Which 2025 Cars Have the Best Infotainment Systems?
From full-width touchscreens to AI-powered voice assistants, car infotainment has evolved dramatically in 2025. Whether you’re after a seamless Apple CarPlay experience or an immersive audio system for road trips, infotainment systems now play a vital role in choosing a new vehicle in Australia.
In this comprehensive blog, we’ll deep-dive into the best infotainment systems in 2025 cars, from mainstream to luxury. We’ll cover:
Key features to look for
Touchscreen sizes and responsiveness
Smartphone connectivity
Best-in-class voice assistants
OTA updates and app ecosystems
Top 10 cars in Australia with the best infotainment
Let’s get techy!
🎯 What Makes a Great Infotainment System in 2025?
Before jumping into specific models, here’s what defines a top-tier in-car infotainment setup in 2025:
1. Responsive Touchscreen
Lag-free navigation and high refresh rates make for a smoother experience. Screen sizes are also getting larger—up to 15 or even 17 inches.
2. Wireless Smartphone Integration
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard in most 2025 models—say goodbye to cables!
3. Voice Control with AI
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and proprietary systems like BMW’s iDrive 9 and Mercedes MBUX have matured into intelligent assistants.
4. OTA (Over-the-Air) Updates
Cars like Teslas and BYDs receive software updates that continuously improve the UI, features, and even add new games or apps.
5. Integrated Navigation and Apps
Live traffic, Spotify, YouTube, Google Maps, or even Zoom meetings—modern systems are becoming smartphones on wheels.
📱 Touchscreen Trends in 2025
The shift from dials and knobs to full touch-based dashboards has accelerated. In 2025, we’re seeing three distinct trends:
🔹 1. Gigantic Central Displays
Tesla Model Y & Model 3 Highland: 15-inch landscape screen with zero physical buttons.
Ford Mustang Mach-E: Vertical 15.5-inch display with rotating dial embedded in the screen.
BYD Seal: 15.6-inch rotatable touchscreen—portrait or landscape with a tap.
🔹 2. Curved & Wraparound Displays
BMW iX & iX2: iDrive 9 with curved glass display, combining digital instrument and infotainment seamlessly.
Kia EV9: Dual 12.3-inch screens connected in a wide layout with soft-touch haptic feedback.
🔹 3. Minimalist, Voice-First Setups
Mercedes EQE & EQS: MBUX Hyperscreen offers voice control with minimal physical interaction. "Hey Mercedes" actually understands you now.
🔟 Top 10 Cars with the Best Infotainment Systems in 2025 (Australia)
1. Tesla Model Y (2025 Refresh)
Infotainment Highlights:
15-inch landscape screen
Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, built-in games
Tesla Voice (basic, but improving)
Regular OTA updates
💬 Why it’s great: The cleanest UI, high performance, and the best OTA ecosystem in the EV world.
2. Kia EV9 (2025)
Infotainment Highlights:
Dual 12.3" screens + 5" HVAC touchscreen
Kia Connect with OTA, in-built maps & wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
Voice recognition for climate, radio, and windows
💬 Why it’s great: High-res, intuitive layout with luxury tech on a mainstream budget.
3. BMW iX2 (2025)
Infotainment Highlights:
BMW Operating System 9
Curved glass display (14.9" infotainment + 12.3" cluster)
Augmented reality navigation
Natural voice command ("Hey BMW")
💬 Why it’s great: BMW’s iDrive 9 is fast, feature-rich, and surprisingly customisable.
4. Hyundai Ioniq 6 (2025)
Infotainment Highlights:
Dual 12.3" screens
Bluelink Connected Services
Google Assistant/Alexa compatibility
EV-specific info (charge time, efficiency map)
💬 Why it’s great: Clean layout, smart integration, and energy usage analytics.
5. Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan (2025)
Infotainment Highlights:
Optional Hyperscreen (56 inches wide!)
