Infotainment – Which German Automaker Does It Better?

If there’s one portal that lets the driver and the car interact with each other, it’s
the infotainment system. After the steering wheel, the infotainment system is one
equipment that the driver uses the most, and as the name suggests, this system ought
to keep the driver informed as well as entertained.

German automakers have always set the benchmark in luxury, ownership experience,
and introducing newer trends in automotive technology. It was the BMW that first
launched an advanced infotainment system in the early 2000s and everybody
followed suit. Since the introduction of the first multimedia screens and driver
assistance system, infotainment technology has evolved substantially, so much so
that you can now talk to your car and give verbal commands, not to mention gesture
controls for various functions.

Although every automaker tries to offer the best infotainment system and it is a
subjective choice to prefer one over the other. But let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the
infotainment systems offered by the major automakers, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi,
and Volkswagen, and see which German automaker does it better?

Volkswagen – “Discover” Infotainment system

Until now, Volkswagen had always offered infotainment systems to serve the basic
purpose - navigation and multimedia, with simple controls - knobs and buttons and no
huge fancy screens. But with their latest introduction, it seems like they have
“Discovered” the world of minimalism with a touch screen and almost no physical
buttons.

The concept behind this new infotainment system was to modernize the whole interior
to align it with the ongoing trend of virtual and digital tech. The new VW interior
design is called “The Digital Interior”, inspired by a range of all-new infotainment
systems called “Discover”. VW has ditched the majority of the buttons and knobs in
the favor of haptic touch panels and even the gauge cluster is now a “Digital Cockpit
Pro”, inspired by Audi’s virtual cockpit. The range-topping 9.8” high-resolution touch
screen is slightly diver-oriented, well within the reach of the passenger and the only
buttons you’d find are those of the climate control, right below the screen.

The digital odometer is also customizable based on the driving mode you choose,
with the options of ambient or sporty colors. It displays all the necessary info and is
a major upgrade over the ongoing, bland gauge clusters. The redesigned steering
wheel compliments the digital interior, as well as the cockpit, and has similar haptic
touch controls to adjust volume, phone settings, and digital cluster. In a nutshell,
Discover is the rebirth of VW’s infotainment system and a step into the digital
world.

What’s Good

1. The touch screen is very responsive with a negligible lag and the majority of
the interior settings and functions are customizable based on the driver’s needs.
2. There is a “Home button” icon on the left side of the display, to take you back
to the main menu. It is such a lifesaver and so convenient, every automaker
must incorporate this.
3. The wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mirror link are standard and
so is the Bluetooth connectivity, which connects seamlessly.

What’s Annoying

1. There are no physical knobs or buttons for routine functions, like volume
control. Moreover, the volume can be adjusted only through a touch bar below
the screen which is not always responsive and makes it cumbersome to do
such an easy task.
2. Climate control button is only a shortcut that takes you to the main screen and
AC can only be adjusted via the screen. That becomes so annoying during
driving and VW should have used physical buttons or a dedicated touch panel.
3. The steering controls are also all haptic touch panels and there is no tactile
feel in the whole interior except a few, less used buttons.
 Mercedes - MBUX (Mercedes Benz User Experience)
You sit in your brand new S Class and say “Hey Mercedes” and the assistant that
responds is one aspect of what Mercedes call, the MBUX. It is a highly advanced A.I
incorporated, multimedia infotainment system developed by Mercedes to offer
their customers the next-level driving experience.

MBUX was first introduced in the small A class to showcase the potential of in-car
entertainment and the convenience potential of the technology. It has multiple
applications and features, like the voice command to control various features such
as ambient lighting, air conditioning, heated seats, or panoramic roof. A
LINGUATRONIC system identifies your voice command and responds like a virtual
assistant. Another exquisite feature is the range of customization on the digital gauge
cluster and central touch screen, which even responds to digital gestures to avoid
distraction and inconvenience. Apart from feature and function control, the central
screen can be used to watch high quality videos which you can link via Android Auto,
Apple CarPlay or Mirroring.

