CarPlay Now Available in Select 2014 and Newer Mazda Vehicles as $199 Dealer-Installed Upgrade

[Nicksd84]

CarPlay was not even around when the first of these cars were made. And no manufacturer can just switch up their design in a few months. I applaud Mazda for this, it is a trend we need more manufacturers to follow. The cost of the upgrade is a shadow of what a new, DECENT aftermarket unit would cost, and it still wouldn’t integrate 100% like a factory unit does.

Lol. CarPlay was definitely available in 2017
[doublepost=1542820465][/doublepost]

You can totally DIY this with the official Hardware and Software updates.

Any Mazda Dealer Parts desk will sell you the part assuming they have stock.

The firmware update is readily available online.

I'd suggest you start with this forum for further info, and you'll find that if you're willing and able, it's a simple task:
https://mazda3revolution.com/forums...nect-all-firmware-version-only-downloads.html

Thank you! Very helpful and what I was looking for. I can pay myself $200 in “labor”.

 

[Lucky736]

Hats off to them for following thru on their word. Many companies do this and then it just disappears in the pile of their other headlines only to never be touched again. This is excellent for the owners of these vehicles, and no one is forcing their hand. If they don't want it fine, if they do they'll have something shiny and new again. It's a win win really. Truly impressed they followed thru.

 

[Gizmomo]

My wife and I bought a new Mazda CX-5 in August. I knew that this would be coming, so I negotiated with them to throw this upgrade in for free along with a few other items.

Mazda today announced that CarPlay and Android Auto are now available as part of a dealer-installed upgrade in select 2014 model year and newer Mazda vehicles equipped with the Mazda Connect infotainment system in the United States.

The dealer-installed upgrade has a suggested price of $199 plus the cost of labor and includes both hardware and software components. Eligible vehicles will be equipped with a faster-charging 2.1-amp USB port, in addition to the latest version of Mazda Connect with CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

Eligible customers can schedule an appointment with a Mazda dealership to have the approximately two-hour upgrade service completed.

CarPlay and Android Auto will also be preinstalled in 2018 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured in November 2018 or later, excluding the Sport model, in the United States. Those who purchased a 2018 Mazda6 earlier in the year can opt for the dealer-installed upgrade option with the $199 fee waived.

CarPlay and Android Auto are also preinstalled in the 2019 Mazda CX-9 and the 2019 Mazda CX-5 in the United States.

CarPlay is Apple's in-car software that enables iPhone users to access a range of apps from a vehicle's dashboard display, such as Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Radio, Pandora, WhatsApp, Downcast, Slacker Radio, Stitcher, and as of iOS 12, Google Maps and Waze.

Mazda previously announced that CarPlay would be available as a dealer-installed upgrade for a suggested price of $443 including labor in Canada by November, but it's unclear if the option is available there yet. It's also available in the UK for £350.

Article Link: CarPlay Now Available in Select 2014 and Newer Mazda Vehicles as $199 Dealer-Installed Upgrade

Fkkfk

 

[Eorlas]

I'm writing to Jeep on Twitter and any other feedback I can find. My '14 Cherokee would be perfect to me with a UConnect upgrade.

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.

 

[Dormammu]

I wish Honda would do this.

 

[archer75]

I'm writing to Jeep on Twitter and any other feedback I can find. My '14 Cherokee would be perfect to me with a UConnect upgrade.

It may be out there. I have a 2015 ram 2500 and the 2018's have carplay. You can get that stereo and USB replacement hub for the previous years. It's ridiculously expensive.
Depending on the system it may be available for the 14 cherokee.
https://www.infotainment.com/collections/all/2014-jeep-cherokee

Of course you can get a much cheaper aftermarket stereo.

 

[unr1]

Lol what a rip off for something that should have been standard.

 

[bculbert9]

Just got a quote from my dealer (Lancaster Mazda)
$525 total ($211 for parts)

 

[XCJ]

Mazda today announced that CarPlay and Android Auto are now available as part of a dealer-installed upgrade in select 2014 model year and newer Mazda vehicles equipped with the Mazda Connect infotainment system in the United States.

