Wards 10 Best User Interface competition honorees have been announced, this award is part of Wards best interiors. The automobile models voted the best from the industry publication include the Audi S5, BMW 540i, Buick Enclave, Dodge Durango, Ford F-150, Honda Odyssey, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Impreza and Volkswagen Atlas. All but one of the winners has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
High Five for Audi S5
The Audi S5 features vivid graphics, head-up display, rotary multi-media dial, faster response to commands, and carbon-fiber trim. ADAS features include the traffic-sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert and lane-keeping systems to stop-and-go adaptive cruise control.
The innovative Audi virtual cockpit transforms the way the driver interacts with the S5 through an entirely digital dashboard that renders 3D graphics with brilliant clarity. A quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor that can deliver vibrant color at 60 frames per second helps to enhance the infotainment viewing and navigating experience via the large Google Map images supported with 4G LTE (where available). Newly available Audi smartphone interface offers Apple CarPlay and Google™ Android Auto integration for compatible smartphones.
Additional benchmark infotainment features include the MMI touch with handwriting-recognition and available full-color head-up display, which projects relevant driving information in the driver’s field of vision. Newly available in-car Audi connect infotainment and security features, supported by 4G LTE connectivity (where available) help connect the vehicle with the internet, the owner and the surrounding infrastructure. Improved functions include online traffic info, weather updates, and internet radio streaming as well as picture navigation, read-aloud personalized news headlines and Twitter® alerts, among other features.
BMW 540i iDrives Connectivity
BMW 540i has a Head-up display in BMW 540i can be reconfigured, gesture control, a 10.2-in. (26-cm) color display screen and voice-activation system, iDrive controller and wireless Apple CarPlay to available real-time traffic and weather. Many BMW models feature wireless charging.
Buick Enclave Avenir
Buick Enclave Avenir uses both digital and analog readouts 8-in. (20-cm) reconfigurable instrument cluster that ties together both digital and analog readouts, as well as six USB ports, ensuring no device goes uncharged. Per usual for GM vehicles, smartphone pairing for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is lightning fast and simple. All GM vehicles have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Dodge Durango SRT
For the Dodge Durango SRT Performance Pages can be tailored while adaptive cruise control does much of the work. The Durango features four USB ports and fast response to voice commands.
The Dodge Durango SRT debuts with the new Uconnect fourth-generation system that includes performance improvements with faster startup time, enhanced processing power and the class-exclusive Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen display that houses the new SRT Performance Pages along with Uconnect Navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM Guardian connected services, HD Radio, and 5-year trial of SiriusXM Travel Link and Traffic.
Personalization is made even easier with a newly designed 7-inch, thin-film transistor (TFT) customizable digital instrument gauge cluster with 180-mph speedometer that allows drivers to select from a multitude of layouts and information.
The 2018 Dodge Durango offers consumers more than 60 available safety and security features.Available safety and security features include forward collision warning with crash mitigation, adaptive cruise control with stop, Blind-spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Path (RCP) detection, which aid drivers when changing lanes or in parking lot situations. Uconnect with SiriusXM Guardian connected services includes SOS Calling, Roadside Assistance Calling, Stolen Vehicle Assistance and Theft Alarm Notification.
Ford F-150 Raptor
Ford F-150 Raptor features Sync 3 connectivity system, four USB ports and two 110V plugs. The fast response to voice commands make for hands-free use, while the big knobs are easy to use. SYNC 3 is compatible with CarPlay and Android Auto. The Terrain Management System automatically adjust.
Honda Odyssey Vac and Talks to the Back.
Honda Odyssey’s steering wheel features ambient lighting. The SUV features a Blu-Ray/DVD rear entertainment system with wireless headphones. There are Magic Slide second-row seats, a wireless phone charger, HondaVAC to vacuum cleans up spills. The hands-free power liftgate, the competent driver-assistance features or the 11-speaker premium audio system Cabin Talk” microphone all contributed to it’s high rating. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available.
Lincoln Gives Continental Body Massage
For the Lincoln Continental its lavish and supple cabin, 30-way adjustable massaging seats and astonishing 19-speaker Revel Ultima sound system. Driver-assistance systems are plentiful in Continental.
Mazda CX-5
Mazda CX-5 Head-up display in Mazda CX-5 identifies stop signs and is rated a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS. The 2017 Lincoln Continental features Apple CarPlay.
Attention to detail was taken when positioning all of the 2017 CX-5’s features, such as the MAZDA CONNECT infotainment system with 7-inch, full-color touchscreen display, multi-function Commander control and standard Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio. With everything where they need to be for easy operation, the driver can better enjoy one of the best driving dynamics on the market courtesy of Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control system–another intuitive feature that makes the driver feel more confident and in control.
The CX-5 has more to offer than its four USB ports and a BOSE® 10-speaker surround sound system. Owners also enjoy an intuitively designed cabin, built to the most exacting standards. The CX-5 maximizes driver engagement, and that’s being recognized over and over again.
Impressed with Impreza
Subaru Impreza EyeSight and other ADAS technologies onboard Impreza prompted the judges winning votes. The 2017 all-wheel drive compact comes standard with a SUBARU STARLINK Multimedia system that offers touchscreen display; smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Aha and Pandora; Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming; and rear vision camera, and the top-level system includes navigation powered by TomTom.
Atlas of Connected Features on the Atlas
The Volkswagen Atlas display screen and uses capacitive sensing. ADAS features of the Atlas include front assist, pedestrian sensing, lane assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control and park pilot. 4MOTION with Active Control, allows drivers with the turn of a dial to switch between four different all-wheel-drive modes. Volkswagen was an early adopter of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and the smartphone compatible interfaces are available on the Atlas.
The focus of the Wards 10 Best UX competition, part of Wards 10 Best Interiors, is to identify driver interfaces that are user-friendly, navigation systems that are easy to program, collision-avoidance technologies that are dependable and smartphone integration that is simple, allowing drivers safe access to text messages, emails and phone contacts while on the road.