76 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk
ROADTESTS AudiQ3vsrivals
Infotainment Which multimedia system is best formusic, sat-nav&connectivity?
AUDI’SMMINavigationPlussystemisstandardonall
Q3s,soyougeta10.1-inchtouchscreenmountedinthe
centreofthedash,plusa10.25-inchVirtualCockpit.A
larger12.3-inchpanelisalsoavailablefor£250,butthe
standarddigitaldashisfine,becausetheresolutionis
sharpanditdisplaysthenavmapinfrontofyou.
Themainscreen’sgraphicsaregreat,anditresponds
quicklytoyourinputs,whilethemenusarelogicaland
easytonavigatearound.Belowthis,theclimatecontrols
arephysicalbuttonsratherthanaseparatedigitalpanel,
asfoundinhigh-endAudis,whichisabonus.
Slinetrimgetssat-nav,AppleCarPlayandAndroid
Auto,threeyears’connectedservicesandonlinemap
updates.Youcanaddwirelesschargingfor£150,but
yougetplentyofUSBchargingpoints–including
aUSBCconnection–asstandard.
ONEofthebiggestimprovementswiththislatest
generationofLandRoverproductsisthatAppleCarPlay
andAndroidAutoarenowoffered.Smartphonetechis
increasinglyimportanttobuyers,sotosucceedinthis
classithastobestandard.WhichitisintheEvoque.
Ofcourse,sat-navispartofthe10-inchtouchscreen
infotainmentsystem.It’sacceptable,butittakesawhile
tostartupandrespondssluggishlytoinputs.The
graphicsaregood,butnotquiteassharpastheAudi’s.
AspartoftheTouchProDuoset-up,asecond,lower
screenfortheclimatecontrolsisincluded.Thisis
actuallyquitegood:it’sseparatefromthemain
screenandmeansyoucanadjusttemperatureand
fanspeedwhilekeepingthenavigationoraudio
displaysup.We’dprobablyalsogoforthe£500digital
dash–it’snotcheap,butaddstothetechinside.
ASwithVolvo’sothercars,theXC40getsanine-inch
tabletscreen.Thegraphicsaregoodandit’seasytouse
becauseitrecognisespinchandswipegesturesfor
zoomingonthesat-navmapandscrollingthroughthe
logicalmenus.However,liketheRangeRovertheunit
sometimeslagsalittlebehindyourinputs.TheAudiis
thefastesttorespondandthesharpesttolookat.
AtleasttheXC40getsadigitaldashtomatchtheQ3,and
it’sbigger,at12.3inches.Therearelotsofotherfeatures
included,too.Yougetnavwithtrafficinfo,plusyoucan
sendadestinationtoyourcarusingtheVolvoOnCall
withAppsmartphonefunction.However,AppleCarPlay
andAndroidAutoarepartofa£300smartphonepackage.
Wirelessphonechargingis£175extra,whichisa
usefulextra,butnotnecessary.TheXC40’sappealis
atthecoreofthekityougetwiththissystem.
FORAND AGAINSTFOR AND AGAINSTFOR AND AGAINST
Digital dash is standard, big, bright
displays,good connectivity
Glossy screennot always the easiest to
see in bright light–oruse on the move
Good screen resolution,
smartphone connectivity is standard
Digital dash optional, system still
notthe quickest to respond
Clear,large touchscreen,
digital instrumentdisplay
Smartphone connectivity costsextra,
screen is sometimesalittle laggy
DisplayClear mapping can be shown on
centralscreen or digital dash, but both are
crystal clear.Connected services keep info
up to date forthree yearsfrompurchase
InfotainmentEvoque’s built-in navisa
little slowtoreact, butsecondary screen for
climate controlthat’spart ofTouch ProDuo
system is good to use and well integrated
ScreenPortrait-style displayiseasyto
use, but likethe Evoque, the screen can be
slowtorespond.At leastpinch and swipe
gestures arerecognised by the system
Audi
Q3
Volvo
XC40
RangeRover
Evoque
MMI NavPlusStandard
Keyfeatures:Digi dash, connectivity
Touch ProDuo£400 option
Keyfeatures:Twin screens, connectivity
Sensus NavigationStandard
Keyfeatures:Nav, digital dash
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score
4.0
score
3.9
score
3.9