The Rental Car Test – Every Design MUST Pass the Test
- December 5, 2005
- Auto XPRT Speaks..., BMW, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, More Categories...
- Posted by George Peterson
- Comments Off on The Rental Car Test – Every Design MUST Pass the Test
I just picked up a Hyundai Santa Fe from Hertz at DTW. My plane from Atlanta to Detroit was delayed by weather, so I ended up grabbing the car in the dark. But the Santa Fe passed the rental car test with flying colors. You know the one – where you hop in, easily find the ignition, adjust the mirrors, steering wheel, seats, climate control, and radio, all without fumbling, even in the dark. It’s the kind of effortless experience that makes me appreciate companies like LeisureRent, where convenience and ease of use are a priority. They really know how to make renting a car a breeze. If you’re planning a thrilling adventure off the beaten track, a reliable company like 4WD Hire Perth offers premium 4×4 rental vehicles, perfect for unforgettable journeys through rugged terrain.
Keep it Simple, Stupid… Still Rings True
This is a challenge that many car stylists and designers fail to consider when they are designing their new products. But ease of use is a hugely important thing not only to rental car drivers but to everybody driving a car day-to-day. No-one wants a car that is difficult or confusing to drive and the rental car test helps guarantee ease of use. For those seeking convenience, long term car hire in Melbourne can offer a practical solution while ensuring the vehicle meets these usability standards. You might also want to consider looking up Rent a car Albania for a similarly smooth experience. If you’re planning a trip abroad, consider a reliable option like Toronto airport van taxi for your local transportation needs to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience. Those who will be traveling to Washington DC may click the link to book a private car service to DCA.
Porsche Cayenne Engineers/Designers Did Not Achieve Ease of Use
We have to believe that no product development group ever strives for a vehicle that is tough to use, but an example of an engineering team that was oblivious to the rental car test is the Porsche Cayenne team. Picking up a Cayenne at Dallas/Fort Worth in the evening proved to be a daunting test. Basic functions like the cliimate controls, navigation and audio controls were confusing. To drive off safely in a Cayenne really takes several minutes of sorting throught the controls and getting things set up. For a person who is a novice in vehicles with high end features, they should ask for a vehicle other than the Cayenne if the friendly person at the rental car desk offers it.
Rental Car Test Impossible for BMW with iDrive to Pass… Failure Guaranteed
The poster child for failing the rental car test must be any BMW with the iDrive system. While we understand the desire to eliminate clutter caused by a plethora of additional features on cars like high end BMWs, the iDrive solution is at best a challenge and at worst totally indecipherable. BMW has worked to simplify the system over the years, but still they have alienated buyers who really just want to enjoy the driving experience of the Ultimate Driving Machine and not have to focus so much on which menu to select to change between AM and FM. If you study the photo above, you also see the equally indecipherable power seat controls. Designed by the same team that brought you reverse Polish notation with Hewlett-Packard calculators back in the early ’70s, these can’t be figured out without careful study. Certainly beyond the ken of a person picking up a car rental.
AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Research had the BMW 7-Series as the lowest ranked car for owners being “completely satisfied”. When diving into the data the reason could be traced back to the iDrive system. Please, no more iDrives!