Let's look at some of the most advanced systems available and what you should look for when upgrading or buying your next car.
In the past decade, we have seen a revolution in automotive technology. Not only can we connect our mobile phones to the car entertainment system, but it also offers new services that make it easier for us to get around while driving.
Car infotainment systems have been a key selling point for some of the most popular car manufacturers, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and Tesla. These in-car entertainment systems allow you to do everything from watching movies to listening to music and even staying connected on the road. But which manufacturer's system is the best? Today we're going to look at some of the most popular systems and help you decide.
Here is a list of the 7 best current infotainment systems, ranked by consumer feedback.
The Uconnect 5 is on this list because of its ease of use.
The main selling point of Uconnect 5 is its large feature set and overall cohesion as a system. It integrates Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and for homes, it comes equipped with Fire TV built into the entertainment display in vehicles with rear seats.
Uconnect 5 is both intuitive to use—with information and options presented clearly and logically—and powerful, but the software can be laggy at times, which leads to frustration. We expect the software update to cure any lags and turn the Uconnect 5 into a top-slot contender.
The new GM system with Google built-in offers Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play Store. It will soon be updated to include Amazon Alexa. Back-seat passengers with screens also have access to their apps downloaded.
The system is easy to use and does not distract you from driving. For Super Cruise-equipped vehicles, Google Maps can also identify roads compatible with the hands-free driving system.
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Mercedes-Benz is well known for its cutting-edge technology, and it continues to push forward with its Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) system. With a configurable interface, a wide range of features, and a reasonable price tag, MBUX is an option many car buyers are considering.
One of the MBUX system's biggest strengths is its ability to learn and remember things like your favorite songs and places. The system interprets hand and arm movements to activate different functions on certain models, much like BMW's iDrive.
Hyundai's Blue Link app works especially well on connectivity and utility. We love it because it just works and works intuitively, whether from inside the car or using the app to start or precondition the car, find your car, or do things like giving someone a virtual key to drive the car for a set amount of time.
Hyundai's voice command is still one of the best when it comes to understanding speech. It's nice to say, "Alexa, start my Elantra," on a cold morning and be sitting in a toasty warm car ten minutes later.
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Toyota's new infotainment system is a thoughtful implementation that includes voice control and a learning function, which can also operate parts of the car's systems, such as wipers.
Toyota's implementation of Google Maps is our favorite so far. The Drive Connect Cloud Navigation stores your entire route, so you won't get lost if you lose 4G or 5G connectivity. The new system's display is sharp, and its interface runs smoothly thanks to Toyota's focus on simplicity.
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Volvo's move to baking Google Assistant into its cars is a big step for the company. The all-electric Volvo C40 has Google built-in, so you do not have to hook up a phone to use everything from navigation apps to music streaming. Volvo is adding new apps consistently and retrofitting them "to all Volvo cars with Google built in."
Volvo is aware of iPhone users, providing CarPlay support as standard, although we're waiting for wireless CarPlay to be added.
iDrive 8 is the latest version of BMW's proprietary infotainment system. It's more complex than the previous generation, but it's also easier to use.
The system responds faster and is smoother when moving between menu items, and the dial allows the user to navigate through the menu system and across apps without having to lean forward and try and tap parts of the screen with a finger. The way it scrolls, rocks, and clicks become natural quickly, making it an intuitive feature that's integrated with the driver's instrument panel seamlessly.
BMW's voice control technology has reached a point where you can tell the system what part of your body is too hot or cold, and it will adjust climate control accordingly. The voice control system can also respond non-verbally using glowing spheres of light at different brightness levels across the dashboard. But we still don't find the gesture control consistent.
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Volkswagen |
Germany |
| #2 |  Toyota |
Japan |
| #3 |  Stellantis |
Netherlands |
| #4 |  Mercedes-Benz Group |
Germany |
| #5 |  Ford Motor |
United States |
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Michelin |
France |
| #2 |  Bridgestone |
Japan |
| #3 |  Continental |
Germany |
| #4 |  Goodyear |
United States |
| #5 |  Sumitomo |
Japan |