Natural language AI
Augmented HUD & AR nav
Voice-command for nearly everything
💬 Why it’s great: Mind-blowing screen, feels like operating a spaceship.
6. Mazda CX-90 (2025)
Infotainment Highlights:
12.3-inch widescreen (not touch but rotary dial)
Mazda Connect with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Clean, distraction-free design
💬 Why it’s great: More tactile approach, suited to drivers who prefer knobs over glass.
7. Polestar 2 (2025 MY)
Infotainment Highlights:
11.15-inch Android Automotive OS
Google Maps, Assistant, Play Store natively
OTA updates regularly
💬 Why it’s great: Feels like driving a Google Pixel car. Seamless and fast.
8. Audi Q4 e-tron (2025)
Infotainment Highlights:
MMI Touch Display: 11.6 inches
Optional Virtual Cockpit Plus
Voice commands and handwriting input
Built-in Alexa and live traffic nav
💬 Why it’s great: Premium layout with good balance of tech and physical controls.
9. Ford Puma (2025)
Infotainment Highlights:
SYNC 4 with 12-inch screen
Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Natural voice interaction
Built-in connected sat nav
💬 Why it’s great: Surprisingly advanced for a small, budget-conscious SUV.
10. Toyota Prius (2025 Gen)
Infotainment Highlights:
12.3-inch central screen
Toyota Connected Services
Voice command for climate/media
OTA updates & hybrid efficiency coaching
💬 Why it’s great: Toyota finally nails a sleek UI. Functional, clean, and futuristic.
🎮 Bonus Mentions – Quirky & Cool Features
Feature | Found In | Description |
---|---|---|
Gaming Console Mode | Tesla Model Y, Model 3 | Play games like Cuphead and chess with a controller |
Rotating Screen | BYD Seal, Dolphin | Portrait to landscape flip with a button |
Zoom Meetings | Mercedes EQE, BMW i7 | Do meetings via video while parked |
Augmented Reality Nav | BMW iX, Merc EQS | Navigation overlays in the real world via HUD |
🛠️ OTA and Subscription Services
📡 Over-the-Air Updates
Tesla and Polestar lead here. BYD and Hyundai are catching up.
Updates range from bug fixes to new games and features like dashcam playback.
💳 Subscription-Only Features?
BMW continues its controversial push with monthly fees for heated seats, dash cam, etc.
Mercedes offers some AI features as part of their MBUX+ plans.
⚖️ Infotainment System Comparison Table
Car Model | Screen Size | Voice Assistant | Wireless CarPlay/AA | OTA Updates | Price Range (AUD) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tesla Model Y | 15" | Basic | Yes | Yes | $65,000+ |
Kia EV9 | Dual 12.3" | Advanced | Yes | Yes | $85,000+ |
BMW iX2 | 14.9" + 12.3" | Excellent | Yes | Yes | $85,000+ |
Hyundai Ioniq 6 | Dual 12.3" | Good | Yes | Yes | $70,000+ |
Mercedes EQE | 56" Hyperscreen | Excellent | Yes | Yes | $130,000+ |
Mazda CX-90 | 12.3" | Basic | Yes | Limited | $75,000+ |
Polestar 2 | 11.15" | Google Assistant | Yes | Yes | $71,000+ |
Audi Q4 e-tron | 11.6" | Alexa | Yes | Yes | $80,000+ |
Ford Puma | 12" | Good | Yes | Yes | $35,000+ |
Toyota Prius | 12.3" | Moderate | Yes | Yes | $48,000+ |
🧾 Final Thoughts – What Should You Choose?
Choosing the right infotainment system depends on your needs and personality:
Love big screens and tech? → Tesla Model Y, Mercedes EQE, Kia EV9
Prefer practicality with modern touch? → Mazda CX-90, Ford Puma
Want full Google ecosystem? → Polestar 2, BMW iX2
As more cars become tech-forward, infotainment systems will continue to be one of the biggest differentiators when buying your next vehicle.
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