Young buyers tend to be tech savvy.
Everything needs to connect through
their phone as seamlessly as possible. And
although elderly buyers don’t necessarily
need phone connectivity, they also want a
seamless interface, so user-friendly tech
features are crucial even for small SUVs.Hyundai and Kia continue to show
their infotainment mastery in the Venue
and Soul. Even at the entry level, the
Korean sister brands don’t skimp on the
connectivity front, and they also keep
things easy for the tech-challenged.
Both vehicles have the latest system,
which blends speed, intuitiveness, and
simplicity. “Hyundai demonstrates the
difference between simple and straight-
forward,” Powell raved. “The Venue is
more feature-laden than the Kicks, butKia Soul
Silver trim with a cool diamond
mesh-like pattern does a nice job
brightening up the Soul’s interior.COMPARISON
everything is as inviting and easy to use,
with hard buttons for quick access to
infotainment system features.” Kia’s
interface, however, is the superior unit
thanks to its large 10.3-inch touchscreen,
which Evans said “makes everything else
look old” while also sporting the best UI
of the bunch.
The Nissan Kicks’ 7.0-inch display is
slightly slower than the two Koreans’
interfaces but remains user-friendly.
Its available Bose Personal Plus audio
system brings concert-hall-quality sound
into your car. “Nissan and Bose did a nice
job on this system,” Powell said. “It would
be nice if it were available in lower trim
levels, too.”
Toyota’s Entune 3.0 interface feels the
most dated. The 8.0-inch touchscreen30 MOTORTREND.COM JUNE 2020