2019 Acura Touchpad Infotainment System Review
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Date: 2019-05-30
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Comments and reviews: 10
SDav21
Seems pretty good actually but only in this context. Lexus has the worst system and this is better than that. But the German manufacturers (now excluding Audi) all did it better with the rotary dial with a touch pad as well and touch screen. I think Mercedes has done it best now in the new A Class. Touch screen isnt really great when the car isnin motion because you need to physically look at what you are touching to do something meaning it is distracting. Mercs steering wheel touch pads are so excellent because you can control the entire interface without taking your hands off the wheel. Then it allows touch screen for entering destinations and a touch pad which works well the the interface designed to work with it for when you dont want fingerprints. Then they also went the extra mile on having one of the best voice control systems which allows you to do anything. At this point, multiple input methods are the best. Because everyone is different and Merc caters to more people with their MBUX and makes it easier to control a system on the move. These luxury Japanese manufacturers like Acura and Lexus try too hard to differentiate their systems. Sometimes they should just admit defeat and copy the Germans. Theyre just better at many things. Instead now they go and create systems which arent really that great comparatively.
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Seems pretty good actually but only in this context. Lexus has the worst system and this is better than that. But the German manufacturers (now excluding Audi) all did it better with the rotary dial with a touch pad as well and touch screen. I think Mercedes has done it best now in the new A Class. Touch screen isnt really great when the car isnin motion because you need to physically look at what you are touching to do something meaning it is distracting. Mercs steering wheel touch pads are so excellent because you can control the entire interface without taking your hands off the wheel. Then it allows touch screen for entering destinations and a touch pad which works well the the interface designed to work with it for when you dont want fingerprints. Then they also went the extra mile on having one of the best voice control systems which allows you to do anything. At this point, multiple input methods are the best. Because everyone is different and Merc caters to more people with their MBUX and makes it easier to control a system on the move. These luxury Japanese manufacturers like Acura and Lexus try too hard to differentiate their systems. Sometimes they should just admit defeat and copy the Germans. Theyre just better at many things. Instead now they go and create systems which arent really that great comparatively.
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alliejr
Touch screens seem like an obvious good idea because they work exactly like cellphones or tablets. But in my experience, using a touch screen in a car on the move is frustrating, distracting and dangerous. It requires a high level of concentration and eyes-on-screen, rather than eyes on road, and manual dexterity to hold your hand steady and touch a relatively small activation area on a screen while your body, arm, hand and the screen itself are all in motion being jostled by the car. In my experience, the old Acura knob and similar control-dial systems used by Mercedes, Mazda, Audi and BMW just make much more sense, _IF_ the UI is well designed (mostly they are not, but thats a different issue. With those designs, you can quickly and easily scroll to the function you want. Once youve scrolled there, you can leave that item highlighted and continue using your right hand to drive, if necessary, and then come back to the control knob and still have that same item highlighted and ready for activation. Apple CarPlay also (mostly) works a treat with such a design, so you just scroll the knob to highlight different icons, rather like how an old BlackBerry would work.
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Touch screens seem like an obvious good idea because they work exactly like cellphones or tablets. But in my experience, using a touch screen in a car on the move is frustrating, distracting and dangerous. It requires a high level of concentration and eyes-on-screen, rather than eyes on road, and manual dexterity to hold your hand steady and touch a relatively small activation area on a screen while your body, arm, hand and the screen itself are all in motion being jostled by the car. In my experience, the old Acura knob and similar control-dial systems used by Mercedes, Mazda, Audi and BMW just make much more sense, _IF_ the UI is well designed (mostly they are not, but thats a different issue. With those designs, you can quickly and easily scroll to the function you want. Once youve scrolled there, you can leave that item highlighted and continue using your right hand to drive, if necessary, and then come back to the control knob and still have that same item highlighted and ready for activation. Apple CarPlay also (mostly) works a treat with such a design, so you just scroll the knob to highlight different icons, rather like how an old BlackBerry would work.
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George Onderko
So we bought this car and love it but one thing I havent seen mentioned by any reviewer is how the Nav system tells you where to go. On the highway it doesnt tell you what road or even exit number to turn on. It will say on the screen towards ClevelandSo I have no clue what highway or what exit number Im going to exit on. I just know its towards Cleveland. This is absolutely terrible and makes missing your turn so easy. Youre watching for that one highway sign that says towards Cleveland and hoping its the right one. Ive found no option to just give me turn right onto 71N in 2mi rather than turn right towards Cleveland in 2mi. Horrible. You can insert whatever other city your exit is towards. It will never display the highway number or exit number.
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So we bought this car and love it but one thing I havent seen mentioned by any reviewer is how the Nav system tells you where to go. On the highway it doesnt tell you what road or even exit number to turn on. It will say on the screen towards ClevelandSo I have no clue what highway or what exit number Im going to exit on. I just know its towards Cleveland. This is absolutely terrible and makes missing your turn so easy. Youre watching for that one highway sign that says towards Cleveland and hoping its the right one. Ive found no option to just give me turn right onto 71N in 2mi rather than turn right towards Cleveland in 2mi. Horrible. You can insert whatever other city your exit is towards. It will never display the highway number or exit number.
