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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.

These are the 'Greenest' and 'Meanest' cars in 2015

As has become tradition, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has come up with a ranking of what it refers to as the "greenest" cars of 2015, and, by way of contrast, a list of the so-called "meanest" cars, so those who value eco-friendliness over all else can choose which vehicles they should or should not consider buying. As you may expect, electric cars make up the majority of the greenest cars on the list, but, perhaps surprisingly to many, the Tesla Model S didn't make the cut. It's worth noting, too, that where the electricity an owner uses to charge their electric vehicle has a big impact on its overall environmental impact. "A car that is charged using electricity generated from natural gas or renewables is going to have significantly less impact on the environment than one charged on a coal-heavy grid," says ACEEE lead vehicle analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan. The ACEEE's list for 2015 looks very different than it did in 2014. It's an interesting collection, though – and we're sure this goes without saying, really – we'd recommend doing a bit more research into each vehicle and how it might fit into your daily life before making any purchase decisions. Click here to see the ACEEE's list of the Greenest and Meanest vehicles sold in the United States in 2015. Green Bugatti Chevrolet Fiat GM GMC Mercedes-Benz Nissan RAM smart Toyota greenest greenest cars

Jay Leno gets pulled over while roaring in a Corvette Z06 convertible

No one is above the law, even if that person is a certain silver-haired auto enthusiast with a popular weekly video series about the cars in his garage. This week, Jay Leno experiences the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z06, but he also gets to have a meeting with some of California's Finest immediately after a high-speed blast. As opposed to the full-bore Z06 coupe with the seven-speed manual, Leno gets behind the wheel of the slightly heavier convertible version with the eight-speed auto. Being a droptop doesn't bother him too much, but Leno makes it obvious he wishes that he could be shifting for himself. Even if the auto is technically quicker, Leno says that swapping gears gives him something to do while driving. Of course, one of the major advantages of the convertible is the ability to listen to the Z06's thumping V8 unimpeded. With 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque from 6.2-liters of supercharged muscle, it already puts down impressive numbers, but the sound might just be the best part of all. Around town, the 'Vette is quiet enough to easily blend in with the rest of traffic. However, tip the throttle down and the valves in the exhaust open up to turn the engine into roaring monster. Be careful where you make this thing howl, though, because it's pretty easy for the police to take notice. The host finds that out the hard way in this week's episode of Jay Leno's Garage. Related Gallery 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible View 18 Photos News Source: Jay Leno's Garage via YouTube Celebrities Chevrolet Coupe Performance Videos Jay Lenos Garage chevy corvette stingray chevy corvette z06