Android then makes other aspects much more complete: for example, the management of differentiated volumes is truly granular (calls, navigator indications, alerts, system sounds, etc.) and allows perfect configuration of the vehicle. These elements put together effectively position the new bar below which any infotainment system is considered unsatisfactory. But there is also more, starting from the large central display with a vertical layout, which allows you to better manage the system’s graphic interface. And then the possibility of bringing some content, such as Google Maps for example, onto the driving dashboard, so as to distract the driver’s attention less.
And then many other interesting features (which we talked about in the video review, to which we refer), such as, for example, having, as is natural for a smartphone, the Podcast app for listening to this audio content, which in the car has its one of their most important expressions. The view of the assistance cameras is also very valid: in addition to the one from above, which is very useful, it is also possible to have the one from a bird’s eye view, always composed with the images coming from the 4 on-board cameras. It’s just a shame for the usual oversight of not putting the real color of the car in the graphics (the one we tested was blue) but a generic white one: these are just a few lines of software that will be worth including in future releases.
The hardware equipment is also excellent: two front USBs, two more for the rear seat and two more for the third row of seats, the “removable” ones for the sixth and seventh passengers. In so much electronics and so many displays, there is no shortage of hardware buttons, dedicated mainly to the climate control system. The surface for wireless charging of the smartphone is also well positioned: right on the bridge, it leaves the phone within easy reach, unlike what happens in many cars where the charging compartment is positioned low or difficult to reach.
A doubt and a couple of aspects to improve
During our driving, even outside Italy, the system proved to be excellent. There is a “but”: without the power of the Internet connection, the system “dismantles”. The maps would probably become static and half of the advanced functions, such as the ability to hear the latest news, would be lost. The car has data coverage already included in the vehicle for the first five years, but it is not so clear (at least to us) what happens after that. Renault offers data coverage plans with Orange for under 10 euros per month (for 2 or 5 GB) but it is not clear (at least to us) whether it is possible to load a SIM or better yet a personal eSIM. We wouldn’t want the euphoria of the first years to be followed by a bitter disappointment at the end of the “factory” coverage. A venial sin: among the menus (you can see them all in the video) there are also four presets to configure to recall the configuration on the fly of the car. In this context, the questionable translation “Perso” for the personalized mode should be noted: in the car, the adjective “perso” has a completely different meaning, at least in Italy.