The Best And Worst Infotainment Systems In New EVs Right Now

You can talk about range, torque and 0–100 times all day, but here’s the truth: if you’re buying an EV in Australia, you’re also buying into a user interface.

Infotainment systems have gone from optional to essential; the nerve centre of everything from climate control to your Spotify queue. And with EVs leaning harder into screens and software than their petrol-powered predecessors ever did, some brands are getting it very right… while others are making it way too hard to turn on the air conditioning.

We’ve spent real time behind the wheel of the latest electric cars, not showroom walkarounds, but seven-day test drives, and here’s our pick of the best and worst infotainment displays you’ll encounter in today’s EV market. Bonus: We’ve included a breakdown of what each car actually is, so you know whether it’s worth a test drive or just a tech demo in disguise.

Let’s start with the benchmark. The Polestar 4 is arguably the most considered, premium-feeling infotainment system we’ve tested this year. Built on Geely’s SEA platform, it’s a mid-sized electric SUV-coupé that slots in between the Polestar 2 and 3, both in terms of price (roughly $80,000–$100,000 AUD) and performance.

The interface itself is clean, quick and beautifully laid out. Polestar even designed its own font. Everything from adjusting the air flow to switching drive modes is exactly where it should be, and the responsiveness is top-tier. It’s minimalist, yes. But not in the annoying, where’s-the-button-for-the-glovebox kind of way. This is UX done properly, and a reminder that less really can be more when it’s executed right.

ZEEKR X – Entry-Premium Compact SUV

If the Polestar 4 is a meditation app, the ZEEKR X is a nightclub in Dubai. ZEEKR is another Geely-backed EV brand, targeting the premium-but-young segment. The X is a compact electric SUV designed to compete with the likes of the Volvo EX30 and smart #1, with pricing expected around the $60,000 –70,000 AUD mark.

Inside, it’s full-blown Tron. There are screens, wraparound displays, ambient lighting and swiping animations galore. But here’s the kicker: it actually works. Once you settle in, the infotainment system is logical, responsive, and genuinely satisfying to use. For a brand that’s only just hitting international markets, this feels remarkably polished. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re into high-tech interiors, the ZEEKR X might surprise you.

This one? It’s a tough ride. The BYD Sea Lion 06 is a brand-new mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV that sits just below the Seal U and aims to undercut the Tesla Model Y and Hyundai IONIQ 5 on price. It’s part of BYD’s broader push into Australia’s affordable electrified vehicle segment. It’s one for those not ready to go 100% battery electric and in terms of raw features per dollar, it’s hard to beat.

But step inside and try to use the infotainment system… and it all falls apart. It feels like a half-translated Android tablet from 2012. Menus are scattered, logic is non-existent, and icons make zero sense unless you’re fluent in Mandarin or enjoy cryptic puzzles. You spend more time figuring out how to do things than actually doing them. The Sea Lion 06 is killing it in terms of value. But the interface? Honestly, it’s a nightmare.

Leapmotor C10 – Entry-Level Family SUV

The Leapmotor C10 is another Chinese entry, backed by Geely, targeting entry-level family buyers who want a larger electric SUV (there’s also a range-extender option) at a fraction of the premium price tag. It’s not quite a three-row competitor but it’s spacious and a size up from the MG ZS EV or BYD Atto 3. It presents with more maturity and cleaner design cues. Did anyone say Porsche?

The biggest surprise is that this isn’t flashy. In fact, it’s aggressively simple and that’s its strength. Everything’s easy to find, intuitive to use, and quick to respond. There’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (an odd omission in 2025, that Leapmotor says it’s fixing), but you can still connect your phone via Bluetooth. If you want a car that doesn’t make you think too hard, this is it.

The Tesla Model Y is the EV that redefined what a car interface could be. Built on the Model 3 platform, this mid-size SUV is now the world’s best-selling electric vehicle and arguably, the blueprint for every other EV that followed.

Tesla’s landscape-mounted tablet is still one of the fastest, cleanest, most intuitive displays in the business and it’s even better in the Y’s facelifted ‘Juniper’ version.

Ther’s no Apple CarPlay. No Android Auto. And no real need for them. It’s a closed ecosystem, but a slick one, setting the benchmark for native infotainment design. Everything from music to maps to vehicle settings is fluid, fast, and exactly where it should be. Other brands have tried to copy it. None have nailed it.

The Kia EV9 made a serious first impression, and not just on us. As one of the first people in the country to drive it, I can say this: from the outside, it’s a knockout. Bold, boxy, futuristic. Kia absolutely nailed the exterior. But once you get inside, the story changes a bit.

The infotainment system just feels… odd. Not bad, but not great either. It’s functional, but the layout and design choices are a little offbeat, like a mix of futuristic gestures and legacy holdovers.

It feels like it was built by a committee. There’s nothing glaringly wrong with it, but compared to Polestar, Tesla, and even ZEEKR, it just doesn’t hit the mark. The exterior might look like it’s from the year 2040, but the user interface feels like it’s still stuck in 2017.

Infotainment isn’t a side note anymore; it’s the front line of the EV experience. And even in ICE vehicles, consumer research shows many buyers are more interested in how this works than how cars drive.

The best systems make technology feel invisible: they work seamlessly, they don’t fight you, and they don’t need a manual to decode. The worst ones? You’ll find yourself pulling over just to adjust the fan speed.

Polestar has nailed premium UX. Tesla still sets the standard for speed and integration. Leapmotor proves that simplicity still wins. ZEEKR is chaotic but impressively cohesive. BYD, despite its spec-heavy value proposition, seriously needs to rethink its UI logic.

And Kia? They’ve delivered one of the best-looking EVs on the market in the EV9, but the interface (and arguably the whole interior) just doesn’t live up to the same standard.As EVs become more software-driven, your next car isn’t just about driving. It’s about interacting. So before you get swept up in badge envy or brochure stats, tap the screen. That’s where the future of driving lives… and not every brand is ready for it.