Fab Features: More high-tech faves

Technology in cars these days seems to be changing at a rapid clip. You can thank smartphones for that. Now that people change in their phones every year or so for "the next best thing," people expect cars to keep up with ever-evolving tech needs.

While not every car or every manufacturer is successful creating a connected car that works, here are a few recent features in test cars that I stand up to the tech test.

2017 Audi Q7 virtual cockpit

The first time you see the virtual cockpit in the new Audi Q7, it's a visual kaleidoscope. You don't know where to look first, and it's almost overwhelming. The satellite view of the world pops up behind your steering wheel in a mesmerizing four-color display. It can show navigation directions or simply provide some eye candy. I won't lie; it is bit distracting for the first few days. But after I got over the visual onslaught, I came to appreciate the large map view, and I loved that it freed up the infotainment screen for Apple CarPlay or radio operations. It's totally futuristic and high tech, and I don't see this visual masterpiece getting old or dated any time soon.

Base price for the Q7 is $55,750, but to add the virtual cockpit, you'll have to upgrade to the Premium Plus trim ($58,800) and add the Vision Package ($2,000). It's standard on the top-tier Prestige trim, with a base price of $65,250.

2016 Chevrolet Malibu WiFi

The latest "thing" these days seems to be offering a WiFi hotspot in the car - for an added monthly subscription fee. While this is great if you have children, and you want them to self-entertain with a mobile device, it's also nice on a road-trip where one or more of the adults need to get some work done. But, it's only nice if the WiFi hotspot works. I've tested connectivity in various automakers' vehicles ranging from pure-bred American to high-end luxury German, and the best connection I've found so far is in the Chevrolet Malibu. This OnStar 4GLTE system uses the AT&T network, and connectivity is consistent and quick. I was able to get on via my laptop and work from Chicago all the way to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. While some of that drive takes place in city environments where you'd expect connectivity to be good, we drove through a fair bit of farmland, and the WiFi worked just as well. GM actually offers this in most of its 2016 vehicles from Chevrolet to Buick to GMC to Cadillac.

Connectivity plans can be purchased through OnStar and start at $15 per month for OnStar subscribers. AT&T customers can add a GM vehicle to a mobile share plan for $10 per month. Base price for the Malibu is $22,500.

2017 Ford Escape Apple CarPlay home button

I really like that more and more automakers are including Apple CarPlay as a part of their infotainment systems. This phone-mirroring system makes it easier for people to put down their phones while they are driving because they can do things like listen to text messages or send a voice-to-text message easily with the push of a button on the steering wheel. But one of the downsides so far has been that it's difficult to navigate between CarPlay and the car's own infotainment system. Ford solves this problem with a simple "home" button on the CarPlay main screen in the all-new 2017 Ford Escape. With a quick tap, you can switch between Sync 3 and CarPlay. Ford may be a little late to the CarPlay game, but they certainly must have been listening to some of the frustrating chatter about the system because their implementation is one of the best I've seen so far.

CarPlay is standard starting at the SE trim, with a base price of $25,745.

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