How to Test-Drive Your Next Car's Infotainment System

A few easy checks that could save you a lot of headaches with your next new car.

Tim Stevens | 

Nov 14, 2025 | 5 min read

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As a car reviewer, I'm lucky that I typically get to drive about 100 new cars a year. This mostly includes models that are fresh on the market or that have been recently updated, but I also sample a fair few that are getting a little long in the tooth.

When I started doing this, touchscreens weren't really a thing yet in cars. The job of car reviewer focused on evaluating acceleration, handling, ride quality, and interior comfort. These days, though, I spend just as much time on car dynamics and comfort as I do tapping through touchscreens and querying voice assistants to try and figure out if a given car offers the right features and user-friendliness to compete.

And yet, when I ask people what they do during a test drive for a new car, they rarely tell me about trying out a vehicle's touchscreen or other tech features. With software-related concerns providing the biggest frustration for new-car buyers, not testing these features out before buying is asking for trouble.

So, in the interest of making sure you're happy not only with how your next car drives but also how its tech operates, here are a few things to experiment with when you try that car out for the first time.

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Verify the Core Features Available and Try Them

Probably the most important thing to figure out is simply what your car can do. Different trims of different models have differing capabilities, so take a few minutes to feel out what is and isn't available through your car's various interfaces.

Navigation is key. Even if you plan to use your smartphone to get around, it's great to have an integrated option within your car. That way, you won't get lost if you forget your phone — and sometimes integrated navigation can actually do a better job.

So, if the car has navigation, bring it up and punch in an address. Is searching slow? Is the keyboard easy to use? If you do a search for local restaurants, is the list current, or is it already out of date? Can you search for things by name and category?

Now try picking a destination that's far away and see how long it takes the car to plot a route. Can you search for points of interest along that route? And, if you're testing an electric car, does it automatically find chargers? This is a valuable feature in EV ownership.

Voice Commands

Many cars offer some sort of integrated voice assistant, but they're not all created equal. With just a few requests, you can suss out whether your potential next car's assistant is worth talking to.

Start with something basic, like entering an address by voice. Speak naturally; don't slow down for the sake of the car. It should be able to understand instructions spoken at a reasonable pace.

If that works, try something more nuanced. Try saying, "I'm hungry." The car may display a list of nearby restaurants. Next try "I'm cold." Some cars automatically turn up the heat. Finally, try saying "I need a hospital," and see what the car does. A good voice assistant might display a list of the nearest hospitals and offer to direct you there. Or does it list non-urgent care providers? Knowing how the system responds could save you precious time in an emergency.

Don't Forget to Test Out Smartphone Integration

Navigation and voice assistance are important, but many modern cars have other tricks up their sleeves as well. It's worth figuring out what distinctive tech the vehicle you're testing has and how well it all works.

One common feature is an integrated wireless hot spot. You might already use something similar through your smartphone's data plan, but having it in the car not only offers better signal in spotty areas, but will make it easy for your kids to connect their tablets and game systems from the back seat without having to reach for your phone.

Another big one is smartphone projection, which is the general term for Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto. These services let you quickly, easily, and — most importantly — safely access media and more on your phone while you're driving.

While CarPlay and Android Auto are nearly ubiquitous in today's cars, a few brands stubbornly refuse to support either. If these features are important to you, make sure your car supports them, and actually go through the process of pairing your phone. Just because it's officially compatible doesn't mean it will actually work.

And even if it does work, not every implementation is intuitive to use. Try starting a route through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and see whether navigation prompts appear in your car's gauge cluster or head-up display, if it has one.

Finally, check whether your car supports wireless smartphone projection. Not all cars do, and for some drivers, having to plug in a cable is a deal-breaker.

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Keeping Devices Powered

The last key feature that's worth checking out is the number and location of power outlets in the car. Your car should have at least a few easily accessible USB ports, ideally of the oval-shaped USB-C variety, which is the current standard for cables.

More and more cars offer wireless charging, too. If your potential new car does, make sure it's easily accessible. Some are tucked away inside the armrest, for example, which is not only awkward to use but also makes it easy to forget your phone when exiting the car.

Finally, if there's a wireless charging pad, make sure your phone actually works with it. Today's smartphones are bigger than ever, and sometimes they simply won't fit.

Tim Stevens

Tim is a freelance automotive and technology journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He is a frequent contributor to major domestic and international online, print, and broadcast news outlets, sharing his insights and perspectives on everything from cybersecurity to supercars. Tim also serves as a juror for the World Car Awards and regularly acts as speaker and moderator at major industry events such as CES, Web Summit, SXSW, NAIAS, and AutoMobility LA. He formerly served as editor-at-large and vice president of content at CNET. Before that he was editor-in-chief of Engadget and editorial director at AOL Tech.