Mercedes-Benz MBUX Hyperscreen Review: Gimmick Or Game-Changer?

“Babe, what’s incorrect?” I requested my spouse as we sat at a stoplight in a 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV and he or she stared down at her telephone. “You’ve barely touched your Hyperscreen.” 

She regarded on the all-encompassing panel of screens in entrance of us each—screens that made up the whole lot of the EQE’s dashboard—with a way of bewilderment. “What even is that this?” she requested. “What am I alleged to do with this factor?”

That’s the response most individuals will most likely should Mercedes’ coup de grâce on its EV lineup. Whilst screens have been central in automotive interiors for years, Mercedes’ MBUX Hyperscreen takes issues to a very totally different stage. It presents an virtually unprecedented diploma of performance and graphic shows inside a automotive, for the driving force and passenger alike. 

However is the MBUX Hyperscreen compelling sufficient to spring for considered one of Mercedes’ electrical automobiles over the various luxurious rivals on the market? 

What’s the Mercedes MBUX Hyperscreen?

“MBUX” refers back to the Mercedes-Benz Person Expertise infotainment system and software program suite, which has been round since 2018 and has had a number of revisions since. 

The Hyperscreen is what you employ to function MBUX on a rising variety of Mercedes’ electrical fashions. It’s a large, 56-inch seamless glass floor that sweeps throughout the whole dashboard and incorporates three totally different show models: one 12.3-inch display screen for the driving force, one 17.7-inch display screen within the middle, and one other 12.3-inch display screen going through the passenger. (There’s additionally a head-up show that initiatives onto the windshield; you’re by no means wanting for info in an EQ.) 

The MBUX Hyperscreen operates all kinds of capabilities together with the A/C and local weather controls, the automotive’s settings, stereo and smartphone integration, navigation with EV charger finders and route planning, the voice-based controls, augmented actuality show, net shopping and extra. New options have been regularly added through over-the-air (OTA) updates as effectively; Mercedes says the maps are up to date this fashion twice per yr.

However that is simply the beginning of what’s to come back. First, an analogous setup known as the MBUX Superscreen will probably be featured on the brand new gas-powered 2024 Mercedes E-Class that goes on sale this yr, and that system will provide integration with third-party Android apps like TikTok and Zoom.

That setup is alleged to be a “precursor” to the upcoming chip-to-cloud Linux and QNX-based MB.OS software program platform that’s much more superior than what’s on present automobiles, and can unite a number of capabilities like infotainment, automated driving help, driving and charging below one end-to-end system. Whereas ChatGPT was beta-trialed in MBUX automobiles final yr, Mercedes implied at CES that future AI integrations could use a unique system. 

That software program suite will debut on the brand new MMA platform set to underpin the following Mercedes CLA and related compact sedans and crossovers, then unfold to the remainder of the lineup over time. Plans embody voice-activated AI assistants that assist you to navigate the capabilities of the automotive, in addition to issues round you; 3D visualizations of what the automotive “sees”; a music-focused driving expertise designed by Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am; and in-car gaming and streaming providers. 

However that is the long run; proper now, what is the level? Is that this a superb management system searching for helpful issues to regulate, or too intelligent by half, or a promising step that’s presently unrealized? A little bit of all three.

Whereas it is a highly effective and complex solution to management the numerous new software program options on automobiles—particularly luxurious ones—it’s typically superfluous, overly complicated and feels prefer it’s laying the groundwork for what’s coming subsequent. 

What fashions provide the MBUX Hyperscreen?

Mercedes expanded the Hyperscreen’s availability for the 2024 mannequin yr. Whereas it was beforehand a $7,230 choice on 2023 mannequin EVs, it’s now normal on the next:

2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV
2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4MATIC SUV (obtainable with Hyperscreen for the primary time)
2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE Sedan (obtainable with Hyperscreen for the primary time)
2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4MATIC Sedan (obtainable with Hyperscreen for the primary time)
All 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV fashions (beforehand solely normal on MY23 EQS 580 4MATIC SUV)
All 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan fashions (beforehand solely normal on MY23 EQS 580 4MATIC Sedan)
2024 Mercedes-AMG EQS Sedan

For 2024, the Hyperscreen is barely obtainable the place geared up normal; it isn’t provided as an choice. In different phrases, you get it as manufacturing facility gear on practically all of the most recent EQ fashions however the “lesser” trim EQE sedan and SUV fashions. You can not, nevertheless, get it on any model of the EQB compact SUV, which relies on an older structure that predates the Hyperscreen.

