2017 Honda Pilot Features CarPlay

[Steve.P.JobsFan]

I just bought my first automatic. a Golf R w/ Dual-Clutch. Reasons:

• .4 seconds faster 0-60 time (4.1 versus 4.5 for manual)
• Paddle shifters, sport or comfort transmission modes meaning it adapts to the style of driving I want
• nearly a full second faster in my quarter mile time over manual Golf R vehicles (I do 11.99 and my manual brothers are doing 12.7-12.9 w/ same mods.
• Higher Torque limitations. My car is pulling 100 lb/ft of torque over stock and my manual brothers w/ State 1 mods are getting slip already whereas I'm at stage II +150WHP +100 torque and w/ the transmission software modified to clamp down harder, I have zero slip issues.

I miss my manual transmission every day but the pros outweighed the cons this time.

However, let's be fair... the "automatic" VW uses isn't a regular torque-converter automatic. It's a double-clutch gearbox - or doppelkupplungsgetriebe as the Germans affectionately call it.

I will take DSG over a regular plain-jane automatic any day. Best of both worlds.

DSG vs Manual? That might be a bit harder. I love the manual gearbox in my BMW M3, but computers can shift faster than humans ever will.


On-topic discussion: Just waiting for Honda to get the Civic Si and Type-R over here. Looked at a hatchback at my local dealer and loved it.

I'd love to have the (regular) hatchback with the 1.5L Turbo motor, a manual, CarPlay, and LED headlights. Too bad Honda won't give you CarPlay or LED lighting unless you get the dreaded CVT.

 

[adamjackson]

Request updated satnav data? I still remember the mid-2000's when the Mercedes systems wanted from 100-200€ for a set of updated CD's.

That's my point. Far in and TomTom offer lifetime maps on their devices. Apple and Google don't charge for updates. BMW asking customers to spend $100 a year to keep current is simply out of touch.

 

[IJ Reilly]

That's my point. Far in and TomTom offer lifetime maps on their devices. Apple and Google don't charge for updates. BMW asking customers to spend $100 a year to keep current is simply out of touch.

Out of touch or not, this profit center is one of the main reasons why some of the auto companies are only reluctantly ceding valuable dashboard real estate to other companies, and why BMW is charging $300 to enable CarPlay or Android Auto in their cars.

 

[F1_addict]

That's my point. Far in and TomTom offer lifetime maps on their devices. Apple and Google don't charge for updates. BMW asking customers to spend $100 a year to keep current is simply out of touch.

BMW wants a lot more than $100 to update sat nav DVD's. Stealership quoted me nearly $400 for my 2010 5 series. This is not uncommon per the BMW forums. Shake my head when I see lifetime traffic and maps updates on 5" garmin units for $199 at Costco with higher res screens than the one in my car. I hope car play becomes a workable alternative.

 

[truthertech]

Anecotes, man. They are a dime a dozen and worth about half as much. I intentionally didn't include mine because I realize they aren't apropos as a general consensus. To point, here's mine. My dad is a GM at a dealership. His sales people only mention CP and AA when they can see the customer's phone AND they have the ability to get the customer in a higher trim level. Anecdotally, that occurs about 2 out 10. Otherwise they are trying to get customers into high value, long term financing. If CP or AA can help, great. Otherwise they're an afterthought. See, anecdotes... still worth a nickel.

We do agree that most manufacturers are including it because other manufacturers have it. Lower tiered brands were quick to adopt it as a differentiation. Upper tiered brands came along more slowly. I believe because those brands sell their marquee more than the tech in the car.

You're ignoring the consumer demand side and are mistaken if you think folks only care about it if some sales person mentions it. GM advertises it heavily, especially because they are trying to appeal to a younger generation with vehicles such as the Sonic who live for their smart phones.

 

[69Mustang]

You're ignoring the consumer demand side and are mistaken if you think folks only care about it if some sales person mentions it. GM advertises it heavily, especially because they are trying to appeal to a younger generation with vehicles such as the Sonic who live for their smart phones.

That's why I said 2 things: the original post was my opinion and anecdotes are useless (both yours and mine). Neither anecdote represents the entirety of consumer's or their level of demand for CP or AA. So I'm not ignoring consumer demand, I'm ignoring the blanket application of anecdote as some sort of fact.

Funny thing. I think you misread my quote which lead you to include a further anecdote about General Motors. General Manager. My dad is a GM at a dealership; nothing to do with General Motors (GM). You're of the opinion that CP and AA are an important feature in the car business. I'm of the opinion they're not. The actual truth probably lies somewhere in between. Our opinions differ. It's cool.

