I saw some instructions of how to DIY and it seemed like you basically have to disassamble the front panel of the car, a bit involved but probably worth saving those $350 the dealership wants for their two hour labor.
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CarPlay Now Available in Select 2014 and Newer Mazda Vehicles as $199 Dealer-Installed Upgrade
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I have a Genesis with wireless charging. It also has Apple CarPlay, but to use it, it requires a cable (lightning to USB).
Several years ago, (I guessing 7 or so), I did a GPS test with an iphone of that era that was connected to a charging port on the vehicle (lightning to USB). During the drive (about an hour), the phone's battery actually drained a bit while the GPS app was running. More juice going out than coming in.
Such a blatant ripoff and disregard for their customers. Mazda has been outright lying to customers for almost 2 years telling them 'we are getting CarPlay next month and you will be able to retrograde it'... and now they want to charge $200?!?
Hyundai / Kia retrograded CarPlay and Android Auto for every car that could support them: For Free!
Hyundai / Kia retrograded CarPlay and Android Auto for every car that could support them: For Free!
It really depends, but it will die faster most likely. If you are streaming music/audio over LTE for example, while audio and screen information is being sent over Wifi, that obviously uses more energy than being at home on Wifi. Also since the apps you are using are running on the phone, more interaction with screen is like using your phone, minus the phone screen being on (which is a big power draw). Luckily GPS can be handled by Car's GPS.
So its not like your phone will die in one hour drive, but you could potentially put a dent in your battery.
I just got a base civic with CarPlay. I really like having google maps integrated with the car. My previous car had GPS but I never really picked up how to enter addresses and have the navigation on without interrupting what I was listening to to give directions. Now I plug in my iPhone, start my podcast on the phone, enter the address I'm going to (if needed) and hit the road in under 30 seconds. If I need to change my podcast or music I can do so easily through the touch screen at a traffic stop without having get my phone out of the console. Very nice IMO for an early phase product. =)
Mazda's are overstyled economy cars that become dated looking very quickly - their reliability is pretty much average in terms of all modern cars. Their faux-luxury interiors are filled with materials that don't hold up over time, just like their exteriors. They have also lacked any 'zoom zoom' for the last decade and are under powered compared to how they advertise themselves. That is FINALLY starting to change with their new turbo CX-5 engine though. They do a great job tuning their suspensions for handling though. Mazda has done a great job marketing themselves as a near luxury brand, despite being nowhere near that level.
Depending on what the factory infotainment system was like, I'm not sure if I would spend hundreds of dollars to get it installed.
CP is a lot better than it used to be, but it is still pretty buggy.
CP is a lot better than it used to be, but it is still pretty buggy.
Yes, they have. They have it standard on every car except the very base models that don't have touch screens.
Yes, but no different than just doing these same tasks on the phone. Music and navigation audio via bluetooth to your car stereo, versus on a wireless carplay stereo. Actually doing it on your phone only would use more power as you'd have to have the screen on for navigation but wouldn't for carplay. It just relays the data. The bulk of power usage is when the screen is on. And using the vehicles GPS rather than the phone means wireless carplay could again use even less power.
Wireless carplay isn't going to use more power than just using your phone over bluetooth or wifi to do the same tasks is my point.
Which is crazy, when you could take your Hyundai whatever to the dealer and they would do it for free. Zero charge to the client.
it sounds like those $200 is really the software update AND the kit they install. But from other comments, they want $500 for everything.
To me, $400-500 with labor isn't that bad. Most decent head units with a screen will cost more than that for the hardware alone. Pretty excited to get the wife a new Challenger in a few months so we can finally have a vehicle with CarPlay.
Check out the reviews where there's a deep dive and comparison to BMW and Audi. When they get in to the engine and get the vehicle up on a lift. It compares much better than you think it does. We own a 2018 CX-5(purchased January) and it's been an amazing vehicle. I really don't understand those that say the engine doesn't have any power. It's more than enough. Plenty to get me in to trouble and that's without putting it in to sport mode. So that's a complaint I never understood.
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Nothing inherently wrong with the engine, it is great for what it is. For a company that has the tagline "zoom zoom" though a naturally aspirated 4 cylinder with < 190 hp and 190 lb-ft (non turbo torque curve) in a 4,000 lb vehicle isn't exactly inspiring. Sure they can make it feel quick with gearing, but that doesn't mean it doesn't lack power and needs to downshift almost constantly to wring out any power. I'm sure their new 2.5L turbo is very "zoom zoom" though.
From what someone else told me, their zoom zoom tag line isn't about the engine, or not only about the engine. It's more about the sporty feel, the steering and handling. The complete package.
I've never noticed constant down shifting. It does when it needs to but it isn't excessive. The shifts are quick and crisp. It seems tuned very well. I don't have any complaints in that regard.
I know in the 2019 in addition to the turbo they also further tuned the suspension and steering. I'd be interested in driving one to see the differences.
Something to think about is in-car navs require buying map packages. Waze integrates with CarPlay now so free updated maps with traffic navigation and police trap notifications. This is hardly a snooze.
Spotify integration as well which was wonderful to have when I was using a 2019 cherokee rental. Or 2018 I can't remember the model year.
CarPlay is also something that can update over time, whereas unless you're with Tesla, the infotainment system of your car is probably frozen in time once it's set for the car.