What particular or distinctive options does it have? 

Even with the Cadillac Lyriq and Lucid Air sizzling on its heels (to say nothing of a number of rivals from China who additionally go heavy on huge show models), the 56-inch display screen on the Mercedes stands aside. 

The display screen additionally options haptic contact suggestions, generated by 12 actuators behind the display screen, which implies that while you contact it you get a vibrating sensation to verify the motion you’ve taken. It’s not fairly as direct as an precise bodily button, but it surely does hold you from fumbling round uncertain of what you’re urgent whereas driving at velocity. More often than not, anyway. 

It’s loads to ask to navigate such an enormous show interface whereas driving, however Mercedes’ voice management system occurs to be fairly first-rate. I used it very often to tune the satellite tv for pc radio, navigate to numerous locations and even activate the heated seats and steering wheel, and I’d say I had a 90% success price of getting what I wished. 

Is 90% adequate? Possibly so; I used to be glad sufficient with it. If I owned an EQE with the Hyperscreen, I’d find yourself utilizing voice instructions as a lot as doable. 

You say “Hey Mercedes,” ask the automotive for what you want, after which sit again and marvel at how effectively it nails it. The record of instructions it understands is remarkably spectacular, and it’s not even pretty much as good because it’s going to get when Mercedes provides higher, extra conversational AI into the combo. 

Think about telling your EQE that you simply’ve been jonesing for penne alla vodka, and it directs you to what Yelp says is the most effective restaurant on the town. It is a compelling imaginative and prescient, however we’ll see how that performs when it truly involves the brand new automobiles. 

What are the graphics and menus like?

MBUX seems gorgeous on the Hyperscreen. The central show that controls media, navigation, automotive settings, charging and extra is, basically, a particularly highly effective pc that rivals something you is likely to be studying this text on proper now. It’s lightning-quick and simply seems pretty. 

Need to see a 3D rendering of the automotive surrounded by the visuals from the varied cameras to help in parking? It might do this. Need all of the “key purposes” displayed on high of the navigation map? It does that too. Need detailed knowledge round charging and infrastructure, together with which stalls can be found and the way effectively that station works? Heck sure, it does that, and integrates in-car funds into charging stations too. It sort of does every thing.

One main draw back? Fingerprint smudging, as you see in these pictures. They’re all the time a difficulty, irrespective of how exhausting you attempt. It’s possible you’ll wish to hold a fabric useful for that purpose.

Discovering all of the stuff you need it to do is the problem, until you employ voice controls. I do suppose MBUX might use extra work with regards to menu group. For instance, the local weather menu doesn’t activate the heated seats; if you wish to activate the heated steering wheel, you go to “Consolation Settings.” 

The remainder of this method additionally places an enormous emphasis on customization. In order for you different-colored gauges on the driving force show, you might have a bunch to select from. Identical with the head-up show on the windshield—you may flip between minimal shows of primary knowledge like your velocity, to extra complicated issues like a inexperienced, glowing ball with stars inside that point out your general effectivity. An EQ proprietor has a ton of choices for what they wish to expertise right here. 

What are the bodily interfaces like?

That is the place the EQ automobiles fall behind. I haven’t been a fan of Mercedes’ strategy to precise, bodily switches for a while. A gasoline E-Class I drove some years in the past used a irritating mixture of sliders, mouse-like trackpads and haptic controls as a substitute of buttons. Issues aren’t higher within the electrical period. 

You get a panel of controls on the middle console, none of that are actual buttons; an array of seat controls on the doorways, and an assortment of irritating finger-sliding touchpads throughout the steering wheel. Dialing the stereo up or down means gliding your thumb up and down throughout the quantity panel, an unnecessary-feeling step when a button or wheel would’ve been rather more exact.

Identical with the menu controls for the varied driver-facing shows (together with the HUD) on the steering wheel. There’s a ton of room for error in case your finger goes the incorrect means. When there are buttons, they don’t really feel as high-quality as they do on, say, a gas-powered E-Class or S-Class. I’m unsure why that’s.

Mercedes might do higher right here. I don’t know why the Silver Arrow model is so averse to a quantity button. At the least the voice controls compensate for its different deficiencies. They turned the first methodology I used to show the heated seats on and off. 

How is that passenger-facing display screen?

The third show in entrance of the passenger is among the Hyperscreen’s greatest celebration tips. And that is new floor for a lot of automobiles; in spite of everything, why does the passenger want such a factor? 

