Auto Express – July 30, 2019

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

ȎȎ 4 L 4 L ȎȎ 4 L 4 L ȎȎ 4 L 4 L

score

4.0

score

3.9

score

3.9