Audi Vs. Mercedes: The Battle Of Interior Technology
A favorite topic of debate for individuals in automotive technician training involves the pros and cons of two of the most recognized and respected car brands in the automobile industry–Audi and Mercedes. Overall, the difference between the two contenders has narrowed in terms of power, attractiveness and price.
As the Audi brand has matured improved the quality and performance of its cars, the name has quietly become a serious competitor for the luxury tag long synonymous with Mercedes-Benz.
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Ultimately, users will need to make a decision on various components to decide which offers the better choice.
The navigation/infotainment systems provide points of comparison that might tip the scale in favor of one over the other. Both the Mercedes’ COMAND and Audi’s MMI perform a long list of convenient tasks—navigation, audio, climate, connectivity and vehicle settings. COMAND offers a 7-inch fixed display compared to the 6.5 inch Internet-enabled, pop-up display on the MMI.
However, MMI has advanced touch screen technology with handwriting capabilities, which is more appealing to younger drivers, as well as the conventional rotary push button, joystick controller and voice recognition associated with COMAND.
Audi Connect incorporates the navigation system with Google Earth Maps, Google Voice Local Search superior 3D graphics and content delivery. Music lovers will appreciate the enhanced entertainment experience, such as the accurate reproduction of deep bass notes, a system that automatically adjusts to compensate for road noise and a dual 10-inch screen rear seat entertainment system.
Nonetheless, Audi has received some criticism about its modified infotainment system, which some reviewers feel is not as user-friendly as COMAND and makes it difficult to operate while driving.
In comparison, COMAND nixes the traditional touchscreen functionality in favor of 100% conventional rotary control knob to operate menus and settings. Some reviewers have described the feature-rich system’s interface as “chunky.”
For videos, COMAND has a dual 7-inch screen for rear seat entertainment and the ability to watch DVDs on the COMAND screen. Many individuals enrolled in automotive technician training programs are serious gamers. They will place great value on COMAND’s ability support for video game consoles, an option not available on MMI.
Conclusion
When it comes to the two navigation/infotainment systems, persons into the latest-and-greatest in technology may conclude that Mercedes lags behind Audi when it comes to available technology, especially related to smartphone-data connected apps and connectivity.
Audi wins the navigation/infotainment battle hands down.
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