Car gadgets for the holiday season

Would you rather not spend tens of thousands of dollars on a new car just for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto? With a detachable faceplate and connectivity options out the wazoo, we called the AVH-4100NEX "the simplest, most cost-effective" way to get with the times.

The Parrot Minikit Neo 2 HD is a great way to get Bluetooth in your car without it being a total eyesore or annoyingly expensive. It's also battery-powered, so no unsightly wires are required, and it'll run in standby for up to 6 months.

If you prefer a wired Bluetooth receiver, the Aukey Portable Bluetooth Receiver will add hands-free calling to your car with just two wires (audio and power). It'll also activate your phone's voice command and control the audio, all from that little gumdrop-shaped controller.

If you're in the market for an emergency back-up battery, the Cyntur JumperPack Mini packs enough juice to jump-start your car's battery in an emergency. In more Millennial-style emergency situations, it'll also charge a dead smartphone -- several times over.

If you want a mount that'll accommodate phones of all shapes and sizes, a magnetic mount is a wise purchase. Slide a metal plate into your phone case (or mount it to the body with adhesive tape), and you can attach and detach your phone without having to wrestle it free from something that resembles a falcon's foot.