WIRED tested the top-of-the-line audio and entertainment upgrade options in six well-regarded electric vehicles, plus the ready-to-go system they come with off the factory line. Is the upgrade worth it? Let’s find out.
a new car lately, you know the optional extras go on and on. In some cases, it’s possible to nearly double the car’s price by checking every box.
Audi is being uncharacteristically coy about the standard system in the Q4 e-tron. We know how much power is deployed in total, and we know there’s a subwoofer involved. But other than that, it’s all a bit of a mystery. The system definitely has wide-ranging EQ adjustment for bass and treble, control for balance and fader, and a setting called “focus,” which can be set to “front” or “all.”
The most pleasing sound is achieved with all EQs left alone and Panorama on high. This way, the Sonos system combines a very well-behaved thump that’s full of tonal variation; impressively communicative midrange reproduction; and lively, controlled treble sounds. The big numbers here—18 individual speaker drivers, powered by a total of 665 watts—are more usually attached to the upgraded audio system in most cars. But this system, from the perfectly credible Harman/Kardon brand, is standard in the new BMW iX. And it’s not bad at all.
There’s no room for a kitchen sink in a BMW iX, which is just as well, because if there was it seems likely Bowers & Wilkins would have thrown one at this EV. And while it’s not the most natural-sounding system where timing is concerned, it’s a punchily well-judged and entertaining listen. Dynamism is a given , and in every area of the frequency range the system piles on the details. There’s a visceral aspect to the way this system delivers music that’s more readily associated with the concert hall than the driving seat.
The sound is similarly matter-of-fact. There’s no attempt to wow you with sonic fireworks here, no fancy spatial audio effect to put you inside a dome of sound—just a full-range but measured presentation of the music. Question: How interested in sophistication are drivers who’ve decided a Mustang Mach-E is just the ticket? Because throwing a not-inconsiderable amount of money at Ford for this car’s option pack, including the audio system, buys some unarguably elegant sound reproduction.
Standard system: Channels: n/a. Power: n/a. Amplification: Class D. Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC. Apple CarPlay: Yes It turns out Lexus has hidden the surround-sound option in the depths of the user interface for good reason.Mark Levinson system: Channels: 14 - 2 x 25mm tweeter, 3 x 90mm midrange, 2 x coaxial 16mm tweeter with 90mm midrange, 4 x 170mm bass; 1 x 200mm subwoofer. Power: 835 watts. Amplification: Class D. Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC. Apple CarPlay: Yes
The standard Taycan system has EQ adjustment for bass and treble, plus balance and fader control—the bare minimum, in other words. More speakers and more power. It’s the audio upgrade story in a nutshell. But the Taycan’s Bose option also includes something called SoundTrue and an option to switch between “linear” sound and surround sound.
The top end is problematic, though. It’s bright to the point of hardness, and at significant volumes it edges close to “shrill.” And there really doesn’t seem to be any need for that, given that what noise does make it into the cabin tends to be far further down the frequency range. Back off the treble using the EQ and it gets a little less upfront but no less splashy and thin.
You’ll get less overall soundstage and detail, but the entry-level OEM still performs better than most, thanks to smart cabin design and the same excellent speaker placement. The system might have a single tweeter, but it’s aimed expertly at the center of the dashboard, using the windscreen as a waveguide.
Some 10 speakers in the front half of the cabin provide a deep and wide image of the song or podcast you’re listening to, with the subwoofers in the doors and trunk delivering the appropriate amount of rumble. Five speakers in the rear half of the cabin fill in the gaps, with the entire 630-watt system powered by two separate amplifiers.
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