The dealer-installed upgrade has a suggested price of $199 plus the cost of labor and includes both hardware and software components. Eligible vehicles will be equipped with a faster-charging 2.1-amp USB port, in addition to the latest version of Mazda Connect with CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

Eligible customers can schedule an appointment with a Mazda dealership to have the approximately two-hour upgrade service completed.

CarPlay and Android Auto will also be preinstalled in 2018 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured in November 2018 or later, excluding the Sport model, in the United States. Those who purchased a 2018 Mazda6 earlier in the year can opt for the dealer-installed upgrade option with the $199 fee waived.

CarPlay and Android Auto are also preinstalled in the 2019 Mazda CX-9 and the 2019 Mazda CX-5 in the United States.

CarPlay is Apple's in-car software that enables iPhone users to access a range of apps from a vehicle's dashboard display, such as Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, SiriusXM Radio, Pandora, WhatsApp, Downcast, Slacker Radio, Stitcher, and as of iOS 12, Google Maps and Waze.

Mazda previously announced that CarPlay would be available as a dealer-installed upgrade for a suggested price of $443 including labor in Canada by November, but it's unclear if the option is available there yet. It's also available in the UK for £350.

Article Link: CarPlay Now Available in Select 2014 and Newer Mazda Vehicles as $199 Dealer-Installed Upgrade

[doublepost=1542822582][/doublepost]Is this in the US? I know other countries have this, but dealerships here are completely clueless this is an option. Mazda website hasn’t announced it either. Where did this info come from?

 

[archer75]

Lol what a rip off for something that should have been standard.

It is standard now. Because it's, you know, ready now. It couldn't have been standard before if it wasn't ready before.
What's great is that they decided to support older vehicles rather than restricting it only to newer as most manufacturers do.
[doublepost=1542822652][/doublepost]

[doublepost=1542822582][/doublepost]Is this in the US? I know other countries have this, but dealerships here are completely clueless this is an option. Mazda website hasn’t announced it either. Where did this info come from?

It's on mazdas website as an accessory purchase. Dealers have the parts in stock. People have already gotten and installed it. New mazdas are shipping with carplay.

 

[Ebok]

Hasn't Honda had Carplay for years now?

2016 and up, I have a 2015.

 

[travis64]

See Toyota there is still hope for you

 

[applehabilis]

The $199 headline is very misleading. And though the body copy mention "plus cost of labor", that too is misleading, considering that labor costs exceed "hardware/software" cost. My dealer is charging $550 (plus tax on the non-labor). Absurd. I'm sticking with the OEM set-up, which has the added benefit of not requiring my iphone to be connected via USB every time I get in the car.

 

[Moorepheus]

I wish Dodge would do this. My iPhone Xs is absolutely useless in my 2013 Charger plugged in the USB port. It only brings in about 100 songs off my phone to use through the head unit. Yes, I know, use the AUX cord or Bluetooth, but both would require me to handle my phone while driving to skip to the next or previous song. At least with the head unit, I could do that would out even looking at it from my steering wheel. Also, my Nav maps are almost 6 years old and I am not paying their prices to upgrade them either. App's maps work just fine. Come on DODGE, step it up. (Watch, they do it, but it's for 14 and above like Mazda...)...

 

[applehabilis]

Hats off to them for following thru on their word. Many companies do this and then it just disappears in the pile of their other headlines only to never be touched again. This is excellent for the owners of these vehicles, and no one is forcing their hand. If they don't want it fine, if they do they'll have something shiny and new again. It's a win win really. Truly impressed they followed thru.

Hardly following through on their word. When I bought my 2016 Mazda, I was told the upgrade would be for a nominal charge. It's $550, including labor.
[doublepost=1542823993][/doublepost]

CarPlay was not even around when the first of these cars were made. And no manufacturer can just switch up their design in a few months. I applaud Mazda for this, it is a trend we need more manufacturers to follow. The cost of the upgrade is a shadow of what a new, DECENT aftermarket unit would cost, and it still wouldn’t integrate 100% like a factory unit does.

