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It's been a man's world for decades when it comes to all things automotive. But the times have changed. Today, women are the driving force when it comes to buying cars – they influence up to 80 per cent of all car-buying decisions. Manufacturers have taken note and are catering to women more than ever before. Here's a list of a few "female-friendly" features designed to appeal to more women buyers.

For Jessica Leeder's story on female car buyers, click here.

Nissan

1. Bold Colour

Say goodbye to boring black and stale silver. Manufacturers are rolling out bolder car colours from across the spectrum – like this copper-colored Infiniti Q30 concept and this red Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept.

Honda

2. Convenience

Nobody likes to vacuum, male or female. But who doesn’t like a clean, crumb-free cabin? This built-in vacuum cleaner in the Honda Odyssey comes with a 10-foot hose that can reach the floor mats in the front seats. A purse holder and a trash can are also on board.

Chrysler

3. Smart use of space

Clever storage spots are a priority for women. This Jeep Cherokee has a hidden compartment tucked under the cushion of the front passenger seat – it’s a smart, efficient use of space. Plus, it’s easy to reach and perfect for storing valuables such as a purse, cellphone, or iPad.
Ford

4. Staying Connected

Technology is a must-have, especially for business women. Ford Sync with MyFord touch lets you stay connected with the office – or family – 24/7. This voice-activated technology can even read text messages aloud to you while driving.
Mazda

5. Blind Spot Monitoring

Safety technology is a priority for women. A blind spot monitoring system warns you when a vehicle is in your blind spot and it’s unsafe to change lanes. This technology is available on affordable cars like the Mazda3.

General Motors

6. Safety Features

Today, even small cars come well-equipped with a plethora of standard safety features. This Chevy Cruze has a whopping 10 standard airbags.
Toyota

7. Parking Aids

Despite the stereotypical belief, there’s no empirical evidence that women are bad at parking. In fact, in a battle of the sexes I won a parallel parking face-off against colleague Peter Cheney a few years ago. But I digress. Parking aids and self-parking cars, like the Lexus LS 460, take the stress out of the task.
Jaguar

8. Convertible Convenience

Say goodbye to manually-operated convertible roofs. Save time and your fingernails – no more fiddling with awkward latches to drop the top. Power-operated roofs lower with the touch of a button in seconds. Some, like the Jaguar F-Type, will even drop while driving up to 50 km/h.
BMW

9. Eco-friendly Features

Women are jumping on the eco-car bandwagon. Improved fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions are big selling features. Plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles, like the BMW i3 and the Audi A3 e-tron, are hitting the market in record numbers – all designed to save fuel and reduce your carbon footprint.
Audi

10. Ride Comfort

What woman doesn’t love a commanding view of the road ahead? Sitting high up improves visibility. But many don’t like driving a big, gas-guzzling SUV. Compact crossovers, like the 2015 Audi Q3, are all the rage for women who want space, luxury, and fuel efficiency wrapped in a small, easy-to-drive package.

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