خالد عدي
Sep 28
I've only driven my Sol 11 for 4500 kilometers, and the camera's view has been limited three times already. While it doesn't affect driving, it's pretty annoying. The car's infotainment system is really bad.
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Is the car infotainment system really that bad? I'm not just referring to this model; it seems like the entire Hongqi series' systems are pretty terrible.
Can version 3.1.9 be upgraded? It seems that versions 3.0.3 and 3.1.2 were pulled back just a few days after their release. Version 3.1.10 was just released a couple of days ago and hasn't been pushed out yet. Currently, version 3.1.9 is being pushed in China. In the U.S., 3.1.9 was pushed out in early July, and it has been available in Europe for about a week. According to U.S. car enthusiasts on forums, some vehicles experienced a flickering issue with the 360-degree surround view in versions 3.0.3 and 3.1.2, where the screen would briefly go black and then light up again. After upgrading to 3.1.9, the issue was significantly alleviated during the first week, with flickering still occurring but only going black for 0.2 seconds and then automatically recovering, not affecting usability. However, the results after one week were not satisfactory, with the 360-degree surround view showing more frequent "camera unavailable" warnings than before, still severely affecting use. Yet, some car owners reported never encountering this issue (even with the problematic 3.x versions), so it might be related to a specific batch of parts or the vehicle's personalized settings. Have car owners in China noticed this issue after upgrading, or are there any other problems?
4Does anyone know how to adjust the brightness of the 2017 Skoda Kodiaq's infotainment system? I got a second-hand one, and I can't see the screen at all during the day. The reverse camera isn't visible either. I've already set the brightness to the maximum, but it's still not clear.
5I've only driven my Sol 11 for 4500 kilometers, and the camera's view has been limited three times already. While it doesn't affect driving, it's pretty annoying. The car's infotainment system is really bad.
6I had the chance to try out the new Toyota Corolla, the 1.2T Elite version. Honestly, there aren’t many changes in the design compared to the previous generation, but I thought I’d share my thoughts anyway. The engine performance isn’t particularly strong — 116 horsepower on a car this size is just acceptable. But when you push it and let the RPMs climb, it actually feels better than expected. It’s not slow, and it feels lighter than I thought it would. The CVT gearbox is smooth and decent overall, although at low speeds there are some light vibrations and a bit of drag when you lift off the throttle. When you demand sudden acceleration, it takes a little time to reach the higher revs, but it’s not annoying. The suspension handles big bumps well, but you can feel smaller imperfections in the road, especially at lower speeds. On curves and sharp turns, the car holds itself pretty well and stays composed — that was a nice surprise. The steering is great. It’s light at low speeds and firms up nicely as you go faster. The response is smooth and precise, and the brakes are easy to get used to and feel very natural — no issues there. Noise insulation is average. Wind noise is handled well, and the engine isn’t too loud, even at high RPMs — that’s actually better than the hybrid version. But road noise does come through at higher speeds, and ambient noise isolation is just okay. Inside, the design hasn’t changed much — it still feels quite basic. The materials aren’t great; most of the interior is hard plastic. The screen and instrument panel haven’t been upgraded like in the 1.5 or hybrid versions. The infotainment system is slow and outdated — not what you'd expect in a 2024 model. Front seating is fine — you can adjust the driver’s seat to a comfortable low position and the steering wheel aligns well with it. The back seats, however, aren’t great. The space is average, the seatback is a bit upright, and the cushion isn’t very long. The trunk, on the other hand, is decent and handles luggage well. In terms of safety features, you do get useful tools like radar and driving assist, but there’s no rear parking sensor — which is strange. Overall, the car isn’t lacking in features, but the priorities feel a bit off. In the end, this car doesn’t really surprise you — and that might actually be a good thing for people who prefer something reliable and familiar. It’s not futuristic, but if you’re after dependability and ease of use, it could still be a smart choice — especially with how crowded the market is becoming with hybrids and EVs. Ultimately, it depends on your needs and your budget at the time of buying.
7I bought the full-option 600 km version of the electric EZ6, and honestly, I’m very satisfied with it. It really drives like a petrol car — the transition was easy, and I didn’t feel much difference. I only use it in the city, and so far, it’s averaging around 11.3 kWh per 100 km, which is excellent. The car is rear-wheel drive with an impressively tuned suspension. Cornering at 60–80 km/h feels smooth and stable — it really grips the road, making it perfect for mountain roads. I honestly wouldn’t recommend test driving it unless you’re ready to buy — it’s that convincing! The interior is elegant, with 14 speakers and great sound quality. However, one small issue: there’s no light on the vanity mirror, which can be a bit annoying. After installing the rear spoiler, I noticed what seemed like improved efficiency — maybe due to better aerodynamics, or maybe just my imagination. In eco mode, the car can get close to 600 km of range in the city — without using the A/C. In summer with A/C on, it drops to around 550 km. If you switch to sport mode and drive over 100 km/h, the consumption can go over 15 kWh per 100 km. One downside is the limited infotainment system — despite the great sound system, you’re mostly stuck with music. Also, some settings have to be manually re-enabled every time you start the car — probably for safety reasons. As for comfort, my family loves it — especially the kids in the back. The wireless phone charger works perfectly, and Bluetooth connects quickly. The trunk is very spacious, and there’s even extra storage under the hood, which is great. I take good care of the car — I always use a car cover when parking outside, and the interior really gives off a premium feel. During the day, I try to save energy by turning off unnecessary lights and filters. One feature I really love is the remote parking after getting out — it’s super accurate and genuinely useful. Honestly, it’s a great car and definitely worth test driving if you’re considering an EV.
