Apple CarPlay Contributes to Higher Vehicle Satisfaction in Latest Survey

[MacRumors]

A new survey released last week by J.D. Power shows that U.S. consumers continue to prefer vehicles with support for Apple CarPlay.

The market research firm's annual U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study found overall satisfaction with in-vehicle infotainment systems to average 805 on a 1,000-point scale. However, satisfaction was higher among owners who use Android Auto (832), and even higher for those who use CarPlay (840).

The study is based on responses from 99,144 owners of new 2024 model-year vehicles in the U.S. who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership, according to J.D. Power. The study was conducted from July 2023 through May 2024.

CarPlay has routinely fared well in vehicle satisfaction studies since launching in 2014, so this latest one is no surprise. However, it comes after General Motors last year controversially decided to stop offering CarPlay and Android Auto in its new electric vehicles, in favor of its own software system. Electric vehicle maker Rivian also prefers its own software over CarPlay. J.D. Power's study reinforces that these automakers are betting against a consumer preference, and it remains to be seen if they will ever reverse course.

The next-generation version of CarPlay that Apple announced in 2022 has yet to become available in any vehicles, but Apple's website says the rollout will begin this year. Next-generation CarPlay will be more deeply integrated across multiple screens in a vehicle, offer a built-in FM radio app and climate controls, and more. It will also be highly customizable, allowing automakers to tailor the design of the system to uniquely match their vehicles.

Article Link: Apple CarPlay Contributes to Higher Vehicle Satisfaction in Latest Survey

 

[Wolf Puppy]

I will not consider a vehicle if it lacks CarPlay. I’m sure many agree.

 

[dba415]

Carplay is whatever. If you've ever been in a car with a good infotainment system like a Tesla, or Polestar. Carplay is a luxury. Of course if you drive crap cars you'd want it

 

[Goodeye]

And yet GM wants to remove it for their own in-house crap which I don’t care if they are working with Google on it, their attempts thus far on their infotainment systems have been utter trash.

Then you have Rivian and others who say: “we’re not going to add it even when our customers ask for it”.

Good luck if people keep pushing for it then maybe there is a reason. I need something seamless not your inferior systems trying to make sense of what’s on my phone so I can access it.

 

[bkushner2]

I never liked car play. Guess I'm the exception. My car has built in wireless car play. Every time I use I quickly stop.

 

[con2apple]

No surprise.
Competition from Apple has made the media systems in cars better.
But let's be honest, it's still a disaster in comparison.

I still don't understand why an iPhone SE 1G can display a smooth map view via CarPlay, but the computer in a Mercedes S-Class fails to do so.

 

[Mousse]

People like consistency. Who wants to learn a new UI every time they get in a new car? Besides, the home grown infotainment system of auto manufacturers is rubbish.

Personally, I'd do away with infotainment systems all together. I'm OG; just give me buttons and knobs for climate control. I don't need radios or other distractions.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Carplay is whatever. If you've ever been in a car with a good infotainment system like a Tesla, or Polestar. Carplay is a luxury. Of course if you drive crap cars you'd want it

I will never get another Tesla. Miserable experience by itself, and even worse without CarPlay. Even though my Tesla is only three years old I've started looking at other cars (usually my cars last me 15 years or more). CarPlay is now a requirement for me.

 

[DotCom2]

I never liked car play. Guess I'm the exception. My car has built in wireless car play. Every time I use I quickly stop.

Can you elaborate more as to why?

 

[orev]

People want CarPlay because car makers just don't have the right mentality for supporting a software app platform. They think about cars as hardware that you sell and then they don't want to think about it except for getting maintenance fees from you. Software makers know that you need a team of people dedicated to supporting the software, releasing updates, etc.

That's why a phone will always be better than the built-in interface. You upgrade your phone every few years. Cars you upgrade maybe once a decade (if you're being financially smart). People also don't want to pay for another data subscription for their car to be connected to 5G when the phone they have with them already has a data connection.

 

[Wolf Puppy]

Carplay is whatever. If you've ever been in a car with a good infotainment system like a Tesla, or Polestar. Carplay is a luxury. Of course if you drive crap cars you'd want it

What constitutes a “crap“ car?

 

[Cirillo Gherardo]

Carplay is whatever. If you've ever been in a car with a good infotainment system like a Tesla, or Polestar. Carplay is a luxury. Of course if you drive crap cars you'd want it

I think this is the most accurate comment. Like most, I got into the mindset of never even considering a car without CarPlay...but that's because the alternative was crap. But CarPlay has mostly plateaued and has not improved meaningfully in years, and the only improvements it has brought are multi-display improvements which absolutely no manufacturer has been keen to adopt, since it requires completely redesigning the vehicle.

There is plenty of room for individual manufacturers to develop their own high quality experiences. Tesla's is a perfect example, and while I didn't like it at first, it keeps getting better and has met or exceeded CarPlay at this point. About the only thing I like better about CarPlay is that I can plan things like routes and playlists before leaving the house and they are already there when I connect to CarPlay.

 

[flexwithmarius]

Carplay is whatever. If you've ever been in a car with a good infotainment system like a Tesla, or Polestar. Carplay is a luxury. Of course if you drive crap cars you'd want it

Right, because driving a Porsche is such a miserable experience.

Can’t wait to see what they do with CarPlay 2.0. They already have a custom CarPlay app with vehicle controls, so seeing them take the integration deeper is exciting.

 

[ebika]

I like the CarPlay design language for the most part, for sure more than the UX from most legacy auto makers. I'm not sure I would classify Tesla dashes as good UX. Some things are amazing, others are really poorly laid out. I enjoy that with CarPlay I have a minimum bar for usability that transfers from vehicle to vehicle. It can be made better in my opinion, but I enjoy it in its current form too.

