[DicKy]

A firm believer of 'just because I find it useless, doesn't mean it is useless'.
Everything that goes into a car is useful for some people, or at some point, or in some scenarios.

That being said, both of our cars have extremely basic MIDs. The only thing I genuinely miss is the average fuel consumption display.

Assuming the speedo and tacho are analogues, and the MID is a graphical TFT display, not dot matrix type.

Must haves

1. Fuel display ( Something like the Harrier/Altroz one would be cool, especially love the fill up graphics )
2. Tripmeters
3. Fuel consumption display. Average km/l is enough.
4. Engine temperature
5. Proper written warning, notification sentences/graphics for all chimes/bongs/beeps/rings.
6. A 3D navigational map for all the turns/deviations/exit/entry would be nice to have.

Don't care for, doesn't mean useless

1. Time of each journey, hours since start. Maybe cabbies use it?
2. Tracklist of music/radio. Ermm. The infotainment display is not far off, eh?
3. Instantaneous fuel consumption. The variables used are not reliable. A distraction.
4. Outside temperature. Most of India, it's either nice or hot or rainy. Maybe good for extreme North hill station areas. Anyway you have to get out.

USELESS

Power and torque graphs !!!
GTR eh? Your body knows the G forces, and if you are pinned to the seats it is quick. The speedo and tacho are in front for any reference. Duh.

Like said above, with TFT displays, no information is useless. Just cram stuff into the display. People will use the MID buttons to see what they want. Not as if they have to provide physical gauges. Except the gimmicky power/torque ones. That's plain useless.

[sreejithkk]

I do have Ertiga ZXI+ 2019 model and following are the info I used i the MID the most.

• Range
• Average FE (Ertiga MID can also display the average FE of last 10 min,15 min etc - which I use, when I drive with FE conscious mind)
• Current Gear selected
• Current TRIP and ODO
• Outside Temperature
• Digital clock
• Door open warning with picture of exact door/boot opened

Wishlist

• Digital Speedometer
• Buttons on steering wheel to control MID instead of ugly stalks
• Indicator for Bonnet opened (Integrate with Door ajar warning)

Apart from the info displayed, I like the various configuration that can be set from MID, like door auto lock/ auto unlock, speed sensitive door lock etc.

And the biggest grouse I have is the range display become blank when the Low Fuel warning is triggered. I still wish the range is displayed in that scenario as well.

[sv97]

I think most of the members have already covered most of the features.I would like to include the following apart from the ones already mentioned:

• Music/Song Display
• Climate Control Temperature Change/Mode Change Display
• Navigation directions display

So, as to completely prevent the attention being diverted while driving.

[turbo]

I buy a car, set the MID to show distance to empty, and then forget that the car has a MID for the next 15 years.

[codwapeace]

Most 'useless' istance to empty: I don't know if I can trust it. Has anyone been burnt by it? I am too scared to trust it.

[anandhsub]

Most useful is distance to empty. Quite surprised how it has been fairly accurate on most drives, both on the highway and inside the city.

Useless are instantaneous fuel consumption and gear change indicator.

Have no idea how the former is calculated, and it anyway keeps changing randomly to be of any use.

The gear change indicator is plain wrong at least in my Verna. Asks to shift to 5th at 45-50 km/hr which is ridiculous.

[Latheesh]

Speedo and RPM - analog (old classic style)
Fuel level indicator
Warnings (for fluid levels, battery, tyres etc.)

I don't care about anything else.

[Mynameis]

Not much of a MID person. I do not think MID features have been a deal maker or breaker for anyone. Also, have never seen any MID thing, featuring in likes/ dislikes of our TBHP reviews! Still will list out:

USEFUL:

1. Door open warning.
2. DTE/ Low fuel warning.
3. Engine temperature
4. Tachometer
5. Trip meter
6. Speedometer & Odometer
7. Clock
8. TPMS ( As GTO Sir said, a warning for drop in pressure would be useful, instead of real time readings).

USELESS:

1. Too much bling or graphics (depicting various driving modes).
2. Should not have "Reduce speed" (like in Seltos) warning even at 80kph. At 80kph, its just annoying. Though, it must be above 120 kph.
3. Gear change indicator.
3. Can't really think of any more, as I told I am not much into MID.

I would like the following to be present in MID:

1. The important things like Engine temp, Fuel quantity, DTE, etc should be easily visible and as close to the centre of the MID.
2. Digital speedometer.
3. Digital fuel quantity left.
4. Boot open indicator. (Not all cars have it).
5. Fuel lid open indicator. After pump attendant closes it, sometimes we are in doubt whether he has closed it properly or not. An indication for that in MID would be satisfying.
6. AQI of air inside the car (Am I asking a lot?)

[Hayek]

Really like informative MIDs.

