Peugeot i-Cockpit: 5 things to know | Try infotainment on the new 308 SW

And we are at the last appointment of the year with an in-depth look at the most recent infotainment systems; an aspect to take into consideration more and more when we go to choose a latest generation car. This time one ended up under our lens brand new Peugeot 308 SW with GT trim, which has in its i-Cockpit system the main interface for controlling all the technology on board.

In recent months we have already talked in depth about the Peugeot 308 complete with a complete test of the version with a 225 HP Plug-in powertrain. The model used in recent weeks is instead equipped with the more modest system 180hp plug-ins which is in any case capable of providing absolutely interesting performances. But as you may have already guessed this is not the focus of today’s study; so let’s not get lost in other chatter and let’s get straight to the point.

Let’s start by talking about instrument panel which, together with the steering wheel controls and the central display, makes up the system i-Cockpits, which obviously stands for Smart Cockpit. This is the name that Peugeot has assigned to its infotainment system which is celebrating its 10th birthday this year. From the first appearance aboard the Peugeot SR1 concept to the latest incarnation which is exactly what we see aboard Peugeot 308 and 408.

So we were talking about the instrument panel that we can define intelligent but perhaps even more customizable. The particularity of this plank is in fact given by its own very deep customization possibilities. Through the infotainment system we can choose the widgets to show and change their position as we like, in order to create the configuration that best suits our needs.

Alternatively Peugeot offers 4 pre-installed configurations and already, in my view, able to satisfy everyone’s main needs. The main elements that make up these screens are typical of the most common instrument panels. We therefore have the speedometer dial, the autonomy indicators (electric and petrol), the indications on the distances and those concerning the set driving mode. But that’s not all, the display behind the steering wheel can in fact also show a reproduction of the navigator map (it only works with the integrated Tom Tom navigator) or a diagram of the operation of the vehicle’s propulsion system.

But perhaps the most interesting feature is given by 3D visualization of the most important information. Some elements of the painting can in fact be projected onto the glass positioned in front of the display itself to make them even more evident. It is certainly a particular and absolutely impactful effect, which gives an even more futuristic aspect to all the instrumentation.

We said that the the ability to customize the elements of the i-Cockpit is undoubtedly one of the strengths of the infotainment Peugeot and therefore here we find this feature also in relation to the touch controls positioned under the 10-inch central display. In fact, at the base of this screen we find a second panel, also 10 inches but in a decidedly more elongated format, on which quick links to some “applications” that we find on board the i-Cockpit are displayed.

These links are called i-Toggles and, as with the instrument cluster, they can be completely customized by replacing the pre-set ones with any of the items on the main screen. To carry out the operation, just hold down one of these virtual buttons and wait for the elements that we can transfer between the i-Toggles to be highlighted on the screen.

The peculiarity, and perhaps also the most interesting function, is given by the possibility of iAlso include quick links to specific actions among these shortcuts, such as setting the cabin temperature to 20 degrees. By inserting this type of shortcut, pressing the corresponding button on the secondary display, the car’s climate control system will automatically set itself to 20 degrees and heat or cool the environment according to need. It might seem like a trivial function but being able to customize these shortcuts by inserting quick links to actions that would require several taps on the main screen can also help us to be less distracted from driving in certain circumstances.

The Peugeot i-Cockpit system obviously also includes the possibility to expand its functions using the well-known Android Auto and Apple Carplay. The special feature is that, in both cases, you can connect your smartphone and activate the corresponding interface completely wirelessly. It is therefore no longer necessary to attach the phone to the system via a USB cable, but the connection will take place automatically every time we get into the car.

With Android Auto and Apple Carplay there are no problems with responsiveness, lag or malfunctions, it is also possible to recall the voice commands with the hardware button located on the steering wheel. I must say that in these weeks of use I have never had connection problems, despite the wireless communication system, and in general the user experience has always been more than satisfying. Also because both systems adapt very well to the elongated format of the main display, giving the feeling of being perfectly integrated, almost native.

