Jeep Compass – 4/5
The interactive fourth-generation Uconnect™ available with up to 8.4-inch HD capacitive touchscreen, means you never have to take your eyes off the path ahead, executing every touch, pinch, and voice command with precision. Maximise your smartphone with new available features on Uconnect™. You will appreciate the performance improvements in the new generation Uconnect™ with faster start-up times and enhanced processing power.
Apple CarPlay enables iPhone users to access Apple Maps, messages, phone and Apple Music through Siri voice control or Uconnect™ touchscreen.
Android Auto™ enables easy and safe access to hands-free voice control, Google Maps and Google Play Music via Uconnect™ touchscreen or steering-wheel controls.
Stay connected with the Uconnect™ LIVE App giving access to TuneIn radios, Deezer music, Facebook Check In, Twitter, Reuters, Tom Tom Live with real-time information on your journey, my:Car and eco:Drive™ to monitor vehicle status, your driving style and assist in reducing fuel consumption.
Uconnect™ LIVE lets you take your adventure to the next level with the Jeep® Skills App: giving you information on Jeep® trails and performance with specific off-road gauges, measuring pitch, roll, pressure and altitude.
Beats Sound System
Let your music move you. The 506 Watts Beats premium audio system with 9 speakers and subwoofer lets your own soundtrack guide you down whatever road chosen.
Navigation
Uconnect™ 8.4-inch Nav offers navigation as standard, including 3D imagery of landmarks, city models and digital terrain. The touchscreen supports multi-touch gestures with pinch, tap, swipe capability. The system features enhanced graphics and a one-step voice entry system.
Related: Top 5 driver assist systems on the Jeep Compass
Hyundai Creta – 3.5/5
The Hyundai Creta makes use of an 8-inch touch-screen display for the infotainment system. It features AM/FM, USB and Bluetooth connectivity for telecoms and audio streaming, the Creta does away with a CD player and AUX input (a common omission these days).
The menu is said to be rather simple to use with options displayed down the sides in a rather colourful manner. While certain functions are tucked away in seemingly illogical menu locations, a short amount of time will see you locating the necessary functions.
Below the screen is a bank of tactile buttons for controls such as display, phone, track/station skip, media and band while two rotary dials reside high up in either corner for volume, tuning, power and enter. Steering controls offer the standard fare of volume, track, mode, mute, telephone control.
The infotainment system in the Creta also offers an optional satellite navigation feature, which has to be activated with an SD card at a cost of R2 522.
Related: Top 3 things you need to know about the Hyundai Creta
Toyota RAV4 – 3/5
Every new Toyota RAV4 is equipped with a 7-inch multimedia touchscreen system above the centre stack with buttons on either side, and added control switches on the steering wheel. The system is embedded with up to three USB ports, a Bluetooth and auxiliary port, six speakers, a DVD player and three power sockets. Pushing the elongated buttons on either side of the screen takes you to your desired location on the system instantly, or press the menu button to use the on-screen icons.
In order to use the smartphone mirroring option, you need to download the MirrorLink or Miracast App on your Android-enabled phone. The downside is that MirrorLink and Miracast are not compatible with iPhones at the moment, but Toyota says that Apple CarPlay is on the cards when the RAV4 gets its next tech-upgrade.
Inside the XSE, the standard Audio Plus system is fitted and comes with a 9-inch touch-screen, the largest multimedia screen in any RAV4 ever, and there is an available Premium Audio that includes Dynamic Navigation and a JBL speaker system.
Related: Is the Toyota RAV4 good for families?
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