What Are the Most Innovative Automotive Brands? | Nationwide Vehicle Contracts (2024)

In the ever-accelerating race of the automotive world, brands are constantly trying to one-up each other in terms of innovation.

I look at cars nowadays and wonder how some of the technology is even possible. From electric cars that charge ridiculously fast to self-driving models with eye-opening technology, the industry is shifting gears at a frightening pace.

Thanks to YouGov, statistics have been revealed that shed light on the British public’s top five automotive brands for innovation.

In this blog, we look at the top five brands and reveal some of their ridiculous technology.

We talk about:

• Tesla
• BMW
• Audi
• Mercedes-Benz
• Toyota

It’s no surprise to see electric vehicle giant Tesla at the top of the list. In the last ten years, Tesla has taken the automotive industry by storm.

They pioneered the large tablet-style infotainment system on the centre of the dashboard and also led the way in terms of minimalist interior design. The Tesla infotainment system is so advanced that you can even play video games and watch Netflix while parked up!

Tesla also is undoubtedly the go-to brand for electric vehicles. They offer unrivalled battery technology and performance, with their Model 3 returning up to 390 miles of electric range. All their cars also get to use the Tesla Supercharger network, the largest fast-charging network in the world.

Finally, how can we talk about Tesla without mentioning the Cybertruck? A boxy vehicle built for any terrain, the Cybertruck comes with an entire body of stainless steel panels, 20-inch wheels, and a bulletproof (kind of) exterior.

It also has an 18.5-inch touchscreen display, can carry up to 2,830 litres of cargo space, and can tow up to 4,990kg.

BMW comes in second for innovation. Long known as one of the most luxurious car brands on the market, the German giant has been offering some crazy technology lately.

One of BMW’s standout features is its BMW iDrive system. Constantly identified as the best infotainment system around, the iDrive comes with a whole raft of connected services to make your commute an absolute breeze.

They’ve also been making serious moves in the electric vehicle market, with models such as the BMW i7 and BMW XM.

The XM, a high-performance plug-in hybrid SUV, is one of their most powerful road cars ever. It comes with a turbocharged V8 engine and has a 25.7kWh battery that delivers up to 55 miles of electric range. It also has a carbon fibre trim on the dash and curved touchscreen displays!

Audi stands out from the crowd with their e-tron series. The name for their fully electric lineup, e-tron cars feature some of the most intuitive technology around while also looking simply amazing.

I have to talk about the Audi e-tron GT saloon. It’s simply one of the best-looking electric cars around and features some great technology.

It’s powered by an 85kWh lithium-ion battery that returns up to 590hp (on the RS version) and shoots from 0-60mph in just 3.1 seconds. Oh, and it can also travel up to 305 miles and charge at speeds up to 270kW.

Consistent across their models is their range-topping Vorsprung line, which features some fine technology. Consistent with Vorsprung models is a leather interior, heated seats, and state-of-the-art sound systems.

Mercedes-Benz has long been one of the go-to choices for luxury and technologically advanced cars in the motoring world. Wherever you are in the world, you’ll likely see a Mercedes on the road, and there’s good reason for this.

In recent years, Mercedes has been seriously upping its innovation game. In 2016, they introduced the EQ series, their own line of luxury electric cars. The standout vehicle in the EQ series is the EQS Saloon, which returns an electric range of up to 441 miles.

Most Mercedes-Benz cars also use their MBUX infotainment system. Intertwined with artificial intelligence, the system enhances user experience and personalises your drive.

At the Consumer Electronics Show 2024, Mercedes-Benz recently announced their MBUX Sound Drive, which allows music to react to how the car is being driven.

Finally, we have to talk about the S-Class Saloon because it’s simply one of the most innovative cars on the market. It has an augmented reality head-up display, a 12.8-inch central display, and a driver assistance package allowing for conditional automated driving.

Although Toyota might not have some of the ‘luxury car’ traits like others on this list, the Japanese brand offers state-of-the-art tech at an affordable price.

Models like the Toyota Corolla have proved incredibly successful. Coming with a range of self-charging petrol-hybrid engines, the Corolla range offers frugal and efficient engines at an unbeatable price.

Toyota is also leading the way for hydrogen fuel cell technology. They introduced the first hydrogen-powered car in 2014, the Mirai, and are currently in the process of its second generation.

Toyota recently announced plans to make six battery-electric cars for Europe by 2026, so we cannot wait to see what they’ve got in store.

Looking for more automotive features? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has produced various blogs on a range of topics, such as How to Choose Your First Leased Car and How Does Car Leasing Affect My Credit Score?

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