therefore, the addition of ambient lighting can indeed prove to be a valuable upgrade for car interiors.
Ambient Lighting on Amazon
Best used cars with ambient lighting
Cars with ambient lighting have been increasing in popularity over the years.
Ambient light adds an extra touch of elegance and luxury to a car interior, and it also provides an additional level of illumination for the driver and any passengers.
Some of the best used cars with ambient lighting include:
Kia Soul
BMW 3 Series
Mercedes Benz S-Class
Hyundai Sonata
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford F-150
Volkswagen Golf
These models are equipped with ambient lighting packages that often include customizable LEDs that can change color and brightness.
The interior trim of these cars also features strategically placed ambient lights that create a luxurious atmosphere.
The BMW 3 Series, for instance, features an ambient lighting option that allows drivers to choose from eleven different colors and the Mercedes offers a whooping 64 color options.
When looking for the best car with ambient lighting, it’s essential to consider the quality of the interior lighting package, the multiple color options available, and the overall ambiance it creates within the car interior.
Here is a selection of our favorites.
1. Kia Soul
The Kia Soul boasts an impressive ambient light system that helps to create a mood and atmosphere inside the car.
The mood lighting can be adjusted to match the driver’s preferences, with a range of colors and intensity levels available to choose from.
The lighting system can also be used for safety purposes, providing extra illumination when driving at night or in low light conditions.
Overall, the Kia Soul is a fun and practical car that offers something that looks cool and unique, the Kia Soul is definitely worth considering, if you’re looking for a fun and funky car that features ambient lighting.
2. BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series light system is very effective, highlighting the sharp edges and lines throughout the interior, with well positioned footwell lighting to give a more general glow as a counter to the sharp lines of the LEDs.
Your choice of hues may be limited with the 3 Series but it is still one of the top cars with ambient interior lighting.
There are 11 different color and lighting options to choose from, but since the buttons and dials on the dashboard tend to remain the classic BMW warm orange, the car manufacturer has been careful not to allow too many color options, to avoid clashing around the cabin.
An extra detail that shows BMWs manufacturing quality and attention to detail, is when the doors are open, the ambient lighting in the door pulsates, to indicate to the driver the door is still open.
These little details from the German car manufacturer help to put BMW up there as one of the best ambient lighting cars on the market.
3. Hyundai Sonata
The Hyundai Sonata is a popular sedan model and is renowned for its sleek design, smooth performance, and advanced features.
One of its most impressive features is the Hyundai ambient lighting system, which allows drivers to customize the color of the interior lighting to match their mood or preference.
This feature is made possible by the color wheel, a system that lets drivers choose from a range of colors to create the perfect ambiance inside the car.
The ambient light system can be found throughout the car, including in the instrument panel, creating a chic and high-tech aesthetic.
Whether you want a calming blue hue or a trendy red glow, the color of your choice is just a touch away thanks to the Hyundai Sonata’s innovative mood lighting.
4. Ford F-150
The Ford F-150 is a fantastic vehicle with a sleek design and advanced features. One of the notable features of the pick-up truck’s interior is the ambient light system that illuminates the features with a soft glow.
This system not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle but also adds to the overall driving experience. The ambient light system is sensitive to the external brightness levels and adjusts accordingly to maintain the perfect level of brightness inside the car.
This feature is especially useful during night-time driving as it reduces the strain on the eyes while offering excellent visibility.
The driver can also customize the brightness and colors of the ambient light system to create a personalized environment that suits their preferences.
Overall, the Ford F-150’s ambient light system is an innovative addition that enhances the driving experience and sets it apart from other pickup trucks in its class.
5. Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a compact car that has been on the market for over 40 years.
One of its standout features is the ambient light system, which allows the driver and passengers to personalize the brightness and color of the interior lighting.
The light system includes footwell lighting, door sill lighting, center console options, and a roof-mounted ambient light strip, creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere inside the car.
Additionally, the ambient light system helps with visibility when driving at night, making it easier to locate buttons and controls within the cabin.
Overall, the Volkswagen Golf’s ambient light system adds to the car’s already impressive level of comfort and convenience.
6. Chevrolet Camaro
The latest models of the Camaro come fitted with advanced features, including an ambient light system that adds a touch of class to the interior of the vehicle.
The ambient light system allows the driver and passengers to set the brightness to their desired levels, creating a relaxed atmosphere inside the car, along with providing a certain level of customization that not all cars in this list provide in their ambient lighting vehicles.
Overall, the Chevrolet Camaro has always been a car that combines impressive performance with style, and the latest models are no exception.
7. Mercedes Benz S-Class
Mercedes-Benz ambient lighting is a cutting-edge feature that comes with a lot of their newer and older models.
Long gone are the days where you had to purchase one of the top Mercedes models to experience this luxury feature, now even the A-class and cheaper models offer ambient lighting.
