Acadia’s Infotainment Screen Is So Good All Cars Should Copy It, says Autopian

In the past few decades, vehicles have become more powerful, more efficient, safer, and more accommodating. They also contain considerably more technology, and while this is a good thing, increased complexity can become an issue. However, automotive site Autopian thinks the new Acadia has the right idea and states so in its headline, “The 2024 GMC Acadia’s Infotainment Screen Is So Good All Cars Should Copy It.” GMC of Rochester explains. 

When you encounter a car from 25 – 30 years ago, chances are you could drive it off and understand all of its controls within the first mile. Things were much simpler then, and though dashboards were styled differently than they are today, the controls were very similar. 

The flip side is that what these vehicles could do for you in the cabin was quite limited. Music sources were likely limited to local radio stations or a CD player. You had to pick up your phone to use it, and navigation came in the form of paper maps in the glove box that you never quite folded correctly.

Touchscreens Reduce Clutter, Add Complexity

Starting in the mid-90s to early 2000s, cars started to have more interior capabilities, such as hands-free phone use, multiple audio inputs, navigation, and other technologies. Controls were needed for all of these, and dashboards started to look like airliner cockpits. One Acura of the time had over 100 controls. 

Navigation systems brought screens into vehicles, and making them touchscreens allowed manufacturers to use them to operate their growing number of technology systems. That reduced the controls but also hid them. You now had to learn where to find them. Additionally, automakers eventually found that developing code for a system control was much less expensive than designing, developing, and incorporating a control. Particularly one that looked and felt good. Manufacturers trying to impress you with their minimalist designs by leaving everything to the screen will likely save some interior design dollars.

Acadia Calls on Google

GMC brought the field, and the result is that the infotainment system operating Acadia’s big 15-inch screen was designed by Google using a system called Google Built-In. The system was impressive enough that when Autopian test-drove a 2024 GMC Acadia, they devoted an entire article to how well its infotainment system works. 

The Google Built-in system operating the Acadia is intuitive and responsive. The menus are easy to navigate, and it is always easy to return to the home screen. The system also includes the world’s favorite navigation system, Google Maps, which you can use without a connected phone. The Google Assistant voice command system is also more intuitive and better at understanding you than you have likely experienced before. Although this is a Google-designed system, it is wirelessly compatible with Apple CarPlay® or Android Auto™ if you are used to those systems. 

In describing the system, the author says, “The first thing I liked about the GMC Acadia’s infotainment display was the fact that navigation didn’t take an IT degree. There’s a clear home button at the top left of the screen and going through the system’s pages felt like using a big tablet.” They also praised the lower taskbar, which permanently fixes climate controls on the bottom of the screen. They can be engaged by touching them directly or by the corresponding piano key buttons below. A big, can’t-miss volume knob is also located here because there is still no better way to adjust the volume. Autopian had praise for another set of physical controls: “Next to the driver is another button bank allowing you to change drive mode and AWD settings on the fly. These are real, tactile switches, too, yet they don’t spoil the nice interior.”

The site still had some quibbles, as reviewers are apt to have, but they sum up by saying, “I would love more automakers to follow GMC’s lead here.” It is difficult to overstate how much cabin controls can impact driver satisfaction. Test drive an Acadia at GMC of Rochester to see the current gold standard.