A new vehicle's center display screen, software interface, audio system and associated features—all commonly known as its infotainment system—are as varied as the countless makes and models you'll find on dealership lots. But when shopping, there's no easy way to know if a particular vehicle's infotainment system is innovative and user-friendly or slow to respond and counterintuitive.

To help quicken your new-vehicle shopping process, the automotive experts at Edmunds have identified six of the best vehicle operating systems available today. These systems stand out from Edmunds' testing because of their user-friendly interfaces, crisp graphics, helpful features and overall reliability. Note that this article focuses on the automakers' newest infotainment systems that are typically found in all-new or recently updated vehicles.

FORD SYNC 4

Ford has been evolving and improving its Sync operating system since it debuted more than 15 years ago. The latest version, Sync 4, boasts an intuitive nature, particularly in how it accepts voice commands that aren't awkward and robotic like those found in some competing infotainment systems. Sync 4 allows for over-the-air software updates, and it appears on a large touchscreen that measures up to 15.5 inches. Even better, Sync 4 is available in some of Ford's most popular vehicles, including the F-150 pickup truck and Mustang Mach-E.