New Car Buyers Increasingly Interested in Apple CarPlay

[dwhittington]

When purchasing my latest vehicle, I decided to limit my search to those vehicles listed on Apples CarPlay compatibility doc.

Between the Audi SQ5 and MB CLK 45 AMG ... I felt Audi had far superior in-vehicle tech to begin with. The CarPlay implementation was very clean and easy to toggle between multiple CarPlay enabled phones w/ the connection manager. To be honest, I was underwhelmed with the CLK’s overall tech - which looked like a throwback to 2007 iOS releases - so I did not push the dealer to show me the CarPlay integration. May sound unfair of me to draw conclusions, unless you’ve seen Audi’s virtual cockpit - in which case most might be inclined to understand.

 

[Joelist]

I have it and it is getting annoying because it constantly fails to verbally read messages that come in. I see the alert, giver the command and the screen pops up but....nothing is read. I replaced my cord and everything and I am on an iphone 8 on the latest iOS.

 

[macdragonfl]

When purchasing my latest vehicle, I decided to limit my search to those vehicles listed on Apples CarPlay compatibility doc.

Between the Audi SQ5 and MB CLK 45 AMG ... I felt Audi had far superior in-vehicle tech to begin with. The CarPlay implementation was very clean and easy to toggle between multiple CarPlay enabled phones w/ the connection manager. To be honest, I was underwhelmed with the CLK’s overall tech - which looked like a throwback to 2007 iOS releases - so I did not push the dealer to show me the CarPlay integration. May sound unfair of me to draw conclusions, unless you’ve seen Audi’s virtual cockpit - in which case most might be inclined to understand.

Yes Audi does that well. It's beautiful design. MB always looks dated. I have a BMW and theirs even looks more modern than MB.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Bring on my Volvo XC40. The endless wait for the car I want.

 

[bchreng]

I intend to keep my car for a while and was not interested in Apple CarPlay. I’m using a 7+ and GPS and Apple Music both work fine via Bluetooth.

 

[Feenician]

I have it and it is getting annoying because it constantly fails to verbally read messages that come in. I see the alert, giver the command and the screen pops up but....nothing is read. I replaced my cord and everything and I am on an iphone 8 on the latest iOS.

Look on the bright side, at least you’re not trying to talk to it in a Scottish accent. I tried to send a message the other day about putting on the oven at 450 and it came up with some gibberish about unborn babies. I chose not to send that message

 

[michaelsviews]

Very disappointing since Waze is not available on Carplay.

If you jail break it is, BUT when we picked up the wifes Accord it was mentioned that waze is in beta with Apple and coming very soon.

I have a CRV and the Carplay is nice. Had a Rav4 and shopped but the local dealer ship would not get me the color combination I wanted at there other store 125 miles away unless I paid them 1100.00 dollars for transportation of taking a vehicle down and bring mine back. Between no change in style, technology, and color combo I moved to a CRV and like it.

 

[bkaus]

I was into CarPlay, until I tried it. Very limited. Now I don't care.

 

[RangerOne]

Mazda announced that they were going to release CarPlay "soon" back in March. It's now a battle to see if they release that update first or if Amazon releases the announced Apple TV app for Prime first. My guess is that neither of them will ever actually see the light of day. The Japanese definition of "soon" must be different than the American definition. I guess it will be "soon" on a cosmic scale.

It has been going on longer than that: Mazda was one of the early CarPlay partners, but they kept trying to fix the problems with their Mazda Connect infotainment system. Then I heard that they fired the team that was integrating CarPlay because it was taking too long, but I think that was dealership gossip. In March they said their infotainment systems would be upgradeable to CarPlay, but then in August they decided to partner with Toyota on their anti-CarPlay/AndroidAuto homebuilt solution. Mazda just keeps screwing over their customers and potential customers.

My next car? 1000% guaranteed to not be a Mazda, despite how much I like the cars themselves. And no, I don't think it's silly to buy a car based on the infotainment system. I just want something that "just works" and is easily upgradeable (no $$$ to dealers for a firmware update). I'm tired of a really sub-par experience. I spend 2 hours a day in my car, and I would love it if the infotainment system worked as well as my iPhone. Wirelessly.

 

[lordofthereef]

I would agree with you ... except I drive a Ford Explorer with Sync. That thing is beyond horrible. I've considered getting a new car just because the system is so bad. It seems like every-time I get in my car the audio is different.