 

[IJ Reilly]

You're ignoring the consumer demand side and are mistaken if you think folks only care about it if some sales person mentions it. GM advertises it heavily, especially because they are trying to appeal to a younger generation with vehicles such as the Sonic who live for their smart phones.

Since we're into broad generalizations these days, I am by no means a member of the younger generation, but I do expect my next car to be technologically savvy and not kludge-tastic as so many cars are today, including quite a few made by luxury brands (such as BMW). Many car buyers may not be thinking about it much right now, but over the next few years a lot more people will be exposed to implementations of connectivity that will say to them "that's how it ought to work." And the less complicated the method of connecting and the more familiar they are already with the technology and UI, the more it will appeal to a broader audience of people who want their tech to work, instead it being just another thing they need to figure out and wrestle into submission. That will appeal to both younger and older less technically inclined people, methinks.

 

[Fattytail]

the new BMW 5 series is the first to ship wireless

Not true. I use wireless carplay every single day in my '17 BMW X5. Works great.

 

[B4U]

The sad part is, Honda did indeed have a beta car play software for the 2015 CR-V but they later pulled the plug and make it a selling point for later model vehicles.
In other words, the hardware is capable of having CarPlay but they decided to rip us off instead.
On the other hand, why do these mainstream automakers think that we don't want better content just because we wanted to have 3 pedals...

 

[JGRE]

A lot of people, I'd guess most buy a car w/ Sat-Nav and never request updated DVDs / SD Cards from the manufacturer. TomTom & Here release quarterly & monthly map-updates. Most people use a SatNav that's 3+ years old with map-data.

At least on the phones, it's over the air so I assume we're always getting the latest & greatest.

---

RE: Your comment on Netflix, CarPlay's rules specifically only allow Audio, Spoken Word & Navigation applications to be submitted for CarPlay review & acceptance. Video Playback applications are not allowed.

So we would need a CP jailbreak for this?
[doublepost=1478444429][/doublepost]

I have the Alpine ILX in my Honda Insight, and it's awesome.

Why does everyone clamor so much for wireless CarPlay? Your battery's gonna be absolutely assaulted by that.

Perhaps for next year, when wireless charging might come to the iPhone.

 

[MiddleEarth]

Honda has announced its 2017 Pilot will be available with CarPlay and Android Auto in models EX and above in the United States. The software platforms will be built into an improved 8-inch touchscreen with a new anti-fingerprint coating.

The three-row SUV is the latest Honda vehicle to support CarPlay after the 2016 and later Accord, 2016 and later Civic, 2016 Clarity Fuel Cell Sedan, 2017 Ridgeline, and 2017 Honda CR-V. Honda did not mention if wireless CarPlay will be supported.

The 2017 Honda Pilot goes on sale beginning November 7, with a suggested starting price of $33,030 for the CarPlay-supported EX model.

CarPlay is available in over 100 vehicle models worldwide from over two dozen automakers, providing hands-free or eyes-free access to common iPhone apps such as Maps, Messages, Music, Phone, and Podcasts, and select third-party apps. Apple keeps a periodically updated list of available models on its website.

Article Link: 2017 Honda Pilot Features CarPlay

[doublepost=1478463553][/doublepost]This is from a recent letter I have sent to Honda. It refers to my purchase and experience with a 2015 Honda Fit


Honda should provide software updates to the Display Audio Unit in the car. The user interface and experience is terrible. I feel that I have been misled by the Honda Canada. For many months before I purchased the Fit, their website showed images of the audio head unit that used iconography closely resembling Apple CarPlay. Indeed, Honda announced that they would be supporting CarPlay on the Apple website. The unit in my Fit appears to be the same unit used in the Honda Civic and Accord models.

I have been told that Honda will not provide updated software or firmware to provide CarPlay (or Google's AndroidAuto). This flies in the face of all reason when one considers that competitors such as Hyundai and Kia are offering free software updates to provide the benefits of Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto to many of their models that are as much as five years old.

I know for a fact that BMW provided software and firmware up dates to much simpler audio systems as early 2002 MINI Coopers.


When coupled with Honda's recommended integration route of using HDMI and USB wired connections to link an iPhone to the unit ($60 of cables, adapters and crippling limited software) and not making it clear that the mirroring of the phone's display only works when the car is parked with the handbrake set. This renders it impossible to use the iOS own mapping functionality. I absolutely refuse to spend even more money for the Honda dedicated app. Furthermore, the HondaLink and Launcher applications are awkward "tools". They are too convoluted to use and opaque to the user.