Mercedes cars have the best ambient lighting options on the market with over 64 colors and hues to choose from for any mood, a huge whole spectrum to suit any occasion: the ambient lighting transforms the interior of the new C-Class Coupé into a fascinating lounge.
The technology is advanced and seamlessly integrated into the car’s design, making it both elegant and functional.
Mercedes-Benz has long established itself as a brand synonymous with luxury, and ambient lighting is no exception. It is yet another feature that sets Mercedes-Benz apart from the rest of the pack.
Why Did Ambient Lighting Only Recently Become Common?
The recent popularity of ambient lighting can be attributed to two primary factors: advancements in technology and changing consumer preferences.
Firstly, the advancements in technology play a significant role. Ambient lighting is typically achieved through the use of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes).
Over the past decade, LED technology has undergone significant improvements, making it more affordable and accessible to the average consumer.
LEDs are now more energy-efficient, have longer longevity, and offer more flexibility in terms of colour and brightness control.
These progressions have allowed for wider adoption of LED technology in various applications, including ambient lighting.
Secondly, changing consumer preferences have also driven the popularity of ambient lighting. There is a growing trend towards personalization and the creation of unique, comfortable living spaces.
Ambient lighting provides a way for consumers to customize their environments according to their mood or the desired aesthetic.
Furthermore, as people become more eco-conscious, the energy efficiency of LEDs makes ambient lighting a more appealing choice.
Research suggesting the potential health benefits of proper lighting, such as reduced eye strain and improved mood, may have also contributed to this trend.
The availability of smart home systems and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which easily integrate with ambient lighting systems, is another factor that has likely influenced its recent commonality.
Thus, the convergence of technological advancements, shifting consumer preferences, and the rise in digital home infrastructure have collectively led to the recent commonality of ambient lighting.
What New Cars Have the Best Ambient Lighting?
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class: This luxury vehicle is renowned for its sophisticated ambient lighting system, which offers a wide range of customizable colors and effects.
- BMW 7 Series: The BMW 7 Series offers an impressive ambient lighting system, featuring adjustable colors and brightness levels that enhance the vehicle’s interior aesthetics.
- Audi A8: The Audi A8 is equipped with an advanced ambient lighting system that allows drivers to personalize the interior lighting according to their preferences.
- Lexus LS: The Lexus LS features a subtle yet elegant ambient lighting system that enhances the vehicle’s luxurious appeal.
- Lincoln Continental: The Lincoln Continental’s ambient lighting system offers a variety of color options, creating a relaxing and comfortable driving environment.
- Range Rover Velar: The Range Rover Velar’s ambient lighting system provides a sophisticated and modern touch to the vehicle’s interior design.
- Porsche Panamera: The Porsche Panamera’s ambient lighting system enhances the vehicle’s interior aesthetics, offering a luxurious and comfortable driving experience.
Summary
We hope this guide has helped you compare and narrow down your search for the best used cars with ambient lighting available on the market in 2023.
Whether you are looking for a new vehicle or a used one, you can see that cars with ambient lighting are available in a range of options with a varying degree of ambient lighting technology available.
Have any suggestions or comments! Get in contact with us today!
Ambient Lighting FAQs
What does an ambient lighting system do in a car?
An ambient lighting system in a vehicle serves to enhance the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the car’s interior during low-light conditions.
It provides soft illumination in strategic areas such as the dashboard, footwells, door handles, and cup holders, thereby improving visibility and safety.
Furthermore, the system often allows for customization, enabling the driver to adjust the color and intensity of the light according to personal preference or mood.
Beyond its practical utility, ambient lighting also contributes to the overall driving experience by creating a comfortable and personalized environment within the vehicle.
Is ambient lighting worth it in a car?
The value of ambient lighting in a car is subjective and largely depends on the preferences and needs of the individual.
From a functional perspective, ambient lighting can enhance visibility in the vehicle during nighttime driving, making it easier to locate controls and personal items.
It can also contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal and comfort of the car’s interior, creating a more luxurious and personalized environment.
However, some may view it as an unnecessary expense if they prioritize basic functionality over additional features.
Therefore, while ambient lighting can certainly enhance the driving experience, its worth is ultimately determined by the user’s personal preference and perceived value.
Which car has the best ambient lighting?
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is widely recognized for having the best ambient lighting in the automotive industry.
This luxury vehicle offers an advanced ambient lighting system, known as the Energizing Comfort Control, which features 64 different colors and various effects.
The lighting is not merely aesthetic but also functional, subtly alerting drivers to various vehicle functions and notifications.
The system even adjusts the lighting to match the driver’s mood or to provide energizing or soothing effects, making it a leader in both innovation and user experience.
What was the first car with ambient lighting?
The first car to feature ambient lighting was the Ford Mustang, introduced in the 2005 model.
This innovative feature, known as MyColor, allowed drivers to customize the colors of the instrument panel and other interior lights, thereby creating a personalized ambiance within the vehicle.
This marked a significant advancement in automotive design, as it demonstrated an increased focus on enhancing the driver’s experience through aesthetic customization.
