2016 U.S. CarPlay Vehicles: Chevrolet, Honda, Volkswagen and More

[apolloa]

Perhaps I should have added, in my Ford Fiesta Mk 7 before they introduced Sync Ford had their own in house system, now whilst it wasn't quite as advanced as Sync is with your phone and wouldn't read text messages, it would let you control everything via voice including the full audio system including radio and media selection, and the full Aircon and demist systems etc.

Now with my 2014 Fiesta ST with Sync version 1:
Ford went to crappy Microsoft who whilst they made a nice integration with your phone and colour screen and Sync reads text messages, that's about it, no voice control what so ever over the cars Airton and demisting systems, you can't choose the radio input via voice. It was a huge step backwards and is slow and clunky.
Another thing is when you tell it dial a number it will most of the time get it right, but about 20% of the time it won't and it makes up numbers like tell it to call mum at home, and it says at home or, work, mobile, tel number...... Even though your phone book only has ONE tel number entry under 'Mum'! And that's with both iOS and Android phones. When it is working properly and you tell it to call Mum it just dials the number.

Such an upgrade........

So so so glad to see Ford saw sense and ditched Microsoft Sync for Blackberry QNX. Who knows if I buy another Fiesta ST when the new one is out, it will have Sync 3 or 4 and CarPlay and Google version support built in too?

 

[happygodavid]

RE: Aftermarket

Needed a new car and so I bought a 2015 Subaru. Considered an aftermarket head, and found the following Limitations (haven't actually followed through, just the results of way too much research):

1. Steering wheel controls would be semi-functional, but "voice command" button wouldn't summon Siri
2. Built in Mic won't work
3. Built in USB won't work, can get a part off an older Subaru that will turn 2 USB port into 1
4. Backup camera wire needs to be stripped and spliced into standard plug (works, but starting to get intense)
5. Some diagnostic features of Stock radio I never use like Tire rotation reminders etc would be lost
6. Stock Sirius antenna wouldn't work (I don't subscribe but for some reason this irks me)

A handful of other baloney items like this. Might be different for other vehicles, might not be annoying enough to change your mind. Just sharing info.

To get a "real" installer who would seriously make sure it worked right (with the above limitations), was going to cost about $400 on top of the head.

Also, the best Pioneers are the AppRadio & their top end NEX 8100 - these are the only ones with Capacitive touch screens a la iphone.

I'm in the same boat. Needed a new car, so I bought a 2015 Subaru, etc.

Thanks for the info you supplied. The infotainment unit is decent, but man, do I wish Subaru would release a firmware update that would work with Carplay.

 

[puma1552]

stupid ford not adopting this.

as has already been pointed out, sync 3 DOES support carplay; in fact ford using sync plus carplay will probably be the best option out there.

It takes seconds to plug it in. Do you use a seatbelt or is that too much effort?

I get the impression here that the people who don't have Carplay hate it and those that do have it, like it.

why do i want to pull out my phone and plug it in every time i get in the car if all i care about is music which a permanently docked ipod takes perfect care of? i get the feeling you must have never had a car with keyless access and push button start; afterall, it takes seconds to pull the key out of your pocket, no?

the less crap i have to pull out of my pocket whenever i get in my car the better it is, ugly cable permanently hanging out of my dash aside.

maybe carplay will be cool when its wireless, til then its not that exciting, typical apple gen 1 product. and yes, iver test deiven cars with carplay extensively and played with it. at the end of the day the touchscreens still arent made by apple and arent nearly as responsove as an iphone screen.

 

[docprego]

Have it in my 2016 Corvette Stingray. It's a mess as I have posted about on this forum and others previously. If it worked reliably I can tell that I would really like it.

 

[7heOne]

oh damn it, looking at after market option now, just bought a CLA250 a few weeks ago.

 

[VPrime]

I have a Golf VII with Carplay and I have to say it's a total disappointment. For one thing the phone doesn't reliably connect, you can't use the steering wheel button for voice activation. When my phone does connect the few CarPlay apps that are around are only a shadow of their counterparts on the iPhone, which is strange as it basically just mirrors the output

I have the same car and I can activate siri from the steering wheel.

I did originally have issues with carplay connecting at first, but it is fine now and is connecting reliably. I beleive this is a VW issue though, as on various MK7 forums there are many reports of carplay AND android auto not connecting.

