- Up to five user profiles and dual-phone connectivity
- Customizable home screen gives one-touch access to frequently used features
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto along with Amazon Alexa
- New natural-voice TomTom navigation with over-the-air updates
- Begins rollout on a 2021 model year vehicle
Right up there along with safety, styling and fuel efficiency among today’s new-vehicle purchase considerations is capability and usability of infotainment systems. We want them fast, easy and intuitive with increasingly vast arrays of features and capabilities. All automakers are working hard to expand and improve their systems, and now Fiat Chrysler is launching its best-yet fifth-generation Uconnect, which it calls “more connected, helpful, content rich and [with] greater personalization.”
Personalized user experience
Based on an Android operating system, Uconnect 5 offers fully customizable interfaces storing up to five user profiles with preferences for music, temperature, seating and mirror settings and vehicle operation. Switching between user profiles is single-touch simple. And each user can create his/her exclusive home screen with frequently used features for one-touch access.
The new system’s processing delivers five times faster operating speeds compared to the previous generation and provides four displays in three aspect ratios (square, portrait and landscape) for flexibility in design and packaging across all FCA brands. With up to 15 million pixels in Ultra HD and 12.3 inches of screen area, these screens can work separately or linked depending on user preference and purpose. A 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot with this faster operating system can keep up to eight devices connected.
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Alexa
While Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are currently available in more than 80 percent of FCA’s North American vehicles, Uconnect 5 will bring those popular features to all models with wireless connectivity. Amazon Alexa is a new feature allowing customers with home devices to use Alexa to play music, podcasts and audiobooks, add items to to-do lists, check news, weather, traffic, sports and other real-time information. Alexa can also be used to remotely start the engine and lock/unlock the doors.
Upgraded voice recognition
Uconnect 5 promises improved natural voice recognition available on all product lines. Statements such as, “Find an available EV charging station near me,” can be used to communicate with navigation, and the system also improves its listening ability in high background-noise situations. A new available “wake up word” correlating to the vehicle brand eliminates the need to press a button to initiate voice recognition — for example: “Hey Chrysler, change the temperature to 70 degrees.” And Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can be voice-controlled via the voice recognition button.
Navigation improvements
Like personal devices, the system’s “One-Box-Search” capability makes it easy and intuitive to find a destination by either voice or text. Its guidance offers best possible routing, ability to add a destination along the route and ETAs that offer alternative routes with time extensions. Maps Over the Air automatically detects, downloads and installs relevant available map updates in the background without disrupting navigation, and Last Mile Navigation provides walking directions from your vehicle to your final destination via the Uconnect smartphone app.
Multi-lane guidance gives specific lane information and detailed turns to help navigate through complicated intersections, highlighting the suggested route well ahead of guidance commands. And all this information (as well as speed camera, traffic and hazard warnings) can be projected to the instrument cluster screen directly in front of the driver.
Concierge services
Uconnect 5 uses a cloud-based platform to power connectivity and deliver a full array of services including the Uconnect Market, which allows customers to order (and pay for) food, find gas stations, make reservations, locate and pay for parking and schedule service appointments from the vehicle without having to reach for a credit card.
Uconnect Mobile App
With the available Uconnect app, you can use your smartphone to start the engine, lock or unlock the vehicle or receive a notification, and SOS Call provides external assistance at the touch of a button, or automatically if the vehicle senses that a crash has occurred. Assist Call lets owners contact the Uconnect customer care team for help, Stolen Vehicle Assistance can help police track a vehicle’s location, and Family Drive Alerts delivers notifications to parents when boundary, curfew or speed limits are broken or when someone drives the vehicle while in Valet Alert mode.
Coming in 2021
FCA hasn’t released full details on the Uconnect 5’s availability, only saying that it will first appear on a as-yet-to-be-specified 2021 model from one of its brands, which includes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram as well as imports Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Fiat.
