AUT-OS IN THE DRIVING SEAT

Spencer Hart test drives the Volvo XC40 Recharge with Google’s in-car operating system

All modern cars need an intuitive infotainment system – a way to control the music you’re playing, open apps, and even change settings on the car. A recent survey revealed that mapping services and a smartphone connection are more important to new car buyers than brand or engine size, so it’s an area that carmakers are putting a lot of work into.

I’ve tried most of the systems out there, from BMW’s iDrive, to Audi’s MMI and Jaguar/Land Rover’s Pivi. And while they’ve all got their fair share of positive points, none of them are perfect, leaving a gap for Apple and Google to enter the fray. The result, CarPlay and Android Auto, are essentially apps that mirror your smartphone screen on your car’s display. They’re better than the systems developed by carmakers, but still not perfect as they don’t offer total integration.