 

[DJMoxieLAH]

Who needs Carplay when you can get a whole freaking iPad Pro in your whip!

 

[Iconoclysm]

Aftermarket service plans are not worth the paper they are printed on, but extensions of the original warranty can be a life saver, especially on European Cars. I don't believe you need to purchase it at the current time, but you do need to purchase it before a certain time, and be the original owner.

Interesting, I'll strongly consider it then. Thanks!

 

[Iconoclysm]

That's interesting. The more I read about CarPlay, the more I think it's strictly for those cars who just have a poor infotainment system that going CarPlay just allows a more simpler, not necessarily better, experience. For those who drive a BMW with iDrive, there is absolutely no reason to want CarPlay other than to say you want it. But if what you're saying is true, where the steering wheel controls become dead with CarPlay, it sort of diminishes the need for CarPlay if it's just a glorified mirror of your iPhone.

Quite the opposite, really. Cars with better infotainment systems integrate BETTER with Carplay. My Volvo XC90 uses CarPlay for half the screen while keeping all of the other functions on the other half. It uses the iPhone LTE connection for the car's network as well, so I'm not limited to some crappy 3G AT&T SIM in the back.

 

[iLog.Genius]

Quite the opposite, really. Cars with better infotainment systems integrate BETTER with Carplay. My Volvo XC90 uses CarPlay for half the screen while keeping all of the other functions on the other half. It uses the iPhone LTE connection for the car's network as well, so I'm not limited to some crappy 3G AT&T SIM in the back.

In split screen, is it all Apple UI or is the other half (that's not CarPlay) the stock/Volvo UI? My impression from what people have told and what I've read is that once CarPlay is enabled, it is it's own UI/layer on top of the base infotainment system controlled by your iPhone.

Basically all I was getting at was from the post above is that, if CarPlay is enabled and the steering wheel buttons no longer works (CarPlay override), than what's the point? I have iDrive and I have absolutely no reason to use CarPlay because I don't see how CarPlay has any benefit over iDrive in the way iDrive is already integrated. I don't need any Apple UI to do anything that I can't already do with my current setup. Of course YMMV so maybe in theory, the better the stock infotainment is, the better integrated CarPlay could be but I wouldn't want/use CarPlay for anything other than to say I could use it if I wanted to.

 

[QuarterSwede]

I just had a Pioneer NEX with CarPlay put in today and man what a major disappointment. CarPlay is not much easier to use than the original 2015 Chrysler/Dodge UConnect system (which is arguably the best in the industry). If the upgraded 8.4" UConnect system with a horrid factory amp wasn't literally $1K more I would've preferred to go that route. At least my audio sounds fantastic now.

As far as the steering wheel audio not working goes that depends on the vehicle. My controls work just fine and perform exactly the same functions as before. I've got a 2015 Dodge Journey AWD (excellent man van btw).

 

[VPrime]

In split screen, is it all Apple UI or is the other half (that's not CarPlay) the stock/Volvo UI? My impression from what people have told and what I've read is that once CarPlay is enabled, it is it's own UI/layer on top of the base infotainment system controlled by your iPhone.

Basically all I was getting at was from the post above is that, if CarPlay is enabled and the steering wheel buttons no longer works (CarPlay override), than what's the point? I have iDrive and I have absolutely no reason to use CarPlay because I don't see how CarPlay has any benefit over iDrive in the way iDrive is already integrated. I don't need any Apple UI to do anything that I can't already do with my current setup. Of course YMMV so maybe in theory, the better the stock infotainment is, the better integrated CarPlay could be but I wouldn't want/use CarPlay for anything other than to say I could use it if I wanted to.

Car play doesn't replace.. It works alongside the factory media system. It's basically an app in it self.
On my VW, the steering controls still work, and I can use other functions of the infotainment system while carplay functionality is happening. It does take over the built in hands free system, so bluetooth disconnects and uses car play instead. But otherwise everything else still works as expected.

I can't remember 100% (i'll have to check on my ride home later tonight), but I think I can have Apple maps open, and the cars built in radio going at the same time.


Edit:
Just tried on my drive home. If Carplay with Apple maps is running, you can use the cars standard media functions (AM/FM, Sirius, etc), except bluetooth audio. Also all the other functionality of the cars infotainment system continues to work.

So, carplay does run along side of the cars system. At least on VW.