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Paul W Jones
Thanks, insightful review. I do wonder a bit about how well the True Touchpad works when one is wearing gloves (which does happen in colder climates. Hopefully the voice commands work to mitigate that. I kind of like the way some of the Teslas work, big touch screen, but of course they bury some stuff way too deep in menus, nice to have dedicated buttons. But perhaps ditching the drive mode knob (which let us face facts, how often are you going to change in a SUV, Acrua might have had a bit more room for other stuff, or been able to move the screen within arms reach. Granted, positioning the screen up where it is easy to see while driving is nice.
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Thanks, insightful review. I do wonder a bit about how well the True Touchpad works when one is wearing gloves (which does happen in colder climates. Hopefully the voice commands work to mitigate that. I kind of like the way some of the Teslas work, big touch screen, but of course they bury some stuff way too deep in menus, nice to have dedicated buttons. But perhaps ditching the drive mode knob (which let us face facts, how often are you going to change in a SUV, Acrua might have had a bit more room for other stuff, or been able to move the screen within arms reach. Granted, positioning the screen up where it is easy to see while driving is nice.
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DFWbro
It seems like a good system that a person can get used to overtime, but it would have been nice if Acura gave you both the touch screen and touch pad interface like BMW does with iDrive. There are some things, especially while stopped or at a red light, that are just easier to do on a touch screen. With iDrive, you have voice recognition, rotary knob, touch screen, handwriting recognition, and gesture control. Some might think thats overwhelming, but personally I think its nice to have options. Regardless, it looks like Acura did their homework on the TTI, and the graphics look superb
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It seems like a good system that a person can get used to overtime, but it would have been nice if Acura gave you both the touch screen and touch pad interface like BMW does with iDrive. There are some things, especially while stopped or at a red light, that are just easier to do on a touch screen. With iDrive, you have voice recognition, rotary knob, touch screen, handwriting recognition, and gesture control. Some might think thats overwhelming, but personally I think its nice to have options. Regardless, it looks like Acura did their homework on the TTI, and the graphics look superb
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J S
Great review as usual Alex This is a shame. I owned a 2013 rdx but tired of it after a few years. The 2019 looks amazing. except for this infotainment system which Acura continues to come up short. I want a fun, comfortable car to drive and dont want to get bogged down by overcomplicated systems and controls. I deal with enough technology everywhere else and want my car experience to be more about driving. Based on this aspect alone I will not even bother to test drive the new rdx. Can we just keep it simple?
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Great review as usual Alex This is a shame. I owned a 2013 rdx but tired of it after a few years. The 2019 looks amazing. except for this infotainment system which Acura continues to come up short. I want a fun, comfortable car to drive and dont want to get bogged down by overcomplicated systems and controls. I deal with enough technology everywhere else and want my car experience to be more about driving. Based on this aspect alone I will not even bother to test drive the new rdx. Can we just keep it simple?
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HW2800
This is the best system because people that are 45+ are use to laptop mechanism. It would take a couple of years or more to learn how to operate a touch screen since many are people are scare of using a finger to touch the touchscreen. Many of these people still use a flip phone or do not own a mobile phone and never ever had the chance to experience a touch screen. Way to go - Acura
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This is the best system because people that are 45+ are use to laptop mechanism. It would take a couple of years or more to learn how to operate a touch screen since many are people are scare of using a finger to touch the touchscreen. Many of these people still use a flip phone or do not own a mobile phone and never ever had the chance to experience a touch screen. Way to go - Acura
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King Arthur
i finally own the 2019 acura rdx and can honestly say that the infotainment is amazing. i did not need to go through any kind of learning curve as the system works fluidly, fast, and is hassle free. love the touchpad and is the mac trackpad of car touchpads in my opinion. Also love the voice recognition system and siri integration as it is a godsend.
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i finally own the 2019 acura rdx and can honestly say that the infotainment is amazing. i did not need to go through any kind of learning curve as the system works fluidly, fast, and is hassle free. love the touchpad and is the mac trackpad of car touchpads in my opinion. Also love the voice recognition system and siri integration as it is a godsend.
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Jaime San Miguel
Alex, you kept comparing this new Acura infotainment system to Lexuss system. The real 800 pound gorilla in the room is Hondas own touchscreen system available on all Honda cars, and is head and shoulders better than what Acura is showing you Why does the parents company Honda put a better system on their cheaper vehicles?
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Alex, you kept comparing this new Acura infotainment system to Lexuss system. The real 800 pound gorilla in the room is Hondas own touchscreen system available on all Honda cars, and is head and shoulders better than what Acura is showing you Why does the parents company Honda put a better system on their cheaper vehicles?
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Danielson Gomes
They should have just added touchscreen. Makes everything so much easier and intuative. Heck even Idrive includes a touchscreen. Dont know why these companies spend so much developing new systems and driving the cost of the cars when they can just include a touchscreen thats been around forever and keeps everything simple.
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They should have just added touchscreen. Makes everything so much easier and intuative. Heck even Idrive includes a touchscreen. Dont know why these companies spend so much developing new systems and driving the cost of the cars when they can just include a touchscreen thats been around forever and keeps everything simple.
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