CarPlay Makes First-Ever Debut in 2020 Toyota Highlander, Nissan Versa, and All-New Hyundai Venue

[FNH15]

BMWs interior and infotainment has been antiquated for year. They’ve not been 5-10 years ahead in a decade.

The iDrive in my 2009 335i is still better than most modern systems. I can change stations, input NAV destinations, even change the audio source without having to take my eyes off the road.

Have you even used a modern BMW system? Hell, the nav in my old 2004 had Bluetooth and voice commands. The new models have gesture recognition and are much more fluid and easier to use than, say, Lexus, what with the latter’s use of an inane trackpad system.

 

[MallardDuck]

They really need to offer a software upgrade to older models. Entune is a horrible piece of junk - whole head unit crashes when you activate Siri, and they refuse to issue a patch. Toyota is a and truck company, but one of the worst software firms. I'm tempted to mail my unit to the head of the company in apjapan when I rip it out for one with software that works,

 

[Michvuee]

Just looking at the costs of these new gasoline cars you might as well just buy a Tesla Model 3 and never have to worry about getting gas again.

 

[guzhogi]

They really need to offer a software upgrade to older models. Entune is a horrible piece of junk - whole head unit crashes when you activate Siri, and they refuse to issue a patch. Toyota is a and truck company, but one of the worst software firms. I'm tempted to mail my unit to the head of the company in apjapan when I rip it out for one with software that works,

I upgraded the software on my 2012 Prius. A pretty simple "Download the update to a flash drive, plug it into your car's USB port, and follow the onscreen directions" kind of thing. I think it gets rid of Pandora or something, but I never used it in the first place. Did solve a bunch of problems I had, though. Sometimes when I had my phone connected vi bluetooth or listening to the radio, turning on/off my lights would turn off the audio system. The upgrade fixed that. Here's the link: https://securedp.toyota.com/download-app/downloads

As for wireless vs wired CarPlay, I don't really care. Sure, it's a nice feature, but not something I'd complain about. Maybe I'm getting old. Heck, I remember having to press the 7 button 4 times to get an 'S'. Heck, I remember seeing Zack Morris phones.

I even had to use the dreaded land phone (even a rotary phone)! Now get off my yard!

 

[fronesis]

“First-ever debut”?

Was there an internal MR contest for most redundant title to a story?

 

[robjulo]

No, I've been so put off by the interior and the reviews I read. I'm due for a new car next summer....I'll keep this in mind when I look.

The iDrive in my 2009 335i is still better than most modern systems. I can change stations, input NAV destinations, even change the audio source without having to take my eyes off the road.

Have you even used a modern BMW system? Hell, the nav in my old 2004 had Bluetooth and voice commands. The new models have gesture recognition and are much more fluid and easier to use than, say, Lexus, what with the latter’s use of an inane trackpad system.

 

[GreenPixel]

What car did you replace your Prius with? It's interesting that the Prius is one of their most vehicles, yet all the other Toyota models seem to be getting it.

VW Jetta

 

[boswald]

I wish my vehicle supports CarPlay.

 

[pumpkinwhite]

I remember reading that a problem with wireless carplay was that when charging wirelessly the charge-rate could not keep up with the drain (when using GPS and listening to music etc). Also phones got rather hot when wirelessly charging while using GPS.

So on long trips the phone would slowly lose charge. Not sure how much of that is still true, or even still valid. It does seem a bit odd that now that CarPlay has become fairly common on new cars, none of the mainstream manufacturers (other than BMW / Audi) have picked it up. Many cars come with WiFi on upper trims. And they have corded CarPlay and wireless charging. In a competitive market, it certainly would make sense to add it to the top trim of a vehicle. Yet, manufacturers are not adding this feature despite it being available for years. Does make me wonder whether the reported problems are true.

(Side note - I'm in the market for a new car, but won't be buying BMW or Audi. In the winter remote start is an essential feature for me. And neither BMW not Audi have them. Something that's pretty mainstream now. I know you can get aftermarket systems but they don't allow setting the internal temperature remotely. Really wish we had more choices for wireless carplay).

 

[tjtennispro]

I’ve had CarPlay since August of 2015. I don’t know many people that have had it that long. I don’t understand why everyone moans about wireless CarPlay? Maybe they like inferior sound quality?

I only have a wireless charging station at the house because it was a Christmas gift. I’m always worried about my cat knocking my phone an inch right or left an my sleep cycle app killing my iPhone battery overnight.

Wireless CarPlay has zero benefits over wired CarPlay. I also have perfect album cover art on music which 75% of y’all complain about. How do y’all deal with real life adversity if CarPlay upsets you this much?

I remember reading that a problem with wireless carplay was that when charging wirelessly the charge rate could not keep up with the drain (when using GPS and listening to music etc). Also phones got rather hot when wirelessly charging while using GPS.

So on long trips the Phoenix would slowly lose charge. Not sure how much of that is still true, or even still valid. It does seem a bit odd that now that CarPlay has become fairly common on new cars, none of the mainstream manufacturers (other than BMW / Audi) have picked it up. Many cars come with WiFi on upper trims. And they have corded CarPlay and wireless charging. In a competitive market, it certainly would make sense to add it to the top trim of a vehicle. Yet, manufacturers are not adding this feature despite it being available for years. Does make me wonder whether the reported problems are true.

(Side note - I'm in the market for a new car, but won't be buying BMW or Audi. In the winter remote start is an essential feature for me. And neither BMW not Audi have them. Something that's pretty mainstream now. I know you can get aftermarket systems but they don't allow setting the internal temperature remotely. Really wish we had more choices for wireless carplay).

 

[jcshas]

I’ve had CarPlay since August of 2015. I don’t know many people that have had it that long. I don’t understand why everyone moans about wireless CarPlay? Maybe they like inferior sound quality?

I only have a wireless charging station at the house because it was a Christmas gift. I’m always worried about my cat knocking my phone an inch right or left an my sleep cycle app killing my iPhone battery overnight.

Wireless CarPlay has zero benefits over wired CarPlay. I also have perfect album cover art on music which 75% of y’all complain about. How do y’all deal with real life adversity if CarPlay upsets you this much?

The benefit of wireless CarPlay is it allows you to use wireless charging simultaneously with CarPlay rather than having to keep your phone tethered. Many new cars offer wireless charging as an option now, but what’s the point if the phone must be tethered in order to use CarPlay.

 

[chrysrobyn]

Carplay is most of why I got a 2019 Honda Pilot instead of a Toyota Highlander. I certainly preferred the handling of the Highlander and my last car was a Toyota so i was all lined up for brand loyalty. But with Waze supporting Carplay, I couldn't go with the Highlander.