Best First Car 2021: Technology
We might live in the digital age, but the tech in some of Australia’s most affordable new cars is patchy at bestYou have every right to expect all contenders in carsales’ Best First Car 2021 to come with Bluetooth phone/audio connectivity and smartphone mirroring technology. But beyond that the tech levels can start to wane in some models as car-makers attempt to keep a lid on costs and maintain profitability. That might be fine in some cases if the price is right, but no-one wants to feel short-changed with their first big investment in a new car.
Having technology at our fingertips is the ‘new normal’ in our modern lives, but it has taken car-makers a while to catch up.
It has only really been in the past five years or so that you could reasonably assume any new car would have both hands-free phone functionality and smartphone mirroring.
So for all the models in contention for carsales’ Best First Car for 2021, you can expect to be able to pair your phone for telephone calls and audio streaming, have at least one USB port to charge your devices and be able to pair your (USB-connected) smartphone for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto mirroring via a centre touch-screen.
Of course, you can also listen to the radio, on the AM and FM bands at the least. But beyond these staples, there are generally very few frills in this group of contenders.
If you like the sound quality of digital radio, you’ll only get this feature in the Mazda2 G15 Pure, Mitsubishi Mirage LS and Toyota Yaris Ascent Sport.
If you like integrated sat-nav over smartphone map mirroring (where you’re reliant on a good cellular connection and an adequate phone data plan), then you’re left with only the Suzuki Swift GL Navigator Plus.
All models on test have voice recognition, except that the Toyota Yaris has what the car-maker calls ‘enhanced voice recognition’.
None are equipped with wireless phone charging.
Meanwhile, wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is available, but only in the Kia Rio.
USB-C ports, which offer faster charging and data transfer, are only fitted to the Volkswagen Polo 70TSI Trendline, which has two such ports up front only.
The rest have the more familiar USB-A ports; two in the front only for the Kia Rio Sport and Mazda2, one only for the rest.
All but the Mitsubishi Mirage also have a 12-volt power outlet up front.
The only model here to offer anything special about its audio quality is the Skoda Fabia 81TSI Run-Out Edition, which has a surround-sound speaker system.
Best First Car 2021 contenders:
Kia Rio Sport
Mazda2 G15 Pure
Mitsubishi Mirage LS
Skoda Fabia 81TSI Run-Out Edition
Suzuki Swift GL Navigator Plus
Toyota Yaris Ascent Sport
Volkswagen Polo 70TSI Trendline
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