Subaru Infotainment Review | Video, Photos, Impressions

Subaru Infotainment Review | Video, photos, impressions

Subaru isn't top of mind when we start talking about the best infotainment systems, and after using the Starlink system in our long-term 2019 Subaru Forester for months, we still think Subaru is mid-pack.

The best aspect of the 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system in our Forester is its simplicity. You couldn't ask for a more basic layout and software experience on this screen, and while that's not the case for the upper second screen, most of your core vehicle functions are handled on the lower one. We'll note that both the Subaru Outback and Legacy have newer, larger screens available that we'll also go over later in this review. The Impreza, Crosstrek and Ascent offer up a similar experience as this Forester does.

2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Refresh Updates Styling, Infotainment

2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross refresh updates styling, infotainment

As expected from spy shots, the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has received a styling refresh, and it changes the somewhat controversial rear end. It also brings some tweaks to the infotainment, and for markets outside the U.S. a plug-in hybrid.

The big exterior changes are at the back. The Aztek-style split rear window is gone for a conventional single one. The taillights no longer bridge across the middle of the hatch. They do still extend up the rear pillars. The shape of the hatch looks a little different, too, and it helps reduce the stubby look of the Eclipse Cross's tail.

2021 Mazda Cx-5 Debuts With New Infotainment And Cheaper Turbo Model

2021 Mazda CX-5 debuts with new infotainment and cheaper Turbo model

Mazda has updated the 2021 Mazda CX-5 with a couple notable changes in the new model year. It's the brand's best seller by a longshot, and we think buyers of the 2021 car will like what Mazda has done.

The infotainment system is new this year, as Mazda has yanked its new screen and software out of the Mazda3 and CX-30 for duty in the CX-5. That means there's a new 10.25-inch high-resolution widescreen sitting atop the dash, and the software it's running is much improved over the previous Mazda infotainment. It's also the end of the touchscreen, because Mazda has designed this new system to be exclusively operated by a rotary dial. Previously, you could operate the CX-5's screen via touch if the vehicle was stopped. We prefer the new system greatly over the old interface, so this is a big upgrade. The new screen comes standard on the base Sport trim, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard.

2020 Lexus Rx Infotainment Driveway Test | Remote Touch, Touchscreen, Apple Carplay

2020 Lexus RX Infotainment Driveway Test | Remote Touch, Touchscreen, Apple CarPlay

When you drive cars from the same brand enough, you start to instinctively know how to accomplish tasks. It's like seeing the emblem on the steering wheel automatically reprograms your brain. For instance, a three-pointed star = gear shift is the stalk that usually controls the windshield wipers. 

I say this because when I got into the 2020 Lexus RX for the first time, I ignored my programming. I don't know why, but when I went to change the channel (left on Sirius Watercolors, ugh), I reached up and tapped the 12.3-inch dashtop display to do it. Just as I remembered that doing so should do nothing ... it worked! What the hell?

2020 Honda Civic Coupe Interior Driveway Test | Space, Features, Infotainment, Storage

2020 Honda Civic Coupe Interior Driveway Test | Space, features, infotainment, storage

The compact coupe is nearly extinct, and one has to assume that the Honda Civic Coupe is just clawing for its future life somewhere in the depths of product planning. For now though, the 2020 Civic Si Coupe still exists, it's still a barrel of laughs to drive, and after a few choice tweaks for 2020 it even manages to look pretty good. 

Now, the interior is starting to show its age a bit as various new compacts have managed to up the wow factor for the segment — Mazda3, Nissan Sentra and 2021 Hyundai Elantra, just to name a few. Of course, none of those is available as a coupe and when putting aesthetic aside, the Civic still impresses with its quality and versatility. Let's take a closer look.

2020 Honda Cr-v Infotainment System Driveway Test | Touchscreen, Apple Carplay, Android Auto

2020 Honda CR-V Infotainment System Driveway Test | Touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto

The 2020 Honda CR-V is an all-star; a thoughtfully designed and well-rounded compact crossover that checks off virtually every box families might have. There are no shortage of reasons why Honda manages to sell so many every year, and it actually gets even better for 2020 with the addition of the CR-V Hybrid. 

However, it has one major blemish, something that can make you go "yeah, but ..." It's the touchscreen infotainment system found on all but the base LX trim level. Consumer reviews and reliability ratings have shown in abundance that it is a laggy, glitchy system. As just one example, a friend of my mother's even recently said she loved her CR-V but was reluctant to buy another because of the problems she's had with the touchscreen. During my recent week with a CR-V Hybrid (more reviews coming soon), it became completely unresponsive when using Apple CarPlay. When it was functioning as designed, it was still slow to move between menus, and it just isn't as intuitive as rival systems. It's also pretty antiquated in appearance and measures only 7 inches, versus the more common 8 inches of the Toyota RAV4 and others. 

2020 Infiniti Q60 Infotainment Driveway Test | Video, Photos, Tech

2020 Infiniti Q60 Infotainment Driveway Test | Video, photos, tech

Infiniti is slowly coming round to the modern age of infotainment systems this year, and our first taste of that is in the 2020 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400. This performance coupe has an updated system in it that, while it looks a whole lot like it did before, represents a step forward for Infiniti.

Most importantly, Infiniti has finally added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality for 2020. Every new 2020 model year car should ship with the smartphone connection technology baked in, and Infiniti has finally gotten with the program this year on nearly all of its cars (QX60 is the holdout). The delay might have something to do with Nissan/Infiniti's reluctance to share customer data to Apple and Google, or perhaps Infiniti was waiting to roll out a broader interface update, but either way, the hardware they've applied it to would seem to be the same as before. 

2020 Toyota Highlander 12.3-inch Touchscreen Driveway Test | Infotainment, Features, Video

2020 Toyota Highlander 12.3-inch Touchscreen Driveway Test | Infotainment, features, video

The 2020 Toyota Highlander is the first vehicle to receive the newest and biggest touchscreen available in the company's expansive lineup. Measuring 12.3 inches diagonally, it is a widescreen unit, which matches the size offered in the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. It is also the same size as that found in many Lexus vehicles, but that isn't a touchscreen — it's exclusively controlled by the perpetual punching bag that is the Remote Touch touchpad. Advantage Highlander.  

The above video goes into detail about how the extra size is put to good use, and specifically, the widescreen design.