It’s not a query of “want,” actually; you don’t want any of the stuff on this automotive. However for the passenger who desires to interact with the Hyperscreen, they will management the navigation and hold it there, or ship these directions to the principle display screen. They will join their telephone or Bluetooth system—say, headphones—and luxuriate in their very own media, or once more, ship that over to the opposite shows. They will even create their very own consumer account, only for them, and have interaction with their customized settings that means. 

This does make it barely simpler on your passenger to assist with numerous capabilities, like navigation, discovering chargers or choosing out music to play. But it surely does really feel slightly superfluous. My spouse, who’s my commonest co-pilot and a veteran of experiencing boundary-pushing new automotive tech, didn’t use it a lot. However when you’ve got a child driving with you, perhaps a teen who prefers to be in their very own world, they might discover it extra helpful. (In case you are a passenger, keep in mind that your smartphone stays paired with that exact display screen, even should you aren’t actively utilizing it.) 

On the identical time, a passenger (presumably) has a smartphone of their very own that they will whip out anytime. Over time, that third display screen could have extra “makes use of” for issues like in-car streaming and gaming. However for now, in case your automotive doesn’t have a display screen in entrance of the passenger, they aren’t lacking a lot and neither are you. 

How is the MBUX Hyperscreen smartphone integration? 

Each Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wirelessly suitable with the Hyperscreen, so you may have that acquainted expertise right here should you need it. My testing barely used Apple CarPlay, as I most well-liked to see what the native expertise might do as a substitute, it is right here in order for you it.

When you do get considered one of these automobiles, you’ll virtually definitely wish to use the Mercedes me join smartphone app, which permits for distant beginning, local weather management, charging administration, software program updates and extra. Most related providers are complimentary for the primary yr and topic to numerous subscription expenses afterward. (We reached out to Mercedes for a doable record of these expenses; we’ll replace this evaluate if we get that.) 

What about route planning and different EV-specific options?

The EQE had one of many higher units of EV-focused capabilities I’ve used. Hit the plug button on the nav display screen and also you get a listing of charging choices close by, together with—fortunately—their max speeds and which stalls can be found.

Route planning is sensible too; at one level when driving within the chilly, I acquired a warning on the sprint at a 20% state of cost that few DC quick chargers had been obtainable close by, so I backtracked to make use of one. The navigation system additionally robotically preconditions the battery when a quick charger is alongside the route, and it presents a plug-and-charge operate—which means you plug within the automotive and the automotive will course of funds robotically through your Mercedes account. 

Does it cross the “Google Check”? 

The “Google Check” is my private gold normal for user-friendliness in automobiles. Can an inexpensive, trendy particular person work out how all of the tech options and capabilities work with out having to Google for solutions? Granted, everybody’s stage of tech proficiency is totally different, and these programs will not be getting much less complicated as time goes on. However usually, you must have the ability to work out a automotive by experiencing it your self, or perhaps additionally by getting some primary coaching out of your salesperson.

Sadly, the Hyperscreen doesn’t get a passing grade for the Google Check. I do that stuff for a dwelling, however right here I discovered myself trying up find out how to use and the place to search out key capabilities. It acquired higher as my week went on, however the early days had been irritating.

When you get an EQ mannequin with the Hyperscreen, I strongly advocate watching some YouTube movies about find out how to function it. Mercedes itself made a couple of good ones and I embedded considered one of them right here. My guess is that you simply’ll be discovering new options the entire time, particularly with the OTA updates coming. 

What’s the decision on the MBUX Hyperscreen? 

Even with the bodily management points and the customarily confounding layouts, The Hyperscreen continues to be fairly monumental, even when it veers into the extreme or pointless. On the identical time, it feels most vital because the basis for extra highly effective options but to come back; not each automotive must be like this in 2024, however perhaps sometime they may.   

Above all, I missed the “Hey, Mercedes” voice command capabilities after I needed to give the automotive again—the last word signal of whether or not one thing is sweet or not, in my guide. And it does feel and look like a system you’d anticipate on an excellent high-tech EV.

The EQ automobiles proceed to be controversial for his or her seems, vary and general efficiency. However the Hyperscreen proves Mercedes is onto one thing with regards to software program. I’m not able to name it the gold normal for a way screen-centric automobiles ought to work, however as that concept turns into the norm, I hope they present even half the promise this does.

Contact the writer: patrick.george@insideevs.com