Interesting observations in this article on infotainment and a quote from CEO of VW
Drivers not happy with their car screens
- Thread starter bobz
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I have dual screens in my Acura's (19 MDX and 18 RLX). Top fixed non-touch screen with shade hood for Navi/Carplay/vehicle settings and bottom fixed touch screen for info-tainment, auto/manual heat/vent seats, and Auto/manual climate controls. I'm a "set it and forget it" and use steering wheel controls mostly for info-tainment. A lot of complaints about the dual screen set-up when introduced. I really liked it because everything I needed to see was displayed on both screens at once and no drilling down 1-4 levels to access any common functions. I had to tint the side windows, keep the sunroof shade closed, and put a matte touchscreen protector to help with visibility in the southwestern sun (zero issues in low light or at night).
The only real complaints I have with modern screens are:
- too much glare for certain angle, bright sunlight from sides, and too much pano-roof light ( slight pan/tilt would be handy),
- common functions requires you to drill down 1-4 levels to access,
- screens try to display too much information all at once and it looks like a hot mess trying to see at a glance a +75 mph,
- limited ability to go full screen on functions you want to see (full screen navi or full screen info-tainment), and
- unable to really customize the driver's and info-tainment screens 100%.
The only real complaints I have with modern screens are:
- too much glare for certain angle, bright sunlight from sides, and too much pano-roof light ( slight pan/tilt would be handy),
- common functions requires you to drill down 1-4 levels to access,
- screens try to display too much information all at once and it looks like a hot mess trying to see at a glance a +75 mph,
- limited ability to go full screen on functions you want to see (full screen navi or full screen info-tainment), and
- unable to really customize the driver's and info-tainment screens 100%.
I'm driving a 10-year old car that works just fine. A matte touchscreen was standard, all rarely-touched vehicle functions/settings are buried in menus and there are physical buttons/knobs for the rest. It does all I need it to do without being a distraction.
This isnt surprising at all. Volvo had a huge UI update and managed to make some things much nicer but the overall experience is way worse.
Easier to adjust fans, seat warmers, etc. but they added a persistent bar to the bottom (which you can't use/don't need any of the features with carplay) which shrinks carplay and makes it harder to use.
Our car doesn't look like this, but the row of circle icons near the bottom is part of the "new UI" and its used to switch between native apps (e.g. music, maps, etc). This wasn't there before so carplay extended down further. Now it's always there and is just wasted space. I should take a picture next time I'm in the car. It makes me ragey!
Good news - well, if you consider the Rivan JV, leveraging zonal architecture, and what we have seen from Scout to date with the Community U/X... This "Infotainment" problem won't be a problem. LOL.
That article is so misleading.
That article is so misleading.
I am failing to see what is misleading about the article, but I got distracted trying to understand why Tesla, which got a good rating, is not eligible for ranking. It turns out it is because Tesla does not give JD Power permission to interview owners in 15 states where permission is apparently required, including California.
While looking for that, I also found this: https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-rivian-polestar-perform-terribly-j-d-power-initial-quality-study/
Seems consistent with my takeaway of the above linked article.
Ford got their 12” screen right. A good mix of screen and hard buttons.
Here's our Volvo for reference. Look at how much space is wasted by their stupid menus!!!
(late edit: in case it wasn't clear, the black box is the map I just blocked it out so I don't dox myself lol)
(late edit: in case it wasn't clear, the black box is the map I just blocked it out so I don't dox myself lol)
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I’ve got a BMW X1 with Idrive 9 for UI testing right now. All controls are on the screen, but they made it pretty easy to navigate and pretty easy to find what you are looking for. And the assistant is probably the most useful thing. I just tell it that I’m hot and it turns the air on.
That’s how my wife’s RZ is. Can do a lot with assistant. I know many say they don’t like voice command but I use mine fairly regularly if I’m doing work travel or wife and I are out
Maybe I'm old school...but I'd love to have manual gauges and knobs/buttons for HVAC controls and what not. It's much less distracting, and easier, to manipulate than screens that can glitch on you or get slower as updates roll out. Extremely annoying. It feels like vehicles peaked in the 2000's.
Well you are in luck. We get buttons! This is a picture my husband took in Chicago back in December that shows the buttons under the screen. Looks like we have various climate control buttons, defroster, heated seats and the like. I agree, give me buttons!
On the positive it seems like SM is trying to minimize the screen use as much as possible. Hope it doesn’t become an issue
Having had multi MDXs and other Acuras I agree the dual screen always surprised me with all the hate. I always thought it made a ton of sense. Kind of miss it to be honest
These aren't screens and SW from the 2000's.
Screens don't get slower with updates - if anything the SW optimizations make everything more responsive in modern vehicles.
Agree but I have seen backwards movements several times when CarPlay updates and the do something the car manufacturer struggles to match SW changes with
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