 

[daverumours]

That's interesting. The more I read about CarPlay, the more I think it's strictly for those cars who just have a poor infotainment system that going CarPlay just allows a more simpler, not necessarily better, experience. For those who drive a BMW with iDrive, there is absolutely no reason to want CarPlay other than to say you want it. But if what you're saying is true, where the steering wheel controls become dead with CarPlay, it sort of diminishes the need for CarPlay if it's just a glorified mirror of your iPhone.

Perhaps the connection problems are down to VW doing a poor implementation (Android Auto didn't seem to reliably connect either, though I only tested that once or twice) my Golf has it's own voice control (not so good) that seems to prevents the use of the voice button for Siri. Better would have been that when you use Carplay, Siri can take over control of this button. The built-in entertainment system (the high-end Discover Pro) isn't as pretty as IOS but does the job reliably plus I can easily use and switch between 2 phones connected over bluetooth. It has Google traffic and gracenote art over it's build in UMTS sim card.

 

[daverumours]

I have the same car and I can activate siri from the steering wheel.

I did originally have issues with carplay connecting at first, but it is fine now and is connecting reliably. I beleive this is a VW issue though, as on various MK7 forums there are many reports of carplay AND android auto not connecting.

My built-in voice-control seems to block the use of the button for Siri. Any idea what improved the connectivity?

 

[VPrime]

My built-in voice-control seems to block the use of the button for Siri. Any idea what improved the connectivity?

I noticed above you said you have the discover pro system.. This could be why, as I don't have the discover pro. I know over bluetooth and carplay I can use siri from the wheel.

Try asking on golfmk7.com/forums/. I have only had my car for a few weeks, so I don't know everything about it yet .

 

[Aston441]

. Looks like I won't be getting another Toyota anytime soon.

Sadly, Toyota/Lexus/Scion has been focusing on the old lady market. They have exactly zero cars now with excellent handling and driver feedback. Even the rebadged Subaru is sloppy. A typical new Toyota has an inch of slop in the steering, worse than 30 year old Buick.

 

[joe-h2o]

I never look at my Google maps while driving, never. Set the directions, friendly voice gets me there. Why would you ever look at your gps while driving?

Lane guidance, estimated arrival time, upcoming directions, updated traffic information, confirmation of the spoken instruction if slightly ambiguous. You know, the same sorts of things that we've been looking at physical sat nav units for over the past decade. The benefit of a built in screen is that it's not positioned in your windscreen, so it doesn't obscure your view. Having a dedicated unit in your dash is extremely useful.

Next you'll tell me that you never look at your clock to tell the time in the car.

 

[joe-h2o]

Is a grid of icons really the most optimal user interface for a car? What happened to the Apple that cared about good UI/UX?

That grid of icons is just the home screen. My Carplay is almost never in that mode - it's always in an app (that you can swap between with Siri).

 

[macduke]

It irritates me that Subaru still doesn't support Carplay. I've really been wanting to get an Outback for my newly expanding family. I guess I'll just pick up a used model next year and maybe have an aftermarket unit installed. Used Subarus can be hard to find but I know a family member wanting to sell their Outback Limited next summer, so it should work out and save me enough money to install the aftermarket unit no problem.

 

[npmacuser5]

Lane guidance, estimated arrival time, upcoming directions, updated traffic information, confirmation of the spoken instruction if slightly ambiguous. You know, the same sorts of things that we've been looking at physical sat nav units for over the past decade. The benefit of a built in screen is that it's not positioned in your windscreen, so it doesn't obscure your view. Having a dedicated unit in your dash is extremely useful.

Next you'll tell me that you never look at your clock to tell the time in the car.

The built in screen requires the driver to look down. Actually the small obstruction of the dash mount was overall better. The clock, gauges in dash, require a glance. The GPS can easily suck you in and cause not a glance but an extended look. Just watch some using a phone on console, they are not glancing unless you call 20 or 30 seconds a glance. My point, addressed by Apple's No glance technology needs the screen to go dark to in force the No glance. Distracted driving is becoming a significant problem.

 

[D.T.]

Car play doesn't replace.. It works alongside the factory media system. It's basically an app in it self.
On my VW, the steering controls still work, and I can use other functions of the infotainment system while carplay functionality is happening. It does take over the built in hands free system, so bluetooth disconnects and uses car play instead. But otherwise everything else still works as expected.

