Among car radios there are the good, the bad and the ugly. Brian Byrne marks some out of 10
FIAT : 8.5 / 10
The tuner in the Stilo's centre stack is an ergonomic masterpiece, with a big central knob for volume and mode management, and big unambiguous station selection buttons. A favourite.
FORD : 8/10
Very clear and well-marked systems in the past few years, with a good-sized power/volume knob and a screen large enough to carry plenty of info.
TOYOTA : 8/10
Using an integrated system wired for sat-nav for some time. Surprisingly simple unit in layout and use. Station ID screen is large, as are power-
volume controls and selector buttons.
HONDA : 7.5/10
Plaudits for simplicity of layout and clear labelling - and high positioning.
MAZDA : 7.5/10
The Mazda6 system would rapidly become a favourite, with its large twist-knobs and large unambiguous selectors. Impressive remote control.
BMW 3-SERIES : 7/10
The 3-Series radio is clearly marked, with fairly simplified controls. The base unit's volume is easily-identified by touch.
LEXUS : 7/10
Lexus uses good big twist-knobs for power/volume and manual tuning control. Station select buttons stand out in white, but are a little confusing with other functions marked on them.
AUDI : 7/10
The "concert" radio/cd used by Audi is well marked. Intuitive to learn.
VOLVO : 7/10
Buttons for station selection are dispensed with - instead a twist-knob tunes up to 20 preset stations. Simple to use, though other controls in the immediate area can confuse.
NISSAN : 7/10
Its Starship Enterprise control system is mounted "on the flat" and the large control knobs plus a joystick effort can confuse. When you get to know it, it's excellent, and doesn't distract.
OPEL : 6.5/10
The new Vectra's system is too low in the console and doesn't stand out from other controls. But the large power/volume twister and simple button station selection are nice. Works best from the steering column.
VW : 6.5/10
The radio integrated into the Polo's dash is simple and straightforward. No frills, but no fuss either.
MERCEDES-BENZ : 6.5/10
Highly-integrated system in the new E-Class incorporates a phone keypad, and a certain amount of reading will be required to be comfortable with it. Again, best worked on a day-to-day basis from the steering wheel.
SEAT : 6/10
Clearly-marked mode and operation selectors, with an integrated slim screen. Prefer if the station selector buttons had more separation.
LAND ROVER : 6/10
The radio in the Discovery is awkward to tune, because of a split-buttons design, but once that's out of the way it's simple and clear. Better operated from the steering wheel.
CITROËN : 5.5/10
The C3 system gets marks for simplicity, but lack of twist-knobs lets an otherwise good unit down, though the unit can be easily worked from the steering column. (PEUGEOT systems attract the same comments).
JAGUAR : 5.5/10
The S-Type radio is too low for comfort, and power/volume twist-knob is too close to gearshifter. Reservations over combining the phone keypad as part of the unit.
ALFA ROMEO : 5/10
System integrated into the centre stack with visuals on a separate dashtop screen. Volume control is somewhat fiddly, and station selectors could be bigger. Steering column controls are very good.
BMW 7-SERIES : 5/10
Sound operation needs practice with centrally-mounted 'I-Drive' and dashtop screen that also does duty for sat-nav, trip, engine information, and TV. High-tech but complicated.
RENAULT : 4/10
The Vel Satis has one of the high-end brand names in the business, but the style-conscious layout takes a fair bit of learning, and the buttons are awkward. Best operated from the steering column.
SUBARU : 4/10
A decent unit set fairly high, with good station ID screen and large selector buttons. But it falls down with the volume control, a fiddly rocker switch and a separate power switch that is far too tiny for comfort.
DAEWOO : 3.5/10
The VDO radio in the Matiz scores well on one side with good twisty volume control, but skinny station selectors are a pain- and a couple of other buttons whose functions I couldn't work out without the handbook.
HYUNDAI : 3/10
Hyundai in Ireland uses a Pioneer unit, another of those which designed by tiny-fingered non-drivers. Stray buttons all over the place, and too-small channel selectors.
SUZUKI : 2/10
The Panasonic units used by Suzuki in Ireland have generally been the least satisfactory for a long time. Separate buttons for volume are difficult to use without taking eyes from the road, and the station select buttons have a confusing two stations per rocker switch.