Infotainment
Which multimedia system is best for music, sat-nav & connectivity?
Dacia Duster Medianav Standard Key features: Sat-nav, reversing camera
GIVEN that the entry-level Duster Access only gets prewiring for a radio, it’s impressive that this Comfortspec model has a seven-inch colour touchscreen with sat-nav, a reversing camera and DAB radio as standard considering its price is still incredibly affordable.
The system works well enough, too. It’s not the quickest to respond, but the menu layout is fairly logical and the big, tile-style buttons mean it’s simple and not as fiddly as the Suzuki’s set-up.
The screen is positioned fairly low down in the dash because you sit up quite high, but then the easy access to the USB ports to keep your gadgets charged is good.
However, beyond this and the Bluetooth system, this is the limit of connectivity. There’s no Apple Carplay or Android Auto fitted, but despite the upgraded technology available here, it doesn’t detract from the Duster’s honest personality.
Suzuki Ignis Satellite-navigation Standard Key features: Sat-nav, connectivity
THE Suzuki’s seven-inch touchscreen isn’t the sharpest when it comes to display resolution, and while the Dacia unit features a matt finish, the Ignis’s screen has a glossy panel. This means that in bright light it can catch reflections, while it picks up fingerprints as well.
The difficulty comes when you want to perform a simple task like changing the volume. With no rotary control or physical buttons, the touch-sensitive panel on the side isn’t the easiest to control on the move.
Despite this, there are some positives to the Suzuki’s set-up. The layout is relatively simple, with the home screen split into quadrants for navigation, connectivity, entertainment and phone calls. The standard-fit Apple Carplay, Android Auto and satnav work well, and having this kit included on a car at this price gives the Suzuki some pluses.
Ssangyong Tivoli 7” touchscreen Standard Key features: Bluetooth, reversing cam
YOUR choice of spec counts for a lot with the infotainment system in the Tivoli. So while this EX model gets the same basic seven-inch colour unit as the ELX, it does without sat-nav, which is a shame.
There’s also no Apple Carplay or Android Auto, so you can’t even use nav integrated through your phone; the most you get in the way of connectivity is ipod compatibility and Bluetooth.
Still, the reversing camera is respectable and the basics of the system make it relatively easy to use. The menu is easy to navigate, but it’s fundamentally not as sophisticated as some of its rivals’ and doesn’t offer the Ignis’s functionality. The graphics could be sharper, too.
It’s a shame there aren’t more features on offer, or an upgrade to inherit the larger Rexton’s strong system with Carplay and Android Auto, but the screen is relatively well positioned in the dash.