I can't remember 100% (i'll have to check on my ride home later tonight), but I think I can have Apple maps open, and the cars built in radio going at the same time.


Edit:
Just tried on my drive home. If Carplay with Apple maps is running, you can use the cars standard media functions (AM/FM, Sirius, etc), except bluetooth audio. Also all the other functionality of the cars infotainment system continues to work.

So, carplay does run along side of the cars system. At least on VW.

Excellent thanks. I was wondering about the user experience with CP + existing vehicle functions (both audio, and things like HVAC controls).

 

[Iconoclysm]

In split screen, is it all Apple UI or is the other half (that's not CarPlay) the stock/Volvo UI? My impression from what people have told and what I've read is that once CarPlay is enabled, it is it's own UI/layer on top of the base infotainment system controlled by your iPhone.

Basically all I was getting at was from the post above is that, if CarPlay is enabled and the steering wheel buttons no longer works (CarPlay override), than what's the point? I have iDrive and I have absolutely no reason to use CarPlay because I don't see how CarPlay has any benefit over iDrive in the way iDrive is already integrated. I don't need any Apple UI to do anything that I can't already do with my current setup. Of course YMMV so maybe in theory, the better the stock infotainment is, the better integrated CarPlay could be but I wouldn't want/use CarPlay for anything other than to say I could use it if I wanted to.

An update to CarPlay over the summer allowed it to display in multiple sizes. So in split screen, the bottom half is just a window for CarPlay. The top half is all Volvo Sensus UI. There are very few buttons, this would not work any other way since the heat/ac, seat controls, etc are all in the UI.

So about those steering wheel buttons, that's something that Apple will probably work with each manufacturer to update. Everyone's been excited and talking about CarPlay for so long that I don't think anyone is actually paying attention that virtually none of the cars out there who said they'd have it actually have it! Hyundai is still selling their cars with CarPlay and they're being sued by their customers who don't actually have it yet even though it was promised. It's been a year in their case. Volvo promised it in their cars starting in July but just rolled it out, and it costs $385...My guess is that is $350 in licensing/support from Apple.

The primary reasons for CarPlay for me are: LTE connection for the car, no need to pay for a separate data plan for connectivity, Apple Music support, future proofed navigation options, and apps that WILL be updated vs. custom made then forgotten for years.

 

[iLog.Genius]

An update to CarPlay over the summer allowed it to display in multiple sizes. So in split screen, the bottom half is just a window for CarPlay. The top half is all Volvo Sensus UI. There are very few buttons, this would not work any other way since the heat/ac, seat controls, etc are all in the UI.

So about those steering wheel buttons, that's something that Apple will probably work with each manufacturer to update. Everyone's been excited and talking about CarPlay for so long that I don't think anyone is actually paying attention that virtually none of the cars out there who said they'd have it actually have it! Hyundai is still selling their cars with CarPlay and they're being sued by their customers who don't actually have it yet even though it was promised. It's been a year in their case. Volvo promised it in their cars starting in July but just rolled it out, and it costs $385...My guess is that is $350 in licensing/support from Apple.

The primary reasons for CarPlay for me are: LTE connection for the car, no need to pay for a separate data plan for connectivity, Apple Music support, future proofed navigation options, and apps that WILL be updated vs. custom made then forgotten for years.

Thanks for the clarification. Weird that no one really mentions this (unless they have and I missed it). Everyone seems to just focus on the CarPlay layer without really mentioning the fact that it can be run side/side with the stock OEM system so you're never under the impression that CarPlay is in fact separate.

 

[8281]

2040 is a good guess for frequent use of self driving cars. We are at least 5 to 10 years out from real world usage in modern, high traffic situations. How these self driving cars work in a world of people driven cars is a mystery to me.

2040 is a good guess for frequent use of self driving cars. We are at least 5 to 10 years out from real world usage in modern, high traffic situations. How these self driving cars work in a world of people driven cars is a mystery to me.

Motortrend posted a blog written by two attorneys who discussed the implications of automation for insurance. One of them said eventually the liability would be so expensive insurance companies would refuse to cover people who wanted to drive ( or something along those lines). Whatever happens it'll be an interesting 20 years or so.

 

[koruki]

Honestly, CarPlay isn't much better than my cars built in system. Apple needs to do some real work before they expect manufactures to implement their solution.

Curious what car you have