5 main features to look for in a car infotainment system

Technology will never stop evolving. We are at the point where carmakers eagerly seek for ways to bridge the gap between humans and machines. Aside from the car itself, automakers are creating more competitive infotainment systems for better driver and passenger experience.

With numerous choices of infotainment systems available out there, what features do we really need to look for when buying a new car? Is bigger really better? Here’s a checklist of the things that you should check when you’re in the showroom or during test drives.

This feature is considered to be an essential factor when looking for a great infotainment system. When you’re smartphone is connected via Bluetooth, you won’t need to reach out for your phone when it dings or if you want to call someone because the head unit will do the work for you. This can reduce distractions and minimizing the possibility of car accidents.

Another thing, check if the system has a strong Bluetooth connectivity. Connection should be stable and it shouldn’t be a hassle to pair your smartphones every time you get in the car.

This is a must-have feature, folks. Make sure that the navigation (or navi) of the car can trace places accurately. It’s also important that the navigation is easy to operate. If using your car’s Navi is as hard as college calculus, then that’s a bad sign. Some navis, albeit rare, may also have traffic data. That’s a huge plus.

Not all infotainment systems are equipped with voice controls, but if the car you’re eyeing has one, take time to check if this car feature works well. It’s better if the voice controls responds using a natural speech instead of demanding for a certain words to be said in specific order. Less hassle.

Another thing you should do is to test the touchscreen sensitivity. Does it quickly respond to haptic inputs? Tap or swipe several times. Move from one app to another, and see if it’s yey or yikes. A huge but laggy infotainment system isn’t something you would want from a brand new car, right?

Virtual buttons should be big enough to avoid fat finger problems. If the infotainment system has a knob, make sure that it’s tactile and the feedback is great. Your fingertips should be able to easily input a command without having to look away from the road. Text size and fonts on screen are also important.