Best cars for tech-enthusiasts

By Chad Lückhoff 

The only thing progressing faster than automotive safety is the tech that is being made available to them. We all know that the technology world is a fast-paced, ever-changing arena where that latest and greatest phone that you just bought is already outdated by the time you get home. The motoring world is not too dissimilar.

We've compiled a list of our eight favourite cars that we think has some of the best tech on the market. We've also kept it to our local market, so you won't be seeing Tesla Model S' and Chevrolet Bolts here. It goes without saying that most of these cars are on the upper end of the price spectrum, but we haven't gotten carried away with exotics either.

Here's our eight best, in no particular order.

BMW i8

When you think of tech in a car, one of the first models to spring to mind is the BMW i8 sports car. Perhaps that's because it has an 'i' prefix or maybe it's because it was one of the first intelligent hybrids that came across as “cool”. There have been several BMW Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) since the i8 and even the full-electric i3, but none have the presence of the iconic i8.

An electric motor rests up front while a 3-cylinder petrol engine sits in the back, the two working together to give the i8 astounding performance. Three drive modes allow you to switch between full-electric, Auto mode and Sport. Auto switches back and forth between electric and petrol as needed while Sport mode will use the petrol engine to not only power the car, but help charge up the batteries, making the i8 its own power station.

The i8 is also fitted with BMW's iDrive infotainment system that will not only provide you with all the usual radio, USB, Bluetooth and Aux connectivity, but when combined with BMW iConnectedDrive system, will give you concierge services and allow you to control certain aspects of the car from the iRemote App.

Volvo S90

Possibly one of the most tech-heavy cars on sale in South Africa at the moment, the Volvo S90 (a Wesbank Car of the Year 2018 runner-up) is a tech enthusiasts dream, not only from an infotainment point of view, but from active safety systems and driving aids that make the svelte Swede a pleasure to drive.

Available to the S90 is a myriad of tech including; Large Animal Detection to detect pedestrians, cyclists and animals in your path, braking if need be. Park Assist Pilot to help you get into those tight parking pays. 360-degree camera to help you with low-speed manoeuvring and parking. Pilot Assist, Volvo's semi-autonomous driving system that uses radar and sensors to guide the car along, even in traffic, steering gently to keep you in the lane. Active High Beam means never having to worry about blinding oncoming traffic while City Safe will help mitigate a collision with slower moving traffic or stationary vehicles.

The Sensus touchscreen infotainment system is the one system that most resembles and reacts like a modern smartphone. Its vertical layout provides multiple screens to swipe through, giving you access to the vehicle settings, navigation and the audio controls of the fantastic sounding, Bowers & Wilkins Premium Sound. It has Apple CarPlay and Heads-up display to boot.

BMW 5 Series

Sure, the 7 Series is a trend-setter for large sedan luxury, but it's the younger brother that has taken the learnings from the 7 Series and filed down all the rough edges, giving us a seamless and fluid tech experience unlike any other. A well- specced 5 Series is something to behold.

Starting with the iDrive system, the 5 Series uses BMW's new tiled layout which is more user-friendly and more intuitive than ever. Controlling the iDrive infotainment system is easier than ever, allowing you to choose the input method that works for you. There's a bold, easy to read touchscreen, you can use the touch-sensitive joystick in the center console, steering wheel controls (for certain functions) and the markedly improved gesture control, allowing you to switch tracks, adjust volume, answer or reject calls, all with the swipe or motion of the hand.

The 5 Series iDrive system has live tiles to continually update tiles for information like weather, or traffic conditions. Connect to the Microsoft Office 365 and synchronise your mail, contacts and calendar entries. Apple CarPlay is now integrated into the iDrive system with wireless charging and WiFi hotspot for up to 10 connections.

The driver assistance systems are as impressive with Active Cruise Control and Lane Control Assistant, Road Sign Recognition, Crossing Traffic warning and Lane Change Assist. The full-colour heads-up display offers more than your usual of just road speed and will show navigation instructions, current road speed and warning signs, Active cruise distance and more.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabrio

While Mercedes-Benz' COMAND infotainment system may not be one of our favourites to use, there's no denying that it's a powerful system. Combine the 12.3-inch display with the additional 12.3-inch display that forms the vehicle's gauge cluster and you have a tech junkies dream. These high-resolution screens will display a host of information and allow you to tailor the look and feel of the cabin, be it through a gauge design or when controlling the ambient lighting. COMAND Online offers live traffic updates, connection to Mercedes-Benz apps, navigation and gives you a mobile WiFi-hotspot without requiring a sim card. Upgrade to a Burmester sound system for full audiophile euphoria.

Mercedes-Benz' intelligent drive systems make driving a whole lot more relaxing and enjoyable, even in the most frustrating situations, namely traffic. Distronic Plus is an autonomous cruise control that will keep a set distance from the car in front of you as well as keep you in your lane, meaning that there is less steering input needed and no need to worry about braking as traffic slows.

The Airmatic continuously variable suspension will ensure that no matter how you're driving, the suspension is best set for your needs; soft and supple at low speeds and firming up as the road gets twisty. The LED Intelligent Light System adapts to light and driving conditions automatically, ensuring the best possible visibility without having to worry about oncoming traffic. It looks the part too, with embedded Swarovski crystals up front and jewel-like diffuser elements in the rear, the S Class exudes class and sophistication.

