You can't think about vehicles these days without thinking about all their technology. Some of it more user-friendly than others. That's where WardsAuto's 2021 10 Best User Experiences (UX) list comes in. This year, Wards evaluated 33 vehicles to select the 10 Best vehicles when it comes to user-friendly technology.
10 Best UX List
To come up with the winners, six Wards judges assessed vehicles for the user-friendliness of technology onboard such as touchscreens, smartphone pairing, voice-control navigation, head-up displays and the effectiveness of driver-assistance technologies, including adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring. Wards says a key question judges ask is are controls and infotainment menus intuitive and easy to use, or are they a source of frustration that leave drivers and passengers overwhelmed and irritated.
“The vehicles evaluated for UX this year brought an abundance of surprise and delight features, such as easy-to-use infotainment systems, graphically brilliant screens, high-speed connectivity and a wide array of ADAS technology,” says Tom Murphy, Managing Editor of WardsAuto.
Two premium SUVs, two compact cars, three battery-electric vehicles, a high-end pickup truck, a German luxury sedan and a minivan with throw pillows make up the 2021 Wards 10 Best UX list. Wards says it demonstrates that a great user experience must cross all vehicle segments.
Ford earns two spots on the UX list for the Ford F-150 and Mustang Mach-e. Both vehicles also made the Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems list. It's the first time an automaker has made each list twice.
“And for the first time ever, we had not one, but TWO triple crowns by the same automaker – Ford,” adds Murphy. “It’s great to see automakers covering all the bases: propulsion, interiors and the user experience.”
2021 Wards 10 Best UX Winners (listed in alphabetical order):
- Cadillac Escalade
- Chrysler Pacifica
- Ford F-150
- Ford Mustang Mach-E
- Honda Civic
- Hyundai Elantra
- Jeep Grand Cherokee L
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- Polestar 2
- Volkswagen ID.4
WardsAuto judges evaluated and scored 33 vehicles over the summer, at the same time they were evaluated for Wards 10 Best Interiors. To be eligible for testing, vehicles must have all-new or significantly upgraded UX features.
Five vehicles landed on both the Best UX and Best Interior lists this year: the Honda Civic, Jeep Grand Cherokee L and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, along with the Ford F-150 and Mustang Mach-E.
Winners will be honored on November 17 at Informa Tech Automotive Group’s Automotive Tech Week in Novi, Michigan.