New member, looking for reliable SUV

[piorunz]

Just read that today, that's where new toy cars with big Android tablet in the centre are all heading

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/consumer/volvo-ex30-owners-refunded-over-software-issues

[philip42h]

1 hour ago, piorunz said:

Just read that today, that's where new toy cars with big Android tablet in the centre are all heading

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/consumer/volvo-ex30-owners-refunded-over-software-issues

Well, since you've taken your own thread slightly off topic ... my next car will be smaller than the RAV and, hopefully, an EV. The EX30 seemed to fit the bill very well so I took one for a test drive - and it's a lovely car. But EVERYTHING is on the central Android tablet. Now, I don't change settings very often so I could probably cope with the touch screen over dedicated buttons (provided that it works!).

But I just couldn't read the information displayed. I drive wearing varifocals so I can see the road clearly through the long-range bit and glance down through the short-range bit to read the dials and gauges through the steering wheel. The carefully place Android tablet sits at the height of the long-range vision and it's busy with small print so I just couldn't read it ... And that's the EX30 off my list (along with the Teslas and all other cars that have taken that design decision).

[AndyN01]

2 hours ago, philip42h said:

Well, since you've taken your own thread slightly off topic ... my next car will be smaller than the RAV and, hopefully, an EV. The EX30 seemed to fit the bill very well so I took one for a test drive - and it's a lovely car. But EVERYTHING is on the central Android tablet. Now, I don't change settings very often so I could probably cope with the touch screen over dedicated buttons (provided that it works!).

But I just couldn't read the information displayed. I drive wearing varifocals so I can see the road clearly through the long-range bit and glance down through the short-range bit to read the dials and gauges through the steering wheel. The carefully place Android tablet sits at the height of the long-range vision and it's busy with small print so I just couldn't read it ... And that's the EX30 off my list (along with the Teslas and all other cars that have taken that design decision).

Now there's a classic example of style over substance.

Not that long ago everything was a "reach" away from the driver. Anyone remember when (single speed) wipers were on a switch in the middle of the dashboard? Then steering wheel controls came along and we could do all sorts of stuff without looking for a right switch and then reaching for it 👍.

IMHO we're a long, long way down the "Oh, that's COOOOL - but stupid" road and it's not for the better.

[piorunz]

13 hours ago, philip42h said:

Well, since you've taken your own thread slightly off topic ... my next car will be smaller than the RAV and, hopefully, an EV. The EX30 seemed to fit the bill very well so I took one for a test drive - and it's a lovely car. But EVERYTHING is on the central Android tablet. Now, I don't change settings very often so I could probably cope with the touch screen over dedicated buttons (provided that it works!).

But I just couldn't read the information displayed. I drive wearing varifocals so I can see the road clearly through the long-range bit and glance down through the short-range bit to read the dials and gauges through the steering wheel. The carefully place Android tablet sits at the height of the long-range vision and it's busy with small print so I just couldn't read it ... And that's the EX30 off my list (along with the Teslas and all other cars that have taken that design decision).

I agree with you, I don't wear glasses but I very much dislike to do everything on Android tablet while I drive, XC60 is bad enough already. While I interact with the tablet, I don't have eyes on the road, increasing a risk of accident. This is unacceptable.