XC60 MY2022 - Google/Android infotainment system

[Mobileadam]

Interesting comments about the new system. You’d think it would be an improvement. I had BMWs for 20 years and their evolution of software and interface was always an incremental improvement. Not sure you’ll find system better than idrive.

At least with MY20 I don’t feel like I’m missing out now!

[Mm1988]

Originally Posted by Fursty Ferret

I had a drive in a Polestar 2 today. The mapping with Google Maps is great; everything else is a bit half-baked.

You can't access the speed limiter from the steering wheel controls anymore; the speed limit information is small and frequently wrong; everything is buried about three layers deep in menus; Google Assistant is useless ("I didn't understand" or "Something went wrong"); Pilot Assist works but has terrible UI and doesn't give you the feedback about other vehicles that the existing system does...

I went in expecting a brilliant experience and was distinctly underwhelmed.

That is useful insight. It’s still very early days for this google system but I have no doubt more and more manufacturers will sign up and as they do it will get better and better. Car manufacturers hate developing software so this will by most. Sadly Volvo owners will be the guinea pigs for this and will have to put up with a few years of pain which is a shame. At least the updates are OTA and not dealer installed.

[bornmiddleaged]

Originally Posted by Fursty Ferret

I had a drive in a Polestar 2 today. The mapping with Google Maps is great; everything else is a bit half-baked.

You can't access the speed limiter from the steering wheel controls anymore; the speed limit information is small and frequently wrong; everything is buried about three layers deep in menus; Google Assistant is useless ("I didn't understand" or "Something went wrong"); Pilot Assist works but has terrible UI and doesn't give you the feedback about other vehicles that the existing system does...

I went in expecting a brilliant experience and was distinctly underwhelmed.

That's interesting to know, thanks. I would say that most of those things are fixable through software, but whether Polestar/Volvo think they need to be fixed is another matter, of course.

I'm intrigued when you say "Pilot Assist works but has terrible UI and doesn't give you the feedback about other vehicles that the existing system does"

What feedback do you get at the moment? I have a 2018 V60 and when using Pilot assist, I wouldn't say that I get any feedback, the car just slows down if there is a slower vehicle in front but there is no indication on the driver display or HUD to show that. I am a bit of a data geek, so it would be interesting if there was some way to know more about what the car is "seeing".

[rxtian]

The Volvo dash shows if there is a vehicle detected in front (the picture of the back of a car in front of you comes and goes).

On the speedo there is also an indication of the speed the system thinks the vehicle ahead is doing, and the current target speed for your vehicle.

[bornmiddleaged]

Originally Posted by rxtian

The Volvo dash shows if there is a vehicle detected in front (the picture of the back of a car in front of you comes and goes).

On the speedo there is also an indication of the speed the system thinks the vehicle ahead is doing, and the current target speed for your vehicle.

OK, I'll need to play closer attention next time I'm using it. That must be a fairly subtle change as I don't think I've spotted it.

I previously had a Skoda Superb with Adaptive cruise and you could get the "maxidot" part of the drivers display to show if a vehicle was detected in front and how close it was. That was with analog dials and a fairly small, black and white display, so it stood out quite well on the display.
Having said that, the overall implementation of ACC on the Skoda was not as good as pilot assist; it was often quite late in braking to the point where I was hovering over the brake pedal ready to take over, and then there was often quite a delay in speeding up again. I find Pilot assist much quicker to respond and smoother.

[Fursty Ferret]

I have a 2018 V60 and when using Pilot assist, I wouldn't say that I get any feedback, the car just slows down if there is a slower vehicle in front but there is no indication on the driver display or HUD to show that.

The most useful thing for me is the indication of the lead vehicle speed. You can tell instantly if they're going to annoy you by speeding up and slowing down.