The user interface of the Display Audio Unit is so poorly executed I can't believe there is any thought at all given to how a user will interact with the unit. Even something as elementary as answering a phone call is bound to frustrate a Bluetooth linked phone user. Despite having a 7 inch display, the shortsighted idiots who designed this garbage, chose to place the "Answer" and "Ignore " vertically stacked. Stacked as they are, the target for responding fails if the vehicle hits a slight bump in the road causing the user to hit the wrong button, thereby ignoring the caller. This is unacceptable from a user experience and design principle. There is NO excuse for such shoddy design. With a 7 inch screen those buttons could be arranged horizontally thereby eliminating unintended results.


Yes. I know that the steering wheel buttons can be used but the visual stimulus of the screen invites the user to respond there rather than on the steering wheel.


This brings me to the cluster of buttons on the steering wheel. Here again we see that Honda has not paid any serious attention to the user experience. With 7 buttons, far more control could be afforded to the user. By dedicating these buttons to fixed, immutable functions, the functionality has been crippled. Does Honda think that users are incapable of grasping contextual buttons that perform a different function dependent on the state of the unit? An iPod mini from 2004 with only 5 buttons has greater capabilities for navigation of play lists, volume and other functions than that of the Honda Display Audio Unit.


The sad thing is Honda has the opportunity to provide their owners with a better experience. By providing an update to support CarPlay and AndroidAuto, the user interface could be ceded to the creative intelligence of Apple (and Google). The responsibility for the UX, safety and driver distraction would then be in the hands of people who understand UX.


I would add that the current, crippled interface for iPhone integration using Bluetooth is a major distraction. My frustration with it is directly proportional to the distance I travel in my Honda Fit.


I would be prepared to pay a reasonable amount to get the increased capabilities of CarPlay. I know there are some hacks that are possible to display Apple Maps on the screen - and override the handbrake/motion limitation. I have used it on occasion and so I know the unit is capable of far better integration than the current situation.


I am more or less satisfied with the mechanical design of the Fit. The use of space is exceptional for a car in its size class allowing for reasonable comfort for 4 adults (for short trips, 5 adults). Handling and performance are acceptable. Reliability has been good and fuel economy is very good.


For many years, I've thought Honda has been very good at improving their products. There have been many innovations and creative solutions provided by Honda others have copied. The Civic was a great advancement on the Austin Mini designed by Issigonis. Research and development at Honda through motor racing has certainly trickled down into the engine management and other aspects of their cars.


The big "but", in my opinion, is that Honda software design teams do not have the first clue about how to design user interfaces beyond a steering wheel, pedals and heater controls.

 

[riverfreak]

I have the Alpine ILX in my Honda Insight, and it's awesome.

Why does everyone clamor so much for wireless CarPlay? Your battery's gonna be absolutely assaulted by that.

Exactly. And a driving point (heh) of CarPlay is to stash your phone away anyways. It simplifies the phone interface, combines some functions, and hides most apps you shouldn't be screwing with while driving.

Plug it in, stick your phone in the console and go. I use both CarPlay and the connected functions of the Audi MMI. They both have their purpose. If I didn't have to jump out of CarPlay to get to Sirius and AM/FM, I'd probably stay in it all the time.

 

[BeatCrazy]

BMW wants a lot more than $100 to update sat nav DVD's. Stealership quoted me nearly $400 for my 2010 5 series. This is not uncommon per the BMW forums. Shake my head when I see lifetime traffic and maps updates on 5" garmin units for $199 at Costco with higher res screens than the one in my car. I hope car play becomes a workable alternative.

2016/2017 BMWs come with 3 years of free OTA map updates. And since virtually all 2017 BMWs have CarPlay as an option, the days of paying for map updates are coming to a close.

 

[kingpushup]

These systems are clearly not the endgame. All beta on the way to something greater

 

[KatKat107]

What about 2016 Honda pilot model?

 

[BeyondtheTech]

What about 2016 Honda pilot model?

The 2016 Honda Pilot will not be retrofitted by Honda to support Apple CarPlay. That being said, the equipped 2017 Honda Pilot models are NOT wireless CarPlay.

Direct from page 304 of the 2017 Honda Pilot Owner's Manual:

To use Apple CarPlayTM, connect the USB cable to the 1.5A USB port. The USB port located on the back of the console compartment will not enable Apple CarPlayTM operation.