These days, students who pursue an auto career gain a wealth of knowledge about cars – understanding and expertise that go far beyond engines, fuel efficiency and standard maintenance. Each year, more elaborate entertainment systems and luxurious comfort features get added to the mix, and professionals must stay on top of the latest add-ons.
You don’t need auto technician training to see that over the years, cars have evolved from practical transportation devices, to mobile entertainment systems customized for human comfort. Due to the current demand for infotainment systems, every auto company is introducing new functions with the hopes of outdoing their competitors, so how does someone even begin to make the difficult decision of buying a car? Of course, you can always talk shop with your local automotive service technician to find out which cars provide specs that are best suited for you. But, if infotainment systems play a crucial role in your decision-making process, you’ll want to continue reading to find out which auto companies offer the best in onboard entertainment, navigation, voice commands and many other controls.
Chrysler’s UConnect System
The Uconnect system can be found in most Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. It is one of the most user-friendly infotainment systems out there. The big touch-screen system features large recognizable icons that are individually labelled–just in case the thumbnail image doesn’t give away its function. With a voice command system and a large keyboard featuring a QWERTY layout, there is more than one way to tell Chrysler’s UConnect system exactly what you need. Chrysler has remained current with its system and offers tons of features including (but not limited to) Bluetooth music streaming, hands-free calling and texting, wireless charging and a variety of premium sound systems to choose from.
“If it Ain’t Broke…” BMW’s Knob-Controlled System
While many other auto companies have tapped into the touch-screen trend, BMW has firmly stood by its knob-controlled iDrive infotainment system—and that’s perfectly fine, because it works flawlessly. Of course the knob system does take some getting used to, but once you’ve got it down, you won’t even have to look at the screen to make a selection. Plus, after a while the system predicts what you’re going to do before you even finish entering your command with the knob. Good-looking and smart? BMW might be onto something as far as intuitive infotainment systems go. You can also use its voice commands to tell iDrive whether you need directions, music or to make a hands-free call. Another feature that separates BMW from its competitors is its split-screen option, which allows users to see two different functions at once—Multitaskers: you’ve met your match.
Kia and Hyundai: The Best of Both Worlds
If you’re one of the many indecisive people out there who just can’t choose between a touch screen system or one with physical buttons and functions, you might want to look into what Kia or Hyundai has to offer. As two closely related auto companies, it only makes sense that they would share a single infotainment system. The system is extremely simple and easy to use. The touch-screen icons and all of the buttons are labelled clearly which makes for easy identification. So, if you’re looking at the navigation screen for directions and you decide you want to play some music, you can simply hit the “radio” or “media” button instead of interrupting your map to find the right icon to touch.
Who do you think makes the best infotainment system on the market?