8I've had the car for about a month now, and honestly, I feel like it's a great fit for younger drivers. The design is sporty, and the interior space turned out to be better than I expected, so I didn’t hesitate to go ahead and place the order. At first glance, the look is pretty standard — nothing too flashy — and the car sits lower than most other SUVs. So far, I’ve driven around 600 km. Fuel consumption is currently between 8.8 to 9 L/100 km, mostly city driving. I haven’t taken it on the highway much yet, but I believe the fuel economy will improve over time. Acceleration is quite strong — it uses the same engine as the Civic — though I don't push it hard often; I only tried flooring it once just to see how it feels. The rearview camera is clear, and I didn’t install a 360° system since I’m used to using the mirrors, but I might add it later — blind spots are always a risk. Friends and coworkers who sat in the back all said the space felt pretty good. What annoyed me the most is the infotainment system. Wireless CarPlay has a 1–2 second delay, which isn’t terrible but still noticeable. I’ve seen people online claim some versions have zero delay — not sure how true that is. The voice assistant is also a bit frustrating; it sometimes activates randomly in the middle of a conversation and starts talking out of nowhere! The horn also sounds cheap — one guy compared it to an electric scooter and honestly, I couldn’t agree more. Another weird thing: there’s no one-touch window up/down feature, which feels like a missed basic feature. And the sound insulation is weak — you can clearly hear wind and tire noise, especially at higher speeds. I usually end up turning up the music just to drown it out — maybe that's just typical for Japanese cars? Overall though, as my first car, I’m pretty satisfied. I don’t have much experience with other cars yet, so this is just my perspective. Hope it helps anyone considering this car — no offense intended to anyone!
9Since I got the car, I’ve driven it a few times on intercity highways and elevated city roads. At first, fuel consumption was quite high — around 12 L/100 km — but after some regular use, it dropped to 7.8. It hasn’t gone any lower since then, even though I’ve only driven about 500 km in less than a month. Honestly, every time I refuel, it stings a little 😅. This is my first car, so I don’t have much to compare it to, but driving feels smooth overall. Once you hit 100 km/h, tire noise becomes noticeable, but throttle response during overtaking is pretty decent. The thing that annoyed me most is the infotainment system. There’s no built-in CarPlay, so I bought an external adapter. While it technically works, Bluetooth is unstable, and the navigation voice won’t come through the car speakers. On top of that, the system randomly activates and starts saying weird things, and the voice assistant sometimes greets you with “Hi” and other times with “I’m here” — honestly, it feels awkward. I’m not sure if all Japanese brands do this, or just this one. As for interior space, the rear seat area is quite good, but the new car smell is still strong, so I’ve thrown in a bunch of charcoal bags to absorb it. Overall, I’m satisfied for a first car, but there are definitely things that could be better.
10I bought the 2025 Passat 380 Star Edition, and since we already have a 2024 330 Elite model at home, I was able to directly compare the two. The main differences come down to a few added features — like extra millimeter-wave radars, one additional camera, and three more ultrasonic sensors. Most of the other specs are nearly identical. The biggest improvement I noticed is in the adaptive cruise control, which is now more responsive and accurate. The rear parking sensors also trigger more easily. Fuel consumption is actually quite good: on highways and elevated roads, it averages around 7.1 L/100 km — nearly the same as the 330 (which ranges between 6.8 to 7.2 L). As for space, it's one of the main reasons I chose this car. We’ve got kids in the family, and this car is mainly for weekend outings and family use. Compared to the Magotan, the Passat offers better ride comfort, and its 2.87m wheelbase ensures a roomy interior. Feature-wise, the Passat covers everything needed for daily use: side mirrors that tilt automatically when reversing, ventilated and heated seats, auto hold, adaptive cruise, and active braking. It’s all there and makes daily driving much more convenient. Now for the downsides: the infotainment system feels outdated. The screen is too small, there's no built-in navigation worth using, and no wireless phone connectivity, which is a letdown in 2025. Also, there’s still a bit of jerkiness at low speeds that hasn’t been addressed. The gear shifter is still wrapped in leather but looks pretty basic. Overall, at this price point, the Passat is still a solid choice. It doesn’t have any major flaws, and it’s a good all-around car — perfect for someone who wants a reliable, practical ride without too much fuss or flash. Not the flashiest design, but definitely a sensible and balanced option.