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Best car infotainment systems: From UConnect to MBUX, these are our favorites

Declaring one infotainment system the best over any other is an inherently subjective matter. You can look at quantitative testing for things like input response time and various screen load times, but ask a room full of people that have tried all car infotainment systems what their favorite is, and you’re likely to get a lot of different responses. For the most part, the various infotainment systems available all share a similar purpose. They aim to help the driver get where they're going with navigation, play their favorite tunes via all sorts of media playback options and allow folks to stay connected with others via phone connectivity. Of course, most go way beyond the basics these days and offer features like streaming services, in-car performance data and much more. Unique features are aplenty when you start diving through menus, but how they go about their most important tasks vary widely. Some of our editors prefer systems that are exclusively touch-based and chock full of boundary-pushing features. Others may prefer a back-to-basics non-touch system that is navigable via a scroll wheel. You can compare it to the phone operating system wars. Just like some prefer Android phones over iPhones, we all have our own opinions for what makes up the best infotainment interface. All that said, our combined experience tells us that a number of infotainment systems are at least better than the rest. WeÂ’ve narrowed it down to five total systems in their own subcategories that stand out to us. Read on below to see our picks, and feel free to make your own arguments in the comments. Best infotainment overall: UConnect 5, various Stellantis products Ram 1500 Uconnect Infotainment System Review If thereÂ’s one infotainment system that all of us agree is excellent, itÂ’s UConnect. It has numerous qualities that make it great, but above all else, UConnect is simple and straightforward to use. Ease of operation is one of the most (if not the single most) vital parts of any infotainment system interface. If youÂ’re expected to be able to tap away on a touchscreen while driving and still pay attention to the road, a complex infotainment system is going to remove your attention from the number one task at hand: driving. UConnect uses a simple interface that puts all of your key functions in a clearly-represented row on the bottom of the screen. Tap any of them, and it instantly pulls up that menu.

2019 Ram 1500 Review and Buying Guide | Excellence at all price points

Quite simply, the 2019 Ram 1500 is our favorite full-size pickup. From its most basic Tradesman trim to the fanciest Limited and everything in between, we're enamored with its well-rounded, well-executed and generally thoughtful range of talents. It nails all the hard-working truck necessities, while going several steps further with such things as a class-best ride, clever interior storage, attractive cabin design and many unique features. It's not offered with the breadth of powertrain offerings as rival trucks, but the eTorque mild hybrid system standard with its V6 and optional with the Hemi V8 at least improves fuel economy and refinement. If you're looking for a new pickup, the Ram 1500 is a must-drive. What's new for 2019? The Ram 1500 was completely redesigned for 2019, although the previous generation truck is still sold under the name Ram 1500 Classic. Essentially, the new Ram builds on that otherwise excellent predecessor by adding refinement, innovation and mechanical improvements. You can read about them more in-depth in our 2019 Ram 1500 First Drive Review. 2019 Ram 1500 Interior View 56 Photos What's the interior and in-car technology like? It's easy to be smitten by the Ram 1500 in its fanciest Longhorn and Limited trim levels, which are bedecked in soft leather, special color schemes and unique styling elements like the Longhorn emblem literally branded into real wood trim. There are unique features like the huge vertically oriented touchscreen and the ventilated reclining back seat. It's easily the most luxurious pickup ever made. Crucially, however, we are actually more impressed by the basic Ram 1500 Tradesman and Big Horn trim levels. While the quality of plastics is typical for the segment (that goes for those ritzy Rams, too), the different textures and attractive design result in a cabin that looks and feels better than trucks that cost a comparable amount or more. For instance, the rich gray cloth upholstery in a Big Horn test truck contributed to a far more premium environment than the one found in a leather-lined 2019 Chevy Silverado. The Ram doesn't just impress aesthetically. The five-passenger model's center console features the sort of clever, multi-configuration storage solutions normally possessed by Hondas. Abundant thought was clearly put into how people might use this space – it's not just some cupholders and a pair of differently sized bins.

2019 Ram 1500 North Edition is bundled up for winter

The 2019 Ram 1500 North Edition combines a host of features into a special edition meant to keep the abominable winter at bay. Based on the Big Horn trim, which sits just above the base Tradesman, Ram says the North Edition is "geared toward truck owners who need more capability and warmth on their frozen drive." The means 4x4 only, with your choice of crew cab or quad cab, 5'7" bed or 6'4" bed, and either the 3.6-liter Pentastar eTorque or or the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with or without eTorque. To that canvas, Ram adds some of the features from the Off-Road package, including heavy duty shocks with a one-inch lift, locking rear axle, and tow hooks. Weapons against the cold include an engine block heater, and Level 2 Package options like heated seats and steering wheel, heated and folding mirrors, and remote start for pre-warming the cabin. There are individual extras, like the 12-way power driver's seat with four-way lumbar support, instead of the eight-way seat normally part of the Level 2 package. Snow service-rated, three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) Falken LT tires toil outside to keep the rubber on the road; the standard Off-Road package uses Falken All-Terrains (AT3WA). Mopar floor mats toil inside to keep slush and grime from spoiling a good time. A monochromatic appearance package paints all the exterior trim pieces one hue. One splash of contrast comes with the 4x4 decal along the flanks, the other is what looks like a set of 20-inch, six-spoke wheels. The Ram press release didn't mention the special rims, but on the configurator, when we clicked the 20-Inch x 9.0 Aluminum Chrome-Clad Wheels, we were forced to add the North Edition package. As of writing, the configurator pricing appears to be at odds with the MSRP stated in the press release. Start with the $41,490 Ram 1500 Big Horn 4x4 on the build site, add the North Edition package, and the price shows as $45,285 before a $1,695 destination charge. Ram says the truck is available at dealers now, but lists an MSRP of $45,890 before destination. There's a $605 difference between the two numbers. The build site doesn't pre-select the 20-inch wheels with the North Edition package, though. Normally a $1,595 option, adding the wheels to the build raises the price by $200, to $45,285, leaving a $405 difference. Point being, assume the dealer will start the bargaining with the $45,890 price.