 

[Cirillo Gherardo]

I will not consider a vehicle if it lacks CarPlay. I’m sure many agree.

This is antiquated thinking at this point. This was true back when CarPlay was still new and the alternative was abysmal infotainment systems from manufacturers. And while many of them are still abysmal, there are some that have done a great job of meeting or exceeding what CarPlay brings to the car.

 

[Unity451]

It's a point of familiarity. It takes the edge off of learning a new infotainment system, and it brings all my podcasts, music, contacts, etc. seamlessly along with me regardless of the vehicle I drive.

 

[DotCom2]

My car 1s a 2016. I will be buying a new car in the next year or two. If it doesn't have the latest car play...NOT BUYING! I don't want to learn a whole new system. I have that issue now. No thank you!

 

[Cirillo Gherardo]

I like the CarPlay design language for the most part, for sure more than the UX from most legacy auto makers. I'm not sure I would classify Tesla dashes as good UX. Some things are amazing, others are really poorly laid out. I enjoy that with CarPlay I have a minimum bar for usability that transfers from vehicle to vehicle. It can be made better in my opinion, but I enjoy it in its current form too.

I'd say the same about CarPlay. It's pretty good, but some of it is terrible. None are perfect. Point is, CarPlay is no longer the only good thing in existence.

 

[Harthag]

People want CarPlay because car makers just don't have the right mentality for supporting a software app platform. They think about cars as hardware that you sell and then they don't want to think about it except for getting maintenance fees from you. Software makers know that you need a team of people dedicated to supporting the software, releasing updates, etc.

That's why a phone will always be better than the built-in interface. You upgrade your phone every few years. Cars you upgrade maybe once a decade (if you're being financially smart). People also don't want to pay for another data subscription for their car to be connected to 5G when the phone they have with them already has a data connection.

The lack of software support is a big deal. I've spent several hours in the past at a dealership so they can update the infotainment software. Even if you download updates yourself, there is still a component that the dealership has to install. It's ridiculous. I will also never buy another vehicle without CarPlay or Android Auto support.

 

[Ateam043]

I will not consider a vehicle if it lacks CarPlay. I’m sure many agree.

I agree. My Polestar comes with AAOS and I will admit that I like that Google provides a SOC (state of charge) for arrival to the destination. Would like to see Apple somehow integrate it.

 

[Hodar1]

I wish there was a review of many of the different CarPlay Adapters on the market. I have an Ottocast from Amazon, and it's about 90% reliable, but drops out at certain areas on the commute. I know there are several manufacturers, but at $50-350 each - what's the best one to have? These ONLY work, if your vehicle's infotainment supports wired CarPlay. This is simply a USB device, that takes your CarPlay and makes it wireless.

 

[ignatius345]

My 2017 Accord is a little too old and base model-y to have CarPlay, but I found a really great little add-on screen that's been working perfectly. There are a bunch of them that cost $100-150, but this one was a bit pricier at ~$250. Works wirelessly, boots up fast and has a rock solid connection (which I gather some of the cheapos struggle with). Very bright and smooth display, no issues seeing it even in full sun. Generally it's up and running within like 15-20 seconds of starting the car, and much of that delay is the car's pokey bluetooth.

The wireless part (which works super well) is more of a nice-to-have IMO. On short drives I leave the phone in my pocket, but if I'm in there for a while I end up plugging it in anyway just to keep the battery topped up.

I was using my phone on a vent mount for years and thought it was fine, but this is a lot better. Bigger map, and passengers can assist with navigation or music much more easily. And I get my AC vent back

 

[zachcsnyder]

Pretty funny that Apple’s largest, publicly known at least, open standard is the thing that induces the most Apple-like behavior from other companies. Every geek friend I have, but also family member that’s aware of Apple products thinks CarPlay is a requirement for their next vehicle. Why are car companies so unwilling to just do what makes their product the most appealing? Tesla and Rivian software is good and all, but it’s not CarPlay good. Seems seriously arrogant of them

 

[Nekronos]

I will never get another Tesla. Miserable experience by itself, and even worse without CarPlay. Even though my Tesla is only three years old I've started looking at other cars (usually my cars last me 15 years or more). CarPlay is now a requirement for me.

Curious what's miserable about it? I don't own a Tesla but I've driven one several times and it was a fantastic experience - extremely snappy and responsive UI, easy to use.

A number of automakers have robust infotainment systems, i.e. Tesla, BMW, Rivian - carplay is honestly a worse experience due to it's limitations and don't get me started on wireless carplay draining your battery/heating up the phone. The Rivian CEO made an extremely pragmatic statement about why it doesn't include carplay and really resonated with my own experience.

I could see the next-gen carplay being more of a draw to both automakers and consumers alike (depending on the data sharing policies and general functionality if it goes as deep as it needs to).

Carplay works okay for someone driving an older ICE and who streams music instead of using their in-car radio/satellite radio, CD, etc, but it's just subpar on higher tech vehicles.

 

[flexwithmarius]

The lack of software support is a big deal. I've spent several hours in the past at a dealership so they can update the infotainment software. Even if you download updates yourself, there is still a component that the dealership has to install. It's ridiculous. I will also never buy another vehicle without CarPlay or Android Auto support.

Something to consider: CarPlay 2.0 has much more integration with the car’s own hardware. We have yet to hear how updates from the manufacturer components are going to be handled. Hopefully directly in the car’s infotainment. I can’t see Apple being on board with in-person updates at the dealership.