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Best car infotainment systems: From UConnect to MBUX, these are our favorites

Declaring one infotainment system the best over any other is an inherently subjective matter. You can look at quantitative testing for things like input response time and various screen load times, but ask a room full of people that have tried all car infotainment systems what their favorite is, and you’re likely to get a lot of different responses. For the most part, the various infotainment systems available all share a similar purpose. They aim to help the driver get where they're going with navigation, play their favorite tunes via all sorts of media playback options and allow folks to stay connected with others via phone connectivity. Of course, most go way beyond the basics these days and offer features like streaming services, in-car performance data and much more. Unique features are aplenty when you start diving through menus, but how they go about their most important tasks vary widely. Some of our editors prefer systems that are exclusively touch-based and chock full of boundary-pushing features. Others may prefer a back-to-basics non-touch system that is navigable via a scroll wheel. You can compare it to the phone operating system wars. Just like some prefer Android phones over iPhones, we all have our own opinions for what makes up the best infotainment interface. All that said, our combined experience tells us that a number of infotainment systems are at least better than the rest. WeÂ’ve narrowed it down to five total systems in their own subcategories that stand out to us. Read on below to see our picks, and feel free to make your own arguments in the comments. Best infotainment overall: UConnect 5, various Stellantis products Ram 1500 Uconnect Infotainment System Review If thereÂ’s one infotainment system that all of us agree is excellent, itÂ’s UConnect. It has numerous qualities that make it great, but above all else, UConnect is simple and straightforward to use. Ease of operation is one of the most (if not the single most) vital parts of any infotainment system interface. If youÂ’re expected to be able to tap away on a touchscreen while driving and still pay attention to the road, a complex infotainment system is going to remove your attention from the number one task at hand: driving. UConnect uses a simple interface that puts all of your key functions in a clearly-represented row on the bottom of the screen. Tap any of them, and it instantly pulls up that menu.

Expect the Cadillac XT3 small crossover in late 2018

Cadillac's sedan-heavy lineup can't complete in this crossover-crazy market, it seems. The Detroit News spoke to Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen and found out some more details about the brand's plan to alter its lineup to cater more to current consumer tastes. It's no surprise that these plans would include a small crossover, because de Nysschen has been talking about a vehicle smaller than the XT5 like this since at least 2015. The report also pins the Fairfax Assembly Plant, where GM builds the Buick LaCrosse and the Chevrolet Malibu, as the site for what could be called the XT3's production. That's not an immediately obvious choice, since the LaCrosse and Malibu are based on the latest evolution of the Epsilon platform, known as E2XX. And the XT5 is based on a crossover version of that same platform (known as C2XX), while XT3 is expected to be smaller than the XT5. So perhaps there's a different assembly line going into Fairfax, or the C2XX platform can be significantly shortened. We assume that the XT3 would be built on a smaller platform, perhaps the Gamma II that underpins the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore – which are built in either South Korea or Mexico, depending on which market they are to be exported to. The Encore is selling very well for Buick, with sales figures increasing through late last year. Another possibility is the D2XX platform that underpins the Chinese-built Buick Envision and the GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Equinox, perhaps with assembly happening at the CAMI plant in Ontario. At this early stage, without confirmation of GM as to what platform the XT3 will use or where it will really be built, it's too early to say what the Fairfax rumor means. This isn't the first time we've heard about a small Cadillac crossover. Back in 2015, de Nysschen told us to expect it sometime in 2018. But later that year, speaking to Reuters, he posited that it'd be closer to 2019. The Detroit News says de Nysschen told them it'll launch in the second half of 2018, splitting the difference between what we'd heard previously. Remember, Cadillac's only two vehicles in the segment are the XT5 and Escalade. We know that the brand is almost certainly scrambling to fill the holes in that side of the lineup. We think a three-row crossover will slot between the two, probably called the XT7.

Cadillac XT5 confirmed for 2016 as next-gen SRX

Cadillac's entire lineup of 2016 models gets a major infotainment upgrade this summer with improvements to CUE and integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There's one major exception for now, though. The SRX retains the old system until its all-new generation, called the XT5, debuts early in the 2016 calendar year. "When we transition into all new product lines, we will evolve the naming convention to suit the new classification we have announced. So SRX becomes XT5 next year," company spokesman David Caldwell said in an email to Autoblog. Earlier spy shots and rumors suggest the XT5 might be offered with a turbocharged four-cylinder and naturally aspirated six-cylinder engines, plus a nine-speed automatic transmission. For the rest of Cadillac's models, CarPlay arrives with the launch of the 2016 vehicles, and Android Auto joins later. Using either of them requires a connection via USB, and they add a new projection icon on the CUE screen. Once activated, both systems integrate with driver's phone and incorporate features like navigation, music, and contacts. They can also accept voice commands. Even for those that don't want to hook up a smartphone, CUE should work better thanks to a more powerful processor. Start-up times for the infotainment system are expected to be faster, and Cadillac claims that it's also more responsive for voice recognition, navigation searches, and media. The navigation interface is simplified, as well. The Escalade, CTS, and XTS can now be ordered with a 360-degree camera system to display on the screen. Cadillac Enhances Phone Integration for 2016 Models with Apple CarPlay, CUE Upgrades APPLE CARPLAY AVAILABLE AT LAUNCH; ANDROID AUTO COMING LATER IN MODEL YEAR 2015-06-09 NEW YORK – Cadillac's 2016 model year products will feature enhanced connectivity and control, including the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the predominant new systems for in-car phone integration. These additions are part of a broader enhancement of CUE, Cadillac's user experience, with new features and a faster, streamlined operation. Apple CarPlay will debut in 2016 Cadillac models featuring CUE's 8-in multi-touch screen except the SRX Crossover, a model that will move to an all-new generation in early 2016. Android Auto is expected to be phased into 2016 production at a later date. The 2016 model year will begin this summer.