Which car manufacturer writes the best software?
Discussion
Over the last few years legislation and the drive towards EV powertrains is reducing scope for variation between vehicle manufacturers. It appears to me that as the power train aspect of converges one of the key differentiators of how vehicles feel and drive is the software that controls all our interactions.
So who writes the best software? Having had a bloody awful experience with an ID3 it’s not VW. Saying that my Audi is OK and my various Porsches are also OK, however they are older legacy platforms. I’ve not had a Taycan for example.
I read a lot about the Chinese stuff like MG that doesn’t seem too clever. I guess that Tesla are well up there? But although it’s clever is it satisfying?
Does anyone write software that can make cars exciting? Quicker throttle maps, throttle induced oversteer for example.
Will we make cars buying choices based on the software rather than say the powertrain? Once we are 100% electric will the software be the most important aspect?
So who writes the best software? Having had a bloody awful experience with an ID3 it’s not VW. Saying that my Audi is OK and my various Porsches are also OK, however they are older legacy platforms. I’ve not had a Taycan for example.
I read a lot about the Chinese stuff like MG that doesn’t seem too clever. I guess that Tesla are well up there? But although it’s clever is it satisfying?
Does anyone write software that can make cars exciting? Quicker throttle maps, throttle induced oversteer for example.
Will we make cars buying choices based on the software rather than say the powertrain? Once we are 100% electric will the software be the most important aspect?
Tesla are a software company that makes cars, so you'd expect theirs to be the best, with masses of options on screen, and also why their cars are the hardest to steal as they're designed from ground up, and one of the first with OTA updates.
Other manufacturers have the car, and then shoehorn a media system in. It's why VWs system in the Id models were so poor, like comparing a £30 Chinese tablet to an ipad (though they've improved over time).
Dacia in essential spec have it right, no media unit at all.
Other manufacturers have the car, and then shoehorn a media system in. It's why VWs system in the Id models were so poor, like comparing a £30 Chinese tablet to an ipad (though they've improved over time).
Dacia in essential spec have it right, no media unit at all.
Can't speak for the newest EV cars, but for slightly older ICE, I'd say the traditional "prestige" brands Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Volvo have very well thought out, no bugs, media interfaces. Volkswagen (Golf, Tiguan etc) were pretty logical too. Ford ok. Vauxhall ok. Peugeot/Citroen not so good. MG barmy.
I've always been a fan of the Mazda system in my ND MX5. It was simple, stable, fast and functional. But most importantly it had both a touch screen and a rotary controller input options.
Having said that Android Auto and Car Play have largely eliminated most of the variation in software experience, so no I don't believe we will be choosing cars based primarily on the software.
Having said that Android Auto and Car Play have largely eliminated most of the variation in software experience, so no I don't believe we will be choosing cars based primarily on the software.
it should be illegal to hide fan controls in a touch screen, what if your windscreen suddenly mists up?The driver interface is obviously the most important one, and the easiest one to make comparisons.
However what about all the rest of it like the EPAS programming, traction and skid control, lane change assist, adaptive cruise etc. like it or not whether we like a particular car to drive is coming down to these factors not what is under the bonnet or the suspension design.
As an example I find most Mercedes traction control software is far too aggressive. Pull out of a wet junction and get a bit of unintentional wheel spin and my Merc cuts the power and it feels like an eternity before it comes back again. Whereas the BMW I drove recently will flicker the orange light occasionally but not interrupt smooth progress, much nicer.
Regen braking is another one. This is entirely software driven. I’ve only driven 4 or 5 different EVs but they all felt very different. Not sure I’ve driven enough yet to decide what I like. Do different EV manufacturers have a regen braking “signature”? Do all Kia EV models feel the same?
However what about all the rest of it like the EPAS programming, traction and skid control, lane change assist, adaptive cruise etc. like it or not whether we like a particular car to drive is coming down to these factors not what is under the bonnet or the suspension design.
As an example I find most Mercedes traction control software is far too aggressive. Pull out of a wet junction and get a bit of unintentional wheel spin and my Merc cuts the power and it feels like an eternity before it comes back again. Whereas the BMW I drove recently will flicker the orange light occasionally but not interrupt smooth progress, much nicer.
Regen braking is another one. This is entirely software driven. I’ve only driven 4 or 5 different EVs but they all felt very different. Not sure I’ve driven enough yet to decide what I like. Do different EV manufacturers have a regen braking “signature”? Do all Kia EV models feel the same?
Hated the Tesla interface
Hyundai Ioniq5n has interesting software, you can change the power distribution from 100% RWD to 100% FWD and anything in between. It can simulate gear changes by altering the torque to match the characteristics of ICE and hence becoming much more "natural" to drive.
The Volvo software for its matrix lights is excellent, nothing else I have tried with matrix LED gets close to working as well.
But who does write this stuff?
Hyundai Ioniq5n has interesting software, you can change the power distribution from 100% RWD to 100% FWD and anything in between. It can simulate gear changes by altering the torque to match the characteristics of ICE and hence becoming much more "natural" to drive.
The Volvo software for its matrix lights is excellent, nothing else I have tried with matrix LED gets close to working as well.
But who does write this stuff?
Admittedly these are backend systems, but none of it is good reading
https://samcurry.net/web-hackers-vs-the-auto-indus...
https://samcurry.net/web-hackers-vs-the-auto-indus...
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