The advantage of being able to use the Android Auto or Apple Carplay interface is mainly given by the fact of having to deal with a graphic setting very similar to that of your smartphone, which we deal with every day.

And we cannot fail to mention and speak a little of the Peugeot’s proprietary infotainment system, the real i-Cockpit so to speak. The first consideration to make concerns the design and the aesthetic aspect which is very well integrated with the interior design of the passenger compartment. Angular lines and characters, with the right amount of color to highlight the active elements without making the passenger compartment look like a sort of Christmas tree. You immediately get the feeling of dealing with an interface that is in step with the times and also well organized.

Same as i-Toggles e instrument cluster screens, the three home screens of the infotainment interface are also fully customizable. Sti can replace widgets and quick links but also redeploy existing ones so that they are more ergonomic. In short, we can really create our own configuration to always have all the controls we use most often close at hand.

Another element not to be underestimated is the organization of the settings menu which has been very well thought out. On the left we have a list of macro-categories, which are then exploded with the individual items on the right side of the screen. A layout that is immediately very familiar to us because it takes up that of various tablets, starting with the iPad, probably the best known and most popular.

But in general what convinced me was also the responsiveness of the system and the touchscreen responsiveness. Running into a false touch is a very rare situation, and this, together with the speed with which the system responds to the touch, contributes a lot to making the user experience satisfying.

I then particularly appreciated some functions not exactly common. Among these, certainly, the possibility of programming the cabin pre-conditioning. Basically we can set the system to ensure that every day the car lets us find the passenger compartment at a certain temperature at a certain time of day. For example, I set a temperature of 20 degrees every morning at 7.00. In this way, when I got into the car, I always found the passenger compartment warm and the windscreen frosty. Not a small convenience, which however requires a certain battery charge.

I must also spend a few words on the integrated navigator which strangely amazed me. I tell you very sincerely, I almost never use the integrated navigator of infotaiment systems, I practically always prefer to use Waze or Google Maps. For the first time, however, I found an integrated navigator that didn’t drive me crazy due to slowness, unclear indications or lack of functions. The navigation system was created in collaboration with Tom Tom and therefore integrates a series of smart services such as information on traffic, parking, service stations and also the reporting of any speed cameras. In addition to this, it is responsive enough and has modern and very clear graphics.

And we close with the app My Peugeot which is an integral part of this infotaiment system. It can be downloaded to smartphones indifferently Android or iOS and looks like a sort of remote control center for some car functions. At the first access we will be asked to create an account and, subsequently, to link our vehicle to the same account. To do this, just enter the identification VIN code that we find marked on the vehicle registration document. Once the operation has been completed, we will have the possibility to synchronize the car data with the application and thus always have some parameters under control.

On the main screen it is therefore possible obtain information on the vehicle’s range, both electric and petrol, but also contact assistance and make an appointment for ordinary car maintenance. Similarly, always from the home screen we can access the screen relating to the top-up options, which allows us to check the status of the recharge itself as well as to program the delayed start of the power supply or find the closest column.

As also mentioned above, Peugeot 308 offers the option of pre-conditioning the passenger compartment programming a routine directly from the car’s internal system or, alternatively, using the application itself; which also allows you to start the air conditioning manually before getting on board.

But it doesn’t end there. You can too record the location of the vehicle when parked to then find it more quickly, or set a destination to send to the navigator in order to find it already set once we start navigating.

Then there is a section in which we find all the i’sinformation relating to our travelswhich can also be downloaded, in bulk or individually, to keep an archive or perhaps to create an expense report.

And finally, in the Maintenance section we can always keep under control the times and deadlines within which maintenance interventions must be carried out ordinary. This is a very convenient function because every time the app synchronizes with the car, the km count is automatically updated and, when necessary, we receive a notification that warns us of the need to have the car undergo maintenance ( coupon or similar).

In short, a really complete system that probably didn’t leave me speechless but that turned out anyway one of the best infotaiment renditions I’ve come across so far.