The cost is actually $550, with labor.

 

[archer75]

Hardly following through on their word. When I bought my 2016 Mazda, I was told the upgrade would be for a nominal charge. It's $550, including labor.
[doublepost=1542823993][/doublepost]
The cost is actually $550, with labor.

The dealers didn't know. They were just saying nonsense. Never trust a dealer.

 

[applehabilis]

I just called my MA dealership and was quoted 485 for my 2015 Mazda 3, GT. Anyone getting a lower quote?

I was quoted $550. 2016 Mazda 3 (plus tax on non-labor).
[doublepost=1542824127][/doublepost]

I don't think it's worth $200. I got the free install in my 2018 Mazda6. I was really looking forward to it but after having it enabled for a couple of days I stopped using it. The user interface is clunky and requires using a knob to navigate, which is more distracting than touching buttons on the screen. The audio quality was terrible for some reason, which I attribute to CarPlay getting in the way. Mazda navigation is as good, if not better than the navigation experience of Apple Maps, at least in my experience.

It's NOT $199... it's $550 (or thereabouts), including labor.

 

[archer75]

The $199 headline is very misleading. And though the body copy mention "plus cost of labor", that too is misleading, considering that labor costs exceed "hardware/software" cost. My dealer is charging $550 (plus tax on the non-labor). Absurd. I'm sticking with the OEM set-up, which has the added benefit of not requiring my iphone to be connected via USB every time I get in the car.

$166 on ebay and install it yourself. It's not hard, just takes time.

 

[nwcs]

Hardly following through on their word. When I bought my 2016 Mazda, I was told the upgrade would be for a nominal charge. It's $550, including labor.
[doublepost=1542823993][/doublepost]
The cost is actually $550, with labor.

The salesman was talking out of their rear. Mazda has had no official position other than that they were investigating CarPlay until they actually started to have the units available. I asked Mazda North America before I bought mine and the official response was they do not support it at this time but are investigating. When it was finally announced they indicated that a retrofit would be available. They didn’t say free or nominal cost. They were pretty clear about the cost. It went to Mazda Asia and Australia first. No surprises here except it took 3 months for Mazda North America to follow suit.

 

[Mosco]

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.

You basically just stated the same things I just said, but also seems like you don't grasp how CarPlay works technically.

 

[archer75]

You basically just stated the same things I just said, but also seems like you don't grasp how CarPlay works technically.

I understand how it works. It runs from the phone but displays the interface on the headunit. The phones display is off.

 

[Ankaa]

I have aftermarket wireless CarPlay and I would never ever get wired CarPlay. There's just no point, particularly if you already had a BT or similar stereo that lets you stream your own music, take calls,.... The few added benefits of CarPlay are outweighed by the hassle of having to plug the phone in all the time.

 

[MattMJB0188]

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.

I agree. But still miles ahead of any Chevy, Ford, or GMC.

 

[vipergts2207]

I wish Dodge would do this. My iPhone Xs is absolutely useless in my 2013 Charger plugged in the USB port. It only brings in about 100 songs off my phone to use through the head unit. Yes, I know, use the AUX cord or Bluetooth, but both would require me to handle my phone while driving to skip to the next or previous song. At least with the head unit, I could do that would out even looking at it from my steering wheel. Also, my Nav maps are almost 6 years old and I am not paying their prices to upgrade them either. App's maps work just fine. Come on DODGE, step it up. (Watch, they do it, but it's for 14 and above like Mazda...)...

At a certain point, it wouldn’t be cost effective for a manufacturer to develop a solution for older cars. Does your car even have Uconnect? Your car is going on 6 years old and was made before CarPlay even launched, so I certainly wouldn’t expect an update of any kind to add it now.

 

[HiRez]

Glad Mazda finally got on board, I can now look at Mazda again when I get a new car next year. 2 years ago we got my wife a Honda and Mazda lost out specifically because they didn't support CarPlay. I know some people don't care, but for me it's a big issue. Also good there is a path to retroactively support it on some models even if there is a fee for the upgrade.