Opel Astra

The Opel Astra goes to show that you don't need to be super-rich in order to enjoy technology and in fact, the 2017 WesBank Car of the Year winner has some of the tech that one would only find on the upper end of the price ladder.

It starts with the user-friendly and robust IntelliLink infotainment that offer more than just great sound. The Navi 4.0 or Navi 900 will give you a large touchscreen with an easy-to-use, single line address entry navigation with points of interest and traffic information. IntelliLink is also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-equipped, allowing you to link seamlessly with your smartphone.

IntelliLux LED headlights use a matrix LED system to perfectly illuminate the road and create dim spots around the cars ahead of you. The lighting sensors will also detect the amount of ambient light and adjust the brightness accordingly, perfect for dark country lanes and perfectly suitable in the brightness of town.

Opel Eye is an intelligent system that uses cameras to give the driver traffic sign recognition, lane departure warnings, lane keep assistance, following distance control and forward collision alert. For those that struggle with parking, there's also Opel's Parking Assist to help you get into those tight bays.

Renault Mégane RS Trophy

While some of our previous mentions are geared towards luxury, the Renault Mégane RS Trophy is one that is geared for driving enthusiasts. Proof then, that you can have your cake and eat it.

The Renault Mégane RS Trophy is soon to be exiting our shores with a new model marked for release soon, but this hasn't stopped us from including it on this list, just for the sheer petrolhead-geekery that it presents. Forgetting the driving dynamics here, we're most impressed with the RS Monitor V2, a function of the infotainment system that has several different functions, all in the name of going faster. This onboard performance tracking system will not only allow you to record and log lap times but will give you 3D telemetry that you can download. A host of gauges and customisable displays ensure that you know exactly what the engine is doing at any given time. RS Monitor will even allow you to change the throttle sensitivity and response for the perfect set up.

Renault's Multimedia system gives you a 7-inch touchscreen with live satellite navigation, Bluetooth, USB and Aux inputs and doesn't sound too bad. Weight is a performance car's enemy and Renault has managed to make the audio system sound great without the need for heavy subwoofers and additional sound damping.

Not to leave you in a stripped-out boy-racer, the RS also has automatic light and wipers so that you can concentrate on the driving.

Audi TT RS

We'll forego waxing lyrical about the performance of the Audi TT RS and its astounding handling and focus here on some of the updated tech that can be found in and on the new TT RS.

Styling wise the TT RS is available with the all-new matrix OLED taillights that are the latest in lighting technology. These paper-thin elements emit a surprising amount of light but take up very little space. This allows for new levels of design and it won't be long before we start seeing this technology flexed to its true potential. Up front, the TT RS can be specced with matrix LED headlights that adapt as road conditions change.

Inside the MMI Navigation Plus system provides a seamless connection to your smartphone through Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth with wireless charging and signal boosting available. The latest version has free text search and natural voice input. Virtual Cockpit replaces the traditional gauge cluster and offers a customisable digital display that allows the gauges to be made smaller to show more of the map, a map which can be switched to Google Maps with satellite overlay. The gauges are displayed in a high-resolution with a 60hz refresh rate.

Porsche Panamera

This 2018 WesBank Car of the Year winner is not only dynamic in its approach to performance but well-versed in the art of technology, extending well past a high-end audio system. Loads of safety and convenience items are available in the Porsche Panamera, making daily tasks effortless, some without even requiring your input.

The LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System gives you dynamic range adjustment based on your speed along. PDLS Plus includes matrix beam LED lights that will dim according to the lighting conditions and prevent blinding oncoming traffic while Intersection Assistant illuminates both sides when approaching an intersection or T-junction. Driving in the dark is more relaxing thanks to the Infrared camera that will detect pedestrians or wildlife in your path.

InnoDrive adaptive cruise control uses navigational data to optimise your speed based on the road ahead. This information is also used to control the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system in Panamera 4 models, reading the surfaces and curves ahead and predicting when sort of power split you will need. On top of this, you'll also get Lane Change Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic sign recognition, Park Assist with reverse camera and Surround View for a 360-degree look at things.

Porsche Advanced Cockpit has a glass-look console and 12-inch touchscreen display with touch-sensitive buttons. This will control your choice of either Bose or Burmester audio systems that can be tailored to create the ideal listening environment so that you don't miss any details.

You can spec a Panamera with second-row entertainment as well, which will give passengers their own touch screens and you can even give them a touch screen interface for their climate control.

Notable mentions

It's a pity that Chevrolet has exited the country. Their affordable offerings had a surprising amount of tech in them and the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment remains one of the best, most user-friendly interfaces that we've encountered. These feature-packed systems offered Apple CarPlay and comprehensive navigation at a price that was within reach of the masses. The closest we get to it now is the Opel IntelliLink.

We're also quite fond of the simple, yet effective Mazda MZD system with its simple layout and intuitive control interface. The joystick is a pleasure to use and the connected apps and connectivity are robust and functional. We like the bundled apps, like Aha and Stitcher, that allow us to listen to and control the apps from the steering wheel.