The infotainment system is the heartbeat of every new automobile for tech nerds. Every automobile manufacturer approaches things slightly differently, both to develop the best system and to give customers a brand-specific experience.

Which manufacturer ultimately offers the top infotainment system? To be quite honest, it’s best to avoid using any of these technologies and expect a perfect experience. No matter how smooth the infotainment interface is, infotainment is still a relatively new territory for automakers and the constraints of driving make anything other than paying attention to the road difficult and unpleasant. The most important thing to remember is to always keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road, but the majority of today’s infotainment systems prevent this.

The greatest of the top infotainment systems are featured by these five technologies. They are offered in cars at a wide range of price points and come from a wide range of OEMs. Although not all functions of a certain system are common, be sure to look into these systems when looking for your next vehicle.

MMI Audi

MMI is slick and elegantly crafted, just like the rest of an Audi vehicles. It has a rotary controller, which is always a bonus, and, in some variants, a touchpad that can read handwriting. The available “Virtual Cockpit” display, however, is what truly distinguishes MMI. It takes the place of the instrument cluster, which could show everything from a computerized speedometer to satellite imagery from Google Maps. On the majority of recent Audi models, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are options available.

Audi introduced a dual-screen design more recently with models like the Q8 and all-electric E-Tron, with a bottom screen replacing the majority of the analog controls. That works fairly nicely, but it could have been disastrous.

iDrive by BMW

One of the first automakers to introduce a complete infotainment system was BMW, and the company’s iDrive system is still among the best. It uses a rotary controller rather than repeatedly touching a touchscreen to guide the driver through the different menus and submenus. Apple CarPlay is available on all BMW models, though it is not on every model as standard. Since 2016, the manufacturer has offered wireless CarPlay, initially for an annual cost and more recently free of charge.

BMW has been slow to offer Android Auto, but with the introduction of the new iDrive 7 infotainment system in 2021 models, it will finally make a wireless version available.

Additionally, some BMW models come with gesture control, which lets you use your hand to perform things like answering the phone and changing the radio volume. However, we’ve discovered that it’s more of a gimmick than a genuine innovation.

Chevrolet MyLink

MyLink has a respectable number of analog controls with large, easy-to-read icons and text. The IntelliLink systems from fellow General Motors brands Buick and GMC utilize the same fundamental setup. With its more sophisticated CUE (short for Cadillac User Experience) technologies, GM’s flagship brand, Cadillac, has had difficulty competing with the user interface’s simplicity. All brands provide Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and nearly all GM vehicles include a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot that can connect up to seven devices as standard equipment. Additionally, GM just started integrating Amazon Alexa functionality into its cars. GM Marketplace, a service that enables you to order meals and pay for gas from your dashboard, is also available to MyLink-equipped vehicles.

Chrysler Uconnect

One of the better non-luxury vehicle systems is Chrysler’s Uconnect, although the top model is truly desired for optimal performance. Though Ram pickup trucks feature a large 12.0-inch, portrait-oriented screen, that typically comes with an 8.4-inch touchscreen as standard. With clear graphics, logical voice commands, a snappy touchscreen, and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Uconnect excels at the fundamentals. The “Performance Pages” software for Dodge muscle cars or the possibility to incorporate a rear-seat entertainment system into the Chrysler Pacifica minivan are just two examples of model-specific features that Chrysler is particularly good at developing.

Sync 3 Ford

Ford deserved to win the title of “most improved” in the infotainment category. The new Sync 3 system has fixed the problems with its previous MyFord Touch systems, which were renowned for being terrible. It has responsive touchscreens, clear menus, and voice-command technology that allows more speech patterns by the user. Ford is adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wi-Fi hotspots, and an Amazon Alexa capability for some vehicles, building on this strong base. In the near future, Sync 3 will be replaced by Sync 4, which will provide wireless CarPlay and Android Auto versions in addition to over-the-air software updates. On the Mustang Mach-E electric car’s absurdly large touchscreen, Sync 4 will make its debut.