Improving the Uconnect Layout - 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited Long-Term Road Test
Edmunds.com
Member, Administrator, Moderator Posts: 10,316
Improving the Uconnect Layout - 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited Long-Term Road Test
Chrysler's Uconnect system in the 2014 Jeep Cherokee is one of the better electronics interfaces out there, but Edmunds editor James Riswick shows how it could be improved.
0
Comments
Nice render (IMO). As a Uconnect user, I agree that it's really nice that there are so few negative things one can say about the system. It's intuitive to use, responsive (no lag), and reliable (never had a freeze/reboot). If really forced to nitpick, I would say that the 8.4" screen is not as high-res as the (slightly smaller) screen in my mom's 2013 Escape.
Wow it looks so much more natural after the 'shop. I've used most Uconnect systems, but haven't been in the Cherokee yet. I'm surprised they put the controls so far down! Otherwise, Uconnect is a very solid system.
Yeah, you pretty much nailed my only complaint with the system. I like the look and logic of the U-Connect screen and menus. It's a very capable system that doesn't cost a ton. And it's light-years better than the system they sold just 3 or 4 years ago. They went from worst to first almost overnight.
But this makes it even better by bringing the knobs up where they make more at-a-glance sense. They're closer to the driver's line of sight, and I doubt there's an important change to the operator's reach. And it makes sense that the lane departure buttons are lower, less in the driver's immediate line of sight because those controls have a much lower "frequency of use" than the volume and tuning knobs.
Twitter: @Edmunds_Test
but by bringing them higher, youre bringing them closer to the steering wheel where there are already redundant rocker switches for the same controls. i have UConnect and i have yet to use that right-most control knob - EVER. theres just no need to use it with the steering wheel switches and touchscreen.
i disagree that the author's layout is better, although i can somewhat sympathize with the complaint coming from someone not familiar with the system.
You may be right, but I'm always bemused at this type of complaint from auto scribes, who drive myriad different vehicles instead of the same car every day like us mere mortals. I'd suggest a little self editing by auto journalists, and perhaps ask themselves first if it would really be an issue to live with daily in one's only, or at least primary, vehicle before they waste column inches complaining about it.