Luxury Models Dominate 10-Best “UX” List

Six models named to Wardsauto.com’s 10 Best User Experience (UX) list are luxury vehicles, including four German brands.

The awards evaluate the user friendliness of a vehicle’s driver-assistance technologies, connectivity, digital displays, voice-activation systems, intuitive controls and infotainment. This includes smartphone pairing and charging.

The 2019 winners (in alphabetical order and with sticker prices as tested) are:

• Audi A8 ($101,000)
• BMW 330i ($59,900)
• Chevrolet Blazer ($50,800)
• Ford Explorer ($61,300)
• Hyundai Palisade ($47,600)
• Lexus RX 350 ($51,800)
• Mercedes-Benz A220 ($51,900)
• Range Rover Evoque ($59,200)
• Subaru Outback ($40,700)
• Volkswagen Arteon ($44,100)

Wards editors evaluated 23 vehicles available in the U.S. with all-new or re-engineered UX features such as display screens, interfaces or applications. There is no price cap, but overall value is a consideration.

BMW is the only carmaker to place vehicles on the list in each of the four years of the competition. The company’s prior winners include the 7 Series in 2016, 540i in 2017 and 640i last year.