Audi A7 Sportback vs BMW 8 Series vs Mercedes-Benz CLS: which one has the best infotainment system?

If we ignore the oxymoron that is a 4-door coupe, the Audi A7 is the sedan for everyone. It has the style of a sports cars, the space of an SUV and the drive of a luxury limousine. It's easy to see why the current trend is to create a 4-door coupe as it ticks so many of the boxes, without requiring you buy several different cars. The Audi A7 has a few competitors, but with this area of the market leaning more towards the SUV-style, there aren't as many as one would think. You certainly have more choice when it comes to an SUV in this price range. 

Related: Audi A7 Sportback 55 TFSi Quattro S-Line (2020) Review

It's not often that an Audi customer will consider one of his rivals, but with the speed that modern technology is progressing at, it may not be all that bad to keep a watchful eye on your neighbour's yard. Paired up against the German onslaught from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, the A7 can be compared to the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class and the slightly more expensive BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe.

On the tech front, all three offer impressive infotainment systems. They offer a raft of functionality and connectivities solutions to make living with the respective products that much easier. Here's how the big three compare on the infotainment system front.

 

Audi A7 Sportback

Audi was one of the first to offer a full-digital replacement for their gauge clusters. The Audi Virtual Cockpit has filtered down from the brand's premium offerings and can now be fitted to even the smallest models in their lineup. This arrangement ties into the Audi MMI system to create a seamless flow of information, particularly when working with navigation.

The MMI system in the A7 Sportback consists of two screens. A larger 10.1-inch touchscreen is placed in the dashboard while just below it, in the centre console, rests an 8.6-inch item, also of the touch variety. The upper screen tackles tasks such as media, vehicles settings, phone connectivity and navigation while the lower screen offers some telephony shortcuts and replaced the usual HVAC controls and seating adjustments (cooling and heating). Both screens offer a variety of haptic sound and force feedback settings to make the interaction with the system a more tactile experience. Users can opt for the touch interface, steering wheel controls, the simplified rotary volume knob or voice control that will recognize natural speech.

 

The system will allow for AM/FM reception and will connect to external devices and smartphones aid USB or Bluetooth. The MMI system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but on occasion, you may struggle to connect. This will require that the entire system be rebooted before any joy can be had. The A7 Sportback does offer inductive charging as standard for relevant smartphones.

One is able to customize the look and feel of the MMI system to some extent and the home screen will allow you to rearrange the icons in your preferred order. Bang & Olufsen are the preferred suppliers of the audio equipment and one will not be left wanting when it comes to the quality of the audio reproduction.

 

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Possibly one of the forerunners in the 4-door coupe segment, the CLS slot in between the E-Class and S-Class, despite it still using the S designation in its name. However, there is no shortage of tech in the CLS-Class and the MBUX system is as refined as you're going to get from a Mercedes-Benz product at the moment. 

The MBUX system in the CLS consists of two 12.3-inch screens arranged in a widescreen format. The first screen doubles as the driver information screen, replacing the gauges and allowing for a customized layout, depending on your particular driving preferences. Opt for the understated look when you're not looking for distraction and switch back to a traditional, sporty look for when you're in the mood for a spirited drive. This screen ties into the main screen and offers up a variety of synchronised information, allowing you to view your navigation and control media simultaneously.

 

The main screen is of the touch variety and houses a clean and simple menu for controlling vehicle settings, media, navigation, telephony and more. Users can interact via the touchscreen, through the MBUX controller in the centre console with its large rotary dial or use voice commands. A row of quick access shortcut buttons and a scroll wheel allow for a more tactile approach to controlling the system and drivers can opt to use the multifunction steering wheel with its touchpads. The left pad will control the main screen while the right pad controls the driver information screen.

The MBUX system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and will also accept Bluetooth connections and connections via USB-C. The Energizing Comfort feature of this system allows you to speak to the system and offer simple suggestions eg; "I'm stressed" and the system will adjust the interior colours, heating and airconditioning, seat ventilation, heating and massage function, and select an appropriate playlist to help calm you.

 

BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe

The twin-screen concept continues with the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, a model that replaces the 6 Series. BMW however, fails to execute this as well as the others with less flexibility offered for the driver display. BMW uses two 10.25-inch screens as part of their Live Cockpit Professional system with the main screen operating on BMW's OS 7.0. This operating system offers a cleaner and more intuitive menu that in easier generations with a simplified tile display for the main screen that allows for simple access to key functions. This main screen will allow access to media, telephony, vehicle settings, apps and navigation.

BMW was one of the later adopters of Apple CarPlay and for a while, Android Auto wasn't an option either. Current releases do offer Android Auto now as well as wireless Apple CarPlay. The system will also accept Bluetooth devices for telephony and audio streaming as well as USB inputs. 

 

One area where users are spoiled for choice is control systems. The BMW iDrive system includes the much refined iDrive controller with its large rotary knob and shortcut buttons but the system will also allow users to scroll through the menus should they feel that the touchscreen is not ideal. Users can also gesture in front of the screen and use voice commands to control certain function of the audio playback. The driver is afforded the option of using the steering wheel controls.

BMW packages the iDrive system with Microsoft Office 365 allowing for synchronising of calendars and appointment books to help create an efficient flow throughout the day and plan your route accordingly. This package allows for Skype conference calls as well, ensuring that you can maximise your time on the road.