The family SUV with the best infotainment in 2023

A good infotainment system might not seem like a priority at first, but it can dramatically improve your daily drive. Here are the family SUVs with the best infotainment in 2023.

When you’re buying a new car, chances are infotainment won’t appear at the top of your must-have list – but it can make a big difference to your day-to-day driving experience.

How easy to use is the infotainment menu? Are the graphics glitchy or slow to load? Does it have Apple CarPlay and satellite navigation?

All of these questions can be crucial when determining if a car’s infotainment system is right for you.

As part of our seven-seat family SUV comparison for 2023, Drive gathered 12 models and assessed their infotainment systems, scoring them on ease of use, seamless smartphone pairing, graphics quality, number of features and screen size.

Here are the top three of the bunch:

1st Place: Hyundai Palisade Highlander

The Hyundai Palisade can be commended for its easy-to-use, stylish, and premium infotainment system. This vehicle was one of only two on our test to boast a large 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen – the other was the Toyota Kluger.

But it’s not all about the size of the screen – the set-up is exceptionally intuitive, with large icons and premium graphics. It also gets Hyundai Bluelink connected services, which allow remote access to some vehicle features via a paired smartphone.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto link easily, but the systems are wired, not wireless. There’s a head-up display, satellite navigation, a digital manual, and a ‘Passenger Talk ‘ feature to allow the driver to easily talk to rear seat occupants without needing to raise their voice.

2nd Place: Toyota Kluger GXL

The 2023 Toyota Kluger has an impressive, up-to-date infotainment system compared to earlier models, and scored highly for its ease of use and smartphone connectivity.

The system provides high-quality graphics with simple icons and plenty of shortcuts to boot. The large infotainment screen (12.3 inches) is equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, satellite navigation and a detailed trip computer.

There aren’t many shortfalls in the Kluger, but it does miss out on a head-up display for the driver (unlike several others in the test), while a dedicated home button is preferable for easier accessibility, instead of Toyota’s app-switcher-style onscreen shortcut buttons.

3rd Place: Kia Sorento GT-Line

The touchscreen inside the Kia Sorento is sizeable – measuring in at 10.25 inches and boasting graphics of a high quality. The Sorento’s infotainment system scored highly for its high-resolution graphics and easy-to-read icons.

The ‘Passenger Talk’ is a handy feature, allowing the driver to directly address the third row, while this car also scores a head-up display, detailed trip computer, and an inbuilt digital manual.

The Sorento gets wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but misses out on wireless connectivity for both.

It also lost a point for the lack of remote application access – not a deal-breaker, but a feature found in both the Kluger and Palisade that’s a handy way to stay in touch with your car, whether by checking fuel levels, locking or unlocking it remotely, or starting the car to cool the cabin before getting in on hot days.

To see all the other categories and cars tested, follow the link to get your comprehensive guide to the Best Family SUVs in Australia for 2023.

The post The family SUV with the best infotainment in 2023 appeared first on Drive.