2020 carsales Best Family SUV: The best technology

Whether it is driver-assistance technology, connectivity and infotainment or simply the functionality of the headlights and climate control, many owners consider in-car technology as important as practicality and cost of ownership. In determining the 2020 carsales Best Family SUV, we looked at the technology incorporated in our field of nine seven-seat family SUVs to see which was the best, and importantly, the easiest to use.

The Holden Acadia scored inconsistently when it came to technology. Our assessors liked the low-reflection infotainment screen, numerous USB outlets (five in total) and the availability of wireless phone charging in the base-grade LT variant tested here.

Most of the switchgear was likewise presentable and easily understood.

On the flipside, the Acadia didn’t fare as well where interactivity was concerned. The judges criticised the slow-to-respond touch-screen and the “hit and miss” voice control system, noting that the instrument panel was only “basic but functional” when viewed against some of its rivals in this test.

The Hyundai Santa Fe’s ‘floating’ screen is straight-forward to operate but somewhat dated in terms of its operating system and appearance – despite its standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The Santa Fe also offers fewer USB outlets when compared to the Holden Acadia (four in total), but does get wireless phone charging in the high-grade Highlander variant tested here.

Multi-zone climate control and a semi-digitised instrument cluster also stand tall in the Hyundai Santa Fe, though not to the same level as that found (optionally) in the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. Performance of the low-beam headlights was, however, disappointing.

On balance, we found the Santa Fe easy to operate and its switchgear clearly labelled – a point our judges appreciated when hopping from SUV to SUV.

There are many similarities between the infotainment systems and safety technologies in the Hyundai and the Kia Sorento.

Indeed, Hyundai and Kia’s shared parentage is obvious when interacting with the infotainment array, particularly the screen size and menu functionality. Like the Hyundai, the Kia offers voice control only in conjunction with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (i.e.: voice control is not linked to the proprietary infotainment system).

The Sorento offers fewer USB outlets than the Santa Fe (two only) but equally capable climate control and adequate lighting all-round. The instrument panel was deemed ‘concise and legible’, as was the switchgear, which judges praised as ‘excellent, modern and logically laid out’.

The Mazda CX-8 and CX-9 share a familiar layout where infotainment and instrumentation are concerned. The judges praised the console-mounted rotary controller for the Mazdas’ MZD Connect infotainment system, and said the menu system was ‘fast-acting’ and ‘logically presented’.

The sentiment rang true for the instrument panel as well, the ‘touch of luxe’ feel to the gauges and in-built digital screen a high-end touch in the high-grade Asaki and Azami models assessed.

That said, the judges felt both Mazdas’ infotainment screens could be bigger and that the omission of ventilation outlets to the third row of seats was a letdown in the CX-8.

If the Hyundai and Kia were among the better performing SUVs in this part of the test, then the Nissan Pathfinder was one of the worst.

Our judging team said the Pathfinder’s infotainment system was ‘confusing and slow to respond’, while also criticising the Nissan’s lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Hopefully the next generation due in 2021 will fix all that.

The Pathfinder does, however, offer plenty of USB outlets for device charging (four in total), but conversely no wireless charge point. The satellite navigation was deemed ‘low tech’, but the simple switchgear and instrumentation was welcome, as was strong air-conditioning performance across all three rows.

Option packages included in the Skoda Kodiaq Sportline helped push its score skyward in this part of the test.

The judges said the Kodiaq’s native infotainment system and large screen were a ‘modern and sexy’ inclusion. The ‘neat and intuitive’ controls and secondary switchgear earned high praise – and a high score.

The Skoda also offers one of the best adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems here.

Wireless charging, LED lighting all-round and excellent parking systems, including self-parking and a 360-degree camera, are all part of the offering.

It is also one of the only SUVs on test to offer remote window opening (from the key fob), key fob driver preference memory for seating and menu-system preferences, and rain-sensitive sunroof and window closing.

However, the Kodiaq did fall short where third-row ventilation was concerned, and rated poorly in terms of USB connectivity (there is only one USB outlet offered in the Skoda Kodiaq).

Let’s hope this isn’t a sign of what’s to come from Skoda…

The design age of the Toyota Kluger shows through in many aspects of this test, including this infotainment and technology section.

According to our judges the ‘decent-sized’ infotainment screen was let down by ‘awful’ satellite navigation and a ‘clunky’ menu system. Our judges also criticised the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and the Toyota’s single USB outlet.

The Kluger’s instrumentation was also voted as ‘dated’ by our team of judges, who felt the Toyota displayed ‘very little technology or innovation for its price’.

The Kluger’s electric tailgate broke down while it was on test with us, adding to the woes of our assessors. An all-new Kluger is due here soon and should deliver a step-change in tech.

As we’ve noted elsewhere in this comparison, the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace and Skoda Kodiaq Sportline share much of their architecture – and technology.

For this reason many of the comments from our judges are similar – the only marked difference came from the Tiguan Allspace’s additional USB ports (three in total versus one in the Kodiaq) and what some of our team suggested was a slightly ‘busy’ man/machine interface.

Despite our above concerns, on the scoreboard the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace narrowly pipped the Skoda, which was matched by the Mazda CX-9.

The VW scraped ahead to take top spot in the ‘technology’ part of this assessment. Judges praised the modernity of its infotainment array and the comprehensive and seamless integration of both the Skoda and Volkswagen’s driver assistance and safety technologies.

Top three Scoreboard:
1 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace (15.9/20)
=2nd Skoda Kodiaq (15.5/20)
=2nd Mazda CX-9 (15.5/20)

2020 carsales Best Family SUV