Infotainment comparison: BMW iDrive vs. Audi MMI vs. Mercedes-Benz COMAND

By Chad Lückhoff

We compare the functionality and ease of use between the BMW iDrive, Audi MMI and Mercedes-Benz COMAND infotainment systems to see which is best to live with.

 

Infotainment systems – more than just a radio

In this fast-paced digital world that we live in, the car infotainment system is constantly evolving and developing. It's often said that by the time you take the latest and greatest technology home, it's already outdated by the time you unpack it, and the same bodes for the world of in-car entertainment and information.

Cars are no longer just modes of transport and the car radio is no longer just a way of listening to the radio (the first car radio was an AM-only Motorola fitted to Studebakers in 1930). They now provide you with multiple ways of listening to music, from connected devices to external storage and much more.

Some will include navigation and traffic information, connect to your phone and allow you to make hands-free phone calls. DVD and video playback is not unheard of and you can even tie in your own personal calendar and be reminded of important dates in some systems.

We take a brief look at the systems found in the hotly-contested D-segment sedan market by comparing the infotainment system of the BMW 3 Series versus it's two main competitors; the Audi A4, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

BMW 3 Series - iDrive

3.5/5

BMW was one of the pioneers in the infotainment sector and as such, they paid much of the school fees that other manufacturers benefit from. As such, many will still remember the early days of BMW's iDrive system, a system that was criticised for being too complex, requiring too much attention from users and thus keeping their eyes off of the road.

Over the years, BMW has addressed these concerns and have made the latest version of iDrive more intuitive and easier to use, with fewer sub-menus and simplified controls.

The dash-mounted screen is still controlled by a rotary dial in the centre console and surrounded by shortcut and options buttons. Upgraded systems feature a touch-sensitive dial for hand-written inputs.

iDrive 6.0 uses a tiled main menu that is customisable, allowing you to quickly locate media, radio, car settings and additional information as needed. A handy split-screen function allows you to display two separate sets of information simultaneously.

Apple CarPlay is an option on 6.0 in the 3 Series and is wireless, providing additional convenience and ease of use. The system can also be augmented with a reverse camera and the Multifunctional instrument display.

The system can be upgraded to include ConnectedDrive Services, Remote Services, Wireless charging, Concierge Services, Navigation and RTTI; Real-Time Traffic Information.

Audi A4 - MMI

4/5

Standard fitment to the Audi A4 is the MMI Radio Plus (where MMI stands for Multi-Media Interface). This system uses a 7-inch screen that features BlueTooth connectivity, AUX and USB input. It has voice control as standard. It uses a comprehensive 8-speaker system to play the audio.

The MMI is controlled using a rotary dial in the centre console that has several buttons surrounding it to access a variety of additional features and shortcuts to basic screens.

This system can be upgraded to a larger 8.3-inch screen and can be complemented by the optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, known as Virtual Cockpit. This upgrade sees the inclusion of touch-sensitive control.

Navigation and real-time traffic updates are additional options as part of the MMI Navigation Plus package as is the Smartphone Interface which adds Apple CarPlay.

The system uses a logical, colour-coded main menu that is rather easy to navigate although you may find yourself in one sub-menu too deep and end up reverting to the main menu, rather than being willing to retrace your steps.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class – COMAND

2.5/5

The Mercedes-Benz infotainment system has, for the longest time, been the most complex and difficult to use systems in the luxury segment and while improvements have been made, unless you are completely familiar with the COMAND system, you will find it rather frustrating to use. We find it to still have too many sub-menus and obscure locations for certain items.

Base-spec models are fitted with COMAND Audio 20 as standard and this gives you a 7-inch screen with Bluetooth, USB input while the upgrade COMAND Online system bumps the screen size to 9-inches and includes navigation with 3D maps and voice control as standard.

The system is controlled via a part-dial-part-touchpad control interface which at times can be overly sensitive and lacks tactile feedback to assist with menu item location. This is something that is highlighted by the inclusion of separate toggles for volume and switching tracks/stations.

COMAND's navigation can also be whimsical at best with inaccurate vehicle location tracking causing some confusion midway through a journey.

Options include Concierge Service, Digital Radio, Burmester surround sound and the COMAND system can be complemented with a fully digital dashboard display with customisable layouts.