This is what would be useful

1) Average Speed
2) Average Fuel Efficiency
3) DTE - with warning below threshold
4) Navigation Directions
5) Ability to pick song / radio station
6) Phone Call Info - caller name
7) TPMS if below threshold
8) Oil / Battery / Brake Warnings
9) Door open Warning with door specified
10) Seat Belt Warning with seat specified
11) Cruise Control status and set speed
12) Service Reminders
13) Outside Temperature

Ideally, don’t make me look at the music system ever - have everything on a context sensitive basis in the MID.

[Bibendum90949]

I'm a MID person and I keep an eye on them quite diligently.

Few of them which I can't live without.

* Temp gauge - Isn't this crucial to know if anything is amiss with respect to coolant/engine temperature.

* Tachometer - I need to know the optimal upshift points(manual transmission) and also to know where the red line starts, or it's needed when one wants to drive economically.

* Trip meter - in fact need two of them.
* Range/DTE.
* Fuel Consumption.

Good to have's

* TPMS
* Outside Temp
* Service Interval Alert
* Turn by Turn Navigation

Totally futile ones

* instant fuel economy - not realistic.
* Gear shift suggestion.

Originally Posted by libranof1987

If I get the drift, manufacturers are wondering what / the extent of purpose the MID serves when large touchscreen HU's are commonplace in cars across segments now.

Having the most critical information like speed, trip distance, RPM etc moving to the touch screens would mean that you'll have to take the eyes off the road a bit more than when it's displayed on the MID I feel. I would never want these to be moved to the large screen purely from the safety point of view. A reason why many manufacturers like BMW, Merc etc make the centre console orient them more towards the driver.

Originally Posted by ashis89

With BS6 diesels and DPFs going wonky, I would like a reading of how clogged the DPF is and a warning at 80% mark to regenerate it

+1 to this.

[Thermodynamics]

Most points are already covered, I am still adding my two cents in order to participate in survey that could benefit some manufacturer.

Useful
- Time
- Odo
- Speedo (Analog dial)
- Tacho (Analog dial)
- Trip
- Engine temperature (H/C level)
- Fuel guage
- Warnings: Engine, battery, door ajar, seat belt, ABS, airbags etc.,
- Average FE
- TPMS
- Cruise ON (preferably on speedo dial)

Not useful
- Instant FE
- DTE I feel it is grossly off most of the time. Fuel guage IMO is a rather straight forward answer.
- Outside Temperature : only relevant to extreme geographies where if you step out you will die by either hypothermia or dehydration

[kadanaJ]

Necessary:
1. Speedo (obviously)
2. Tachometer with a properly demarcated redline
3. Fuel gauge
4. Distance to empty
5. At least 2 trip meters

Nice-to-have:
1. Engine temperature guage
2. Clock
3. Instant FE and average FE
4. Gearshift indicator for max fuel efficiency
5. Timer that runs only when engine/battery is on. Helps to know if the driver/valet was using the AC while sitting in the car.
6. Average speed
7. Tyre pressure monitor
8. Outside temperature
9. Windshield washer tank level (or indicator when it is low)
10. Digital speedo

Haven't run into any useless features. More information is always welcome, even if not absolutely essential to the driving experience.

[PaddleShifter]

Things I find useful and have been using everyday.

1. Distance to empty and 1 tripmeter (never used the second one).
2. Phonebook and incoming call details (Fiat Punto/Linea) are very useful.
3. Navigation data (simple like those in TATA Tiago) while the full map displays in the head unit/stereo).
4. Specific door ajar warning with audible beeps like those in punto/linea.
5. Audible beeps for handbrake (beautiful feature of Fiat Punto/Linea).
6. Adjustable speed limit warning system.
7. Kia Seltos has lane change/blind spot camera display of sort that I guess must be a very useful safety feature.

[tanaysn]

I would love to have 2 basic modes on the MID:
1. Basic
2. Advanced

Basic Mode could have;
1. Vehicle Speed
2. Distance to Empty
3. Mileage (Last 100kms and from engine start)
4. Average Speed
5. Engine Oil temperature
6. Service reminder
7. Door ajar warnings

Advanced Mode (separate button to toggle through);
1. 0-100kph timer and recorder (to gauge power drop over time from the engine)
2. Boost pressure (for turbo cars to check for turbo piping eaks)
3. OBD warning codes (decoded in a layman language) for people without the scanner
(This shall help mechanics fooling car owners with uneccesary part replacements)
4. All liquid level indicators
5. Brake pad/shoe life remaining

[Turbohead]

Useful:

1) Average fuel efficiency
2) Current speed
3) Average speed
4) Time between trips
5) Distance for the trip
6) TPMS with tire temperature.

Useless:
1) Instant fuel efficiency

What I miss!
1) Engine temperature gauge
2) Idling time for each trip. Helps to understand why fuel efficiency is high or low.