137 karma · joined April 19, 2013
I really don't understand where some of the complaints from the article come from. The "another stick" to control audio is pretty nice. I find especially volume control pretty natural. Contrary to article it does allow switching tracks/radio stations. I don't mind the steering wheel controls. I don't use cruise control that much, so left side is mostly unused, but I often use right side). I drove 2004 Mazda 6 before this car, where I had volume control on the steering wheel and I do not find Renault's layout interior.
The R-Link infotainment system is far from perfect. Menus are quite confusing to me. I don't find it slow though, but I guess the main point is that I do not use it much. I sometimes change something in the settings (usually when stopped), but more often I just start Android Auto and use that. I don't remember if the setup visible in photo in the article is the default, but there is a hidden option in Android Auto which allows it to take much more of the screen space than shown by author. It's kinda like square display then? I find using touchscreen then tolerable (but I do not advise to do it while driving). My son selects own music without problems though. One thing missing from the article is that the main infotainment system and Android Auto can be controlled via the knob/wheel controller visible in the photos. It supports rotating, 4 wheel directional action and press. The operations I perform the most while driving (that is controlling music via Spotify) are really quite comfortable when using this controller. Note that, unlike some other cars, there are two physical dials for setting climate control temperature. These I do use and can't imagine having to use touch screen for that (that eliminated for example Peugeot 308 when we were shopping for car)
But how I (180cm height) or my wife (163cm height) accidentally press the cruise control/speed limit button? I have no idea. I have automatic gearbox, but quite often (when stopped and, obviously, when changing gears) I drive with one hand on the stick and elbow resting on the the elbow-rest and I can't imagine how that switch could be pressed. Maybe if someone is really short and the seat is in very forward position? Certainly not in position as shown in photo. Also never heard such complaint from other Talisman owners.