Maps and navigation have also seen a major upgrade in the MBUX system with
the addition of augmented reality. A front-facing camera turns on automatically when
the destination is near and at lower speeds, it then displays the guide signs like a
heads-up display to ensure there is no room for error. Another important upgrade is
the freedom of input and control over the vehicle. You can either use a dial pad
from the center console, gestures, touch screen, or voice command to give the input
depending on your mood.

What’s good about the MBUX

1. Very interactive and high quality, especially there is no lag in touch screen or
dial pad.
2. Multiple input options and control over the functions and features of car,
such as massaging seats, music, interior mood and lighting.
3. Augmented reality maps and A.I voice assistant are truly the next-level
features, that offer unparalleled convenience and drive quality.
 4. The freedom of customization is brilliant.

What needs Improvement in MBUX

1. Some features are embedded too deep down in the menu and there should
be shortcuts for those.
2. There were reports of users able to play games or watch movies while driving on
the main screen. It is a major safety concern and certainly needs addressing.
3. Maps and navigation can sometimes show lag and take time to reload or
reboot.
4. Voice command or gestures are not always accurately judged and can
become funny to use.

Audi – MMI (Multi Media Interface)

Audi MMI infotainment system, just like the interiors of its cars is really classy and
looks futuristic. It is one of, if not the best infotainment systems in the automotive
industry. Launched back in 2014, it took the world by storm and changed the
perception of the people about how advanced multimedia systems in the cars can
become.

A very important part of the Audi MMI is the virtual cockpit, a 12.3” digital cluster
screen that can be customized as per the driver’s choice and the most striking feature is
the maps and navigation display in this portion. It can either be a 3D or google earth
image that can zoomed in and a heads-up display to complement the Virtual
cockpit system, reducing distractions. Audi also offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
and its own Audi care system that offers various convenience and safety back-ups.

Lately, Audi has ditched the physical buttons and replaced them with a second screen,
dedicated completely to the climate zone. The haptic touch response is very agile
and let the driver knows about the command.
Positives

1. Very interactive to use and the majority of the settings can be done from the
center screen.
2. Virtual cockpit is amazing to look at and reduces distraction by offering
customization.
3. Audi maps and navigation are one of the most advanced and liked in the
market.

Negatives

1. The center and climate control touchscreen can sometimes show lag (fail to
zoom in or out).
2. Reports of random glitches and errors in virtual cockpit screen.
3. You’ve to really push to input the command on the climate control screen and it’s
not very smooth.

BMW – iDrive
BMW redefined the car infotainment system when they launched the iDrive in 2001.
Two decades and many updates later, it is now in its 8th generation called the BMW
iDrive 8. It is one of the best infotainment systems in the world and let me explain
how. The iDrive tends to form a connection with the driver, instead of just following
the commands and the features are mind-blowing.

Once you walk up to your BMW, it presents a dynamic light show and readies the
interior based on your pre-set mood. 2 floating screens with high-tech graphics offer
limitless settings and a selection of convenience or entertainment features, like
ambient music and mood lighting, or heated seats. Only the necessary information
is shown to the driver on a digital cluster gauge, augmented by a heads-up display. A
smart voice command, known as BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant (iPA) that
interacts with the driver based on their voice tone and responds to the commands
instantly. All the features can be controlled via a curved display in the center console
and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.
Pros of BMW iDrive

1. Highly advanced and interactive infotainment system that allows the driver to
control all the functions and features from the center screen.
2. iPA enhances the convenience and comfort and the digital cluster gauge with
heads-up display is less distracting.
3. Seamless performance and high quality graphics improves the driving
experience, such as maps and navigation.

Cons of BMW iDrive

1. The center screen and digital cluster shows lag or glitch sometimes.
2. No physical buttons deprive the driver of tactile sense and feel of the
buttons.
3. All the features and options in one screen make it cumbersome to navigate
through so many tabs to reach the desired option.

Verdict
All the infotainment systems are top notch that offer quality user experience with
convenience and customization. Anyhow, every system has its own drawbacks and
some problems are common to all, but if we have to select the best then we’d opt for
the Mercedes Benz MBUX and we’d also recommend you to avoid the Volkswagen’s
Discover system.