New Cars Still Available Without DRLs

[David87]

Seeing as so many PHers seem to complain about their retinas being burned by DRLs and them having been compulsory for new car designs for quite a while now, I can imagine a lot of angry folk from here driving about in a constant state of rage.

It occurred to me the other day, however, that there are still a few cars left where they're either not fitted with DRLs or only the higher-spec models get them (I saw a brand new Dacia Duster and it got me thinking!). I am therefore starting a list of cars that are safe for those who don't like the lights to buy. Please feel free to correct me or add to the list! I'm so sad to have noticed all of these things whilst driving around.

Ariel Atom - I can't recall even the latest model having them.
Aston Martin - am I right in saying that no Aston Martins have DRLs yet? How have they got away with this when they have released recent new models?
BMW X1 - I can't recall seeing an X1 with DRLs, but I imagine the forthcoming facelift will change things.
Caterham 7 - no real surprise here!
Dacia Duster - only the top-of-the-range models seem to get them (and what's the point in an expensive Dacia?!).
Ford Focus - only the top models get them I think.
Ford C-Max - no models appear to have them.
Ford Ka - same as above (but weirdly the Fiat 500 does get them!)
Honda Accord - possibly?!
Honda Jazz - I think I've only seen the Si models with them.
Hyundai i20 - I might be wrong.
Jeep Wrangler - similar story to the Caterham 7!
Land Rover Defender - see above.
Lotus Evora - not that you'd ever see one to notice!
MINI - currently no models have factory DRLs, but they are available as a dealer-fit accessory in place of the fog lamps. The forthcoming F56 has them from the factory.
Mazda MX-5 - does the latest facelift have them or not?
Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series - is this still on sale?
Morgan - no explanation needed.
Nissan Navara - must be due replacement soon, surely?
SEAT Ibiza - seems to be cars with halogen headlamps only that don't have DRLs.
Skoda Fabia - think it's just the base models without them.
Suzuki - Alto? Swift? Jimny? I'm not sure.
Toyota iQ - this car must surely be axed soon anyway?
Vauxhall Antara - probably only sold five so far anyway.
Volkswagen Polo - current base models don't have them, but I imagine the imminent facelift changes this.

Edited by David87 on Saturday 1st March 21:53

[Ed.]

No regulations state DRL's have to be the overly bright HID/LED chosen by most car makers, they can be conventional has halogens like the original safety data supported. Perhaps you're noticing cars which use the existing lights or they have been switched off?

[M4cruiser]

My understanding is that new type approvals must have DRLs.

But older models continuing in production with no need to re-type-approve are not required to have them.

But I don't think you must use them!! Unless someone knows better.

The Antara has them only by turning on the lights to auto, so the dipped beams become the DRLs.

[Blakewater]

When I had a Golf the DRLs could only be disconnected by the dealer, there was no way I could switch them off. I have seen one Golf where the owner has opted for this and the DRLs were off. With my A3 the dial for the lights can be switched round to turn the DRLs off completely, though I tend to leave them on.

[SteBrown91]

my mk6 golf has drls. But they are part of a twin filament main beam, so the low power filament is the DRL, the higher the main beam. They dont blind people, and can be switched off in the menu if you wish.

Much prefer this setup tbh. Actually the newer audis are a better setup, led's in a tube (like the beemer angel eyes) which are nowhere near as dazzling as a series of leds shining out

[va1o]

It's all to do when the car was type approved, most those cars you've listed are approaching end of model cycle or due a facelift.

[Morningside]

I thought that it was a EU legal requirement? But if it means type approved than the Toyota Corolla will NEVER have them!

[Spare tyre]

Out and about yesterday it was surprising the amount of cars on the motorway at night with only their drls on.

I do understand the point of drls ( don't shoot me) but I don't understand why it's only at the front

[Ozzie Osmond]

Required for type approval but not mandatory for use once you've bought the car.

Just get the dealer to turn them off for you - a task typically achieved with their laptop.

[panholio]

I think that some of the LED ones are inherently dangerous in their design. When fitted to cars that don't have automatic lights, they are too bright and scatter light wrongly at dusk/night if people forget to put their lights on.

They dim when the main beam is put on, I don't understand why they don't switch off entirely. The designs on cars where they are separated out and sit in roughly the position of the fog lights has resulted in legitimising fog light wkers.

[Colonial]

panholio said:

I think that some of the LED ones are inherently dangerous in their design. When fitted to cars that don't have automatic lights, they are too bright and scatter light wrongly at dusk/night if people forget to put their lights on.

They dim when the main beam is put on, I don't understand why they don't switch off entirely. The designs on cars where they are separated out and sit in roughly the position of the fog lights has resulted in legitimising fog light wkers.

My last 2 cars have both had DRLs (Golf R and Citroen DS3) and both of them switch off when the lights are turned on.

[grumpyscot]

On SWMBO's Pug 308, you can disable them easily through the radio / driver options.

But I do wish people would realise that DRLs do NOT work on rear lights (unlike the way Saab & Volvo originally did). All to often I come up to some idiot in the dark who thinks "My DRLs are on so what?"

[wemorgan]

grumpyscot said:

But I do wish people would realise that DRLs do NOT work on rear lights (unlike the way Saab & Volvo originally did). All to often I come up to some idiot in the dark who thinks "My DRLs are on so what?"

More worryingly they also didn't have their headlights on.

[DevonPaul]

wemorgan said:

grumpyscot said:

But I do wish people would realise that DRLs do NOT work on rear lights (unlike the way Saab & Volvo originally did). All to often I come up to some idiot in the dark who thinks "My DRLs are on so what?"

More worryingly they also didn't have their headlights on.

I see this a lot in the evenings.

I always wonder how often they check their instruments.

[David87]

I think a lot of the problem with people driving with no lights / DRLs in modern cars is that the dials are always lit.

[anonymous-user]

I have a 2012 Octavia VRS and I can switch the DRL's off in seconds with the on board 'puter. I'd be surprised if othe VAG product of the same era wasn't similar.

[HTP99]

David87 said:

I think a lot of the problem with people driving with no lights / DRLs in modern cars is that the dials are always lit.

Yep, also I had a 57 plate Golf for a few days recently; the dials were always lit and when the headlamps were on there was no light on the dash telling me they were on so when set to auto you didn't know if they were on or not; I think it was a Golf as I can be in a different car everyday of the week sometimes.

As for DRL's, I don't really see the need for them,if they want to sort something on cars they need to sort having either the indicator within the headlamp so if indicating when the headlamps are lit you can't see the indicator flashing or the rear indicator within the rear lamps so when braking and indicating sometimes it's hard to actually see the indicator; Golfs spring to mind for both.

[whyohwhy]

Would be a result if all cars had auto lights. It's becoming painfully obvious that miore and more people are unaware of the fact that lights are as much about being seen as being able to see.

Either that or actually teach people to drive properly

I don't agree with dumbing down driving but as no government is going to introduce legislation to cover idiots behind the wheel we can only rely on car manufacturers helping out.

[skip_1]

All Dacia Dusters have DRL's now as new, and now cost more. Although they were selling the old model off cheap as pre-reg.

A lot of marques let you turn them off if they bother you.

[skip_1]

Blakewater said:

When I had a Golf the DRLs could only be disconnected by the dealer, there was no way I could switch them off. I have seen one Golf where the owner has opted for this and the DRLs were off. With my A3 the dial for the lights can be switched round to turn the DRLs off completely, though I tend to leave them on.

On mine you can turn them off from the steering wheel menu, although it is a basic model so uses the sidelights rather than LEDs.