IF Infotainment Screens Are Going To Get BIGGER, Do Automakers Need To Do Better Than THIS?

Delivered late last week, I received a Toyota Prius Prime for testing purposes. I had one when the pre-production units were floating around the press fleet but I have to say, I didn't get a great feeling about that particular car I tested.

I wanted to get another taste.

So far it's been a pretty good ride. Coming home from New York City I earned 59 mpg and on a roadtrip out east on Long Island I netted about 53 mpg — these hybrids tend to get a little beat up on mpgs when you're at true highway speed.

But when driving around Saturday a.m., I noticed something rather frustrating. The large, screen sitting in the center stack wasn't exactly helpful. That's because it was largely washed out by a massive glare eating up most of the display.

At this point I've driven cars with large instrument panel displays as well as other various screens but nothing was quite as bad as this.

NOTE: The attached photo has not been edited, that's exactly how it appeared in real life.

Clearly, we're at a point where screens are going to get even larger to make the infotainment experience even more rich. That means, I've got to address the elephant in the room: IF infotainment screens are going to get bigger, do automakers NEED to do BETTER than this?

SanJoseDriver - 8/21/2018 1:06:44 AM

-1 Boost

Absolutely, there is no reason for glare like that. Toyota cheaped out. A high quality IPS or OLED screen won't have that issue.

Was the brightness properly adjusted?

runninglogan1 - 8/21/2018 6:23:58 AM

0 Boost

Seems like Mercedes is going with cowling-less glass panels on their upcoming models such as the A Class and new GLE.

Wonder how much of an issue glare will be on those. Have to think that Mercedes came up with some sort of solution.

PUGPROUD - 8/21/2018 8:05:25 AM

+2 Boost

Not a big fan of these though admittedly I'm an analog guy. However I would much prefer technology be developed to put heads up display across entire bottom of windshield with a round controller at hand than bigger screens. Cannot work these menus without taking eye off the road...got to be a better way.

MDarringer - 8/21/2018 8:08:52 AM

+2 Boost

Given my age, I am supposed to be enthralled by infotainment screens. I'm not. Giant ones will have giant glare and will be finger smudge central. Sure, a dancing map is a good thing, but that can be accomplished by a screen the size of a post card.

TomM - 8/21/2018 8:20:20 AM

+3 Boost

1- All the touch screen - big or small - will get finger smudges on them - I actually keep a Microfiber cloth under my front seat for that.

2 - IF they are going to make it so big as to have as much information on it as possible - they might as well have a set a switches instead.

3 - I think the 6-8" screens are about optimal - they are big enough to see easily but small enough not to impose while driving. Glare becomes a problem when you have a Sun Roof open or clear as well.

4 - Yes- there are STILL things that one needs to do while stopped - but that was the case before the screens as well- for example - we never knew how much air was in our tires unless we checked them with a gauge. And thankfully - I am capable of changing my clocks for Daylight Savings time changes - since they changed the day they do it a few years back.

5 - ALthough I have had several cars with Map gps systems - I don't recall ever using them. Normally I plan my trips outside the car with my computer - and use Google maps online - OR - an analog Road atlas. I also have learned that if you are lost -the best person to ask is a policeman - and most of them go out of their way to help you.

SanJoseDriver - 8/23/2018 3:07:20 AM

+1 Boost

I've used nav pretty religiously for the past 3 cars for places I'm not familiar with. Over the past year I've been using nav on most trips for the real-time traffic routing, even my daily commute (one tap to nav home/work). Calendar integration is pretty sweet too (one tap to nav to next meeting/event). A large screen is super handy if you're heavily using apps like nav, which is going to be a big part of cars going forward. Fingerprints are unavoidable, but glare isn't on a high-end screen.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 8/21/2018 9:18:07 AM

+2 Boost

Somehow I can imagine interior designers and engineers saying why don't people understand that the big screen is for the PASSENGER and not the driver? I think they have their priorities mixed up. If this screen was really for the driver it would be angled towards them. It is a big blinking mess.

rockreid - 8/21/2018 9:30:30 AM

-7 Boost

Tesla Model 3 screen is bright and clear, no glare even with the all glass panorama roof. Speedo is bright and perfectly legible in the upper left corner at all times. I just took delivery of a new JL Wrangler w/ 8.4in Alpine stereo and the Jeep cluster is tiny and partially blocked by the steering wheel no matter how I adjust it. I like the Wrangler but the Model 3 blows it away in the Infotainment dept and clarity of the screen..

MrEE - 8/21/2018 6:27:14 PM

+3 Boost

The solution could be an adjustable display pivot or retractable sun visors. I say bring on the large displays.

skytop - 8/22/2018 10:44:30 AM

0 Boost

Large displays with lots of information to observe take eyes off the road and distract drivers. Very dangerous scenario.