This report delves into opinions surrounding in-car passenger screens, revealing that many find the new Passenger Screens in Cars to be of little value.
J.D. Power, a prominent provider of consumer surveys and market data, has published the findings of a study centered on the user experience of automotive technology. The results from this study offer a clear view of which tech features car owners appreciate and which they do not.
The 2024 American Technology Experience Index study, which evaluates user interactions with new automotive technology, was conducted from July 2023 to May 2024. Over 81,000 purchasers of 2024 model vehicles participated in the survey, with the condition that they had owned their vehicles for at least 90 days.
To assess the return on investment for various automotive technologies, respondents’ data was categorized into three groups: essential, nice to have, and not essential. For instance, the infotainment control screen on the right side, positioned in front of the front passenger, and gesture control were among the features deemed less important.
Survey Insights on Passenger Screens in Cars
The survey respondents largely deemed Passenger Screens in Cars as “unnecessary.” During the initial period of car ownership, these additional screens can become a source of irritation. The complexity of mastering the main infotainment screen and the digital driver’s dashboard is already challenging for new owners. Introducing an additional touch-based screen, particularly one that doesn’t serve any purpose for the driver, further complicates the user experience. Given that only 10% of drivers regularly drive with a front passenger, the Passenger Screens in Cars often go unused, despite the fact that new cars are increasingly being equipped with this third screen.
However, there were some positive notes regarding other technological advancements. AI-driven technologies have seen a measure of success. Features like climate control and driver preference settings, which utilize AI, have received positive feedback. On the other hand, technologies such as fingerprint readers (similar to touchpads) and gesture controls have been met with criticism.
Gesture control, in particular, appears to be more trouble than it’s worth, with 43.4 problems reported per 100 vehicles. Additionally, 21% of owners expressed dissatisfaction with the functionality of this technology.
One surprising outcome from the survey is that car owners remain largely indifferent to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), particularly hands-free autonomous driving features. Safety technologies that address a specific issue—such as blind-spot monitoring and rearview cameras, which enhance visibility—received high approval ratings.
When it comes to active driving assistance, car owners showed a preference for taking control of the vehicle themselves. Touch-based ADAS features were rated slightly better than non-touch features, but the difference was minimal. The J.D. Power study suggests that the issue lies not in the technologies themselves but in their failure to address a real problem.
In conclusion, car owners generally welcome new technology as long as it provides tangible benefits and is user-friendly. However, if automakers continue to introduce solutions to problems that car owners were not even aware of, a backlash may be imminent.
