The 2017 GMC Acadia was the only GM model to earn a spot on this year’s Wards 10 Best UX List
Photo: © General Motors
While most people who read about cars on the web are aware of the annual Wards 10 Best Interiors list, fewer might know about the Wards 10 Best User Experience list or UX to keep it short.
The GMC Acadia’s infotainment system was well-received by Wards editors
Photo: © General Motors
The UX list was initially created as a spin-off of the 10 Best Interiors list, which evaluates a vehicle’s cabin based on individual design aspects, aesthetics, and ergonomics. The UX list is unique because it takes a closer look at the various systems used in each vehicle, then evaluates its user-friendliness, as well as how well it carries out the job it was designed to do, such as preventing accidents, improving safety, or reducing distractions.
“We’re paying close attention to touchscreens, navigation systems and infotainment, and we want to know if voice controls work well and if connecting your smartphone is simple,” explained WardsAuto Senior Content Director Drew Winter. “We’re trying to quantify how easy it is overall to interact with a vehicle.”
Editors from WardsAuto evaluated a total of 29 light vehicles that were either entirely new or significantly redesigned for the 2017 model year. The editors judged these vehicles during their daily commutes to work in Detroit, Michigan.
This may come as a surprise, but the 2017 GMC Acadia was the only General Motors product to earn a spot on Wards 10 Best UX list this year. The redesigned GMC Acadia was praised for its intuitive touchscreen, quick phone connectivity, and its radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system. The editors also complimented the center stack’s simple layout of knobs and buttons, as well as how the split-screen weather report shows the weather at the driver’s current location and what the weather is doing at their intended destination.
Other American vehicles to make the 10 Best User Experience list were the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica and 2017 Ford Escape.
Each automaker that had a car on this list will be honored with a trophy at the WardsAuto User Experience Conference on October 4th.
Gallery: 2017 GMC Acadia Interior Photos
News Source: wardsauto.com
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