2020 Kia UVO Infotainment System Review: Growing confidence

Kia's UVO infotainment system has gone through a bit of a visual makeover, but at that place are additional features and controls that are helping the development along.

The latest iteration of the platform is relatively widespread in the automaker's various models. That range includes the 2019-20 Rio and on up to the sedans, SUVs and minivans, like the Optima, Sorento and Sedona. The latest version seen in many of the 2020 model vehicles builds off of what came earlier.

I tested it out on the 2020 Kia Telluride, an 8-seat SUV that is on the college finish in the visitor's portfolio. The 2020 Telluride comes in three trims: EX, SX and SX Express. The SX trim I rode in comes in at $49,995. All of them offer UVO Intelligence, CarPlay, Android Automobile and in-car navigation and the Harman/Kardon audio system only offered on the SX and SX Limited.

The basics

As before, UVO functions on two pillars. Get-go, at that place'south the system in the nuance that handles all connectivity within the vehicle. Second, is UVO Intelligence running through the free app for iOS and Android to control some vehicle features remotely.

For the most part, these two notwithstanding run the same way, which is to say that they complement each other, rather than run concurrently. For example, it's possible to remote start the engine, lock/unlock doors and even wink the 4-way lights using the app. Then long every bit you're continued to LTE or Wi-Fi, y'all can do it from pretty much anywhere. The vehicle diagnostics and maintenance scheduling largely remains the same.

That familiarity still misses on sure features. For instance, I wasn't able to send a destination address to the in-car navigation. Perhaps less of a factor now that Google Maps and Waze work on both Android Auto and CarPlay.

Once in the car, Kia still eschews native third-party app back up, preferring to defer all that to Apple and Google. There is some limited functionality, like with calls and text messages, but cypher else integrated, every bit we sometimes encounter with other automakers.

Siri Eyes Free yet works with iPhones via directly-up Bluetooth audio streaming connections, simply still won't work with Google Banana. When pairing an Android device, hitting the voice button on the steering wheel brings upwards Kia'south own phonation assistant.

Connections and layout

Unlike the Rio I test drove almost two years ago, the Telluride was laden with USB-A ports. There was the primary one for phones in the front end nether the dash, with another in the storage bin in the centre panel, next to the 12-volt socket. There were ii more, each built into the back and front rider seats for people sitting in the back to accuse their devices. Kia even threw in an additional 12-volt socket and three-pronged power outlet on the lower portion of the centre console facing rear passengers.

Notably missing from the connection layout was an Aux-In port. There isn't 1, and Kia has substantially abandoned the old three.5mm jack to give way to USB and Bluetooth as principal alternatives. At that place is a wireless charging pad nether the USB port, and it is standard on all Telluride trims.

Bluetooth connections tin can handle upward to five phones, only can't continue two connected simultaneously. For example, if you have a piece of work and personal phone, you can just keep one paired. And without the Aux-In port, you lot don't have that as a fallback selection. USB is one way to connect, merely even so, the system will prioritize ane over the other based on the style you're in. If it's CarPlay or Android Machine, that device gets dibs. If it's Bluetooth audio, then that device takes precedence.

The congenital-in SIM menu is for enabling UVO Intelligence to work with the app, but unfortunately, still doesn't allow for an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot.

UVO Intelligence is neat in its own way. Starting the motorcar or locking the doors (in case you forgot) through the app is convenient. Information technology's only non applied if you lot're standing close to it. The point'due south triangulation takes up to 30 seconds to actually go through — and that was on total bars. With a spottier connection, it takes longer.

That'south okay if you lot're walking to the car in a big shopping mall or just want to heat it upwardly or cool it down before getting in, merely the regular keyfob was a lot faster in closer quarters.

New screen and interface

Kia has been getting progressively bigger with the screens it uses, and the ten.25-inch panel in the Telluride is a prime number example. It is pretty vibrant and offers full touch-based control.

It also sports a different interface than before through the use of widgets. These widgets carve up the screen into three sections, making the home screen look more than like a multitasking setup. By default, information technology shows navigation, sound and weather condition, though a few other options are available.

One of these is called Driver Talk, whereby in-machine microphones pick upwardly the driver's voice and play it through speakers in the rear. That way, drivers don't demand to enhance their voices to exist heard, specially if children are sleeping in the machine. Another is a Phonation Memo feature that lets drivers or passengers save reminders they can hear at a later time on need.

If you desire automobile diagnostics or vehicle-specific data, there'south a widget shortcut for that, as well. CarPlay and Android Motorcar fall under the media widget, and then if either one is active, they will appear in that box anytime you get to the dwelling screen.

The widgets complement an app drawer that you can get to by swiping left, but it's only necessary to become to if you want to get to a feature or setting that'due south not in the widget bill of fare. I recognize some of this may sound confusing, only in practice, it actually flows quite well. My 1 gripe is that the physical button layout below the brandish is missing a dedicated home button. I always had to touch the screen to get to information technology.

Using Kia's vox command is another mode to get around within the interface. It knows the different sections and can bring them up on command. The only thing is the delay in doing then. The easiest method was to push the phonation button on the steering cycle and say it from there.

CarPlay and Android Car

There is a divergence in how these 2 platforms appear on the large display. Apple tree had optimized CarPlay to make use of actress screen real estate, which is why 10 apps can appear on the grid at once. Apps running on the platform as well stretch out and cover the display, and information technology looks squeamish.

That's not the instance with Android Car — at least not notwithstanding. Though notwithstanding largely optimized for smaller screens, Google already announced a refreshed iteration of the platform at Google I/O that will include optimizing for larger displays. When that happens (supposedly this summertime sometime), it should appear that style on the UVO arrangement too.

Both Siri and Google Banana are the de facto voice platforms when CarPlay or Android Auto run, respectively. That'due south unchanged since the Rio I previously tested. Google Assistant is still the improve of the two in a multifariousness of ways. Being able to tell it what song, artist, album or playlist to play on Spotify was super convenient. I couldn't practise that with Siri. The furthest I could get was a specific artist.

The in-auto navigation takes a backseat to both platforms as well, but that'south okay. I detect Google Maps and Waze are oftentimes better for urban center driving anyway. When venturing out of town, utilizing the satellite connectedness to salvage on data was where Kia's maps came in handy.

Source: https://mobilesyrup.com/2019/06/24/2020-kia-uvo-infotainment-system-review/

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