Random times when I plug my phone it it "initializes" for a few minutes. About once a year, i have to reset the whole thing because it gives me a disc full error.

Heck, they didn't even test the UI for 2 digit months. Oct-Dec the bluetooth icon super-imposed over the date because the date is too big.

I’ve experienced ford sync. And agree. But why not just get an aftermarket device? If you’re otherwise happy with your car, you can get a CarPlay unit for as cheaper as $350 open box st Best Buy right now. I bet for around $700 you’d get itninstslled. Surely that’s better than a new car.

 

[macs4nw]

https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/available-models/

I wonder which of those offers the only version I'd want to use, is the wireless one... I know there was considerable delay in the implementation of the wireless one.

What I wonder is, when the still conspicuously absent Toyota will fold.

Someone tell them the shake-out is over, there will be two major platforms.

 

[DribbleCastle]

I bought a Kia Sorrento this summer and one of the big features points over Toyota and Mazda was AirPlay/CarPlay.

CarPlay is nice but I quickly found out that if you are a Spotify and Google Maps user, Android Auto is far superior. I actually bought a Moto E4 ($40 from Walmart) just to dedicate it to my car. Ironically its more responsive than CarPlay on my iPhone 8. I pay a premium of $15 per month for the extra phone but to me it’s worth having the better services (Spotify, Google Maps, PocketCasts) and better voice assistant functionality. Also, its super convienent to not have to plug anything in when I get into my car. Google services are so good that I search for something in Google Maps on my iPhone, iPad, or Mac; It shows up on Android Auto within seconds.

Apple needs to move on from this idea of a grid of apps on CarPlay, its not the right UI for a car. Android Auto feels like it’s designed specifically for the car.

 

[nathan.l.larsen]

I had a Toyota Prius up until this summer, but when we started looking for new cars, CarPlay was a must have. Since Toyota didn’t have it, we looked at other brands & whittled it down to Honda or Chevrolet. After test driving the Civic & Malibu, we went with a Malibu & love it. CarPlay is a feature every person who drives a car or is looking for a new car doesn’t know they need until they’re shown how easy and useful it is. Unfortunately, the sales staff at many dealerships are grossly under-educated about CarPlay, at least in my opinion.

 

[Juan007]

I won't buy a car unless it has CarPlay. End of story.

 

[Lloydbm41]

I have the latest gen Chevy Volt that has both Android Auto and CarPlay compatibility and both are underwhelming. They work, but it is just simpler to use bluetooth and my built in nav system. Is it me or does the Carplay Apple Maps look really cartoony? And way to much white screen!

 

[geenosr]

I am waiting on the New Nissan Leaf to come to the showrooms as I'm upgrading from my older Leaf. I sent Nissan a bunch of emails employing them to use ACP in their cars....especially their Leafs. I was thrilled that they are including ACP in the new models, and I feel personally responsible for swaying them to go this direction! As far as having ACP or not influencing my car buying decisions.....it most definitely does. And I'm going to put an aftermarket ACP unit in my older 2010 Frontier, just as soon as the Alpine wireless model drops in price......hopefully by a lot. It would be nice to have some wireless competition so Alpine has some motivation to drop the price......

 

[eXan]

Without Google Map, car play has rendered itself quite unneeded. Was disappointed to learn this oversight which made my car choice more straightforward.

 

[InfoTime]

You all know you can just buy a third party CarPlay system, right? ..

I’d rather the vehicle perform where it counts and make the minor stereo equipment modifications myself.

You know that modern cars don't lend themselves to plug and play aftermarket head units like they used to? Take the 2013 - 2017 Honda Accord for example. You can't just yank the factory HU and put something else in there, not without losing lots of other vital functions like backup camera, side view camera, fuel efficiency info, etc. There's one aftermarket kit that's $400 that's supposed to solve that (that doesn't include the head unit), but it blows.

 

[subjonas]

I haven’t tried CarPlay but I think I would prefer using my phone just to have the option of more functionality, because that way I’ll have it. That said, I wouldnt mind getting a car with CarPlay, so I’ll have it, and that way I’ll have it.

 

[Tech198]

"CarPlay is becoming an increasingly important feature that consumers look for when purchasing a vehicle"

Of course....it's a Mac forum Those Chinese....

 

[Bazooka-joe]

I have it in my new Merc. It’s ok but I use Comand for Satnav and apart from music I can’t see what use it has. I prefer the I drive system that I had in my BMW 6 series.....much more intuitive

 

[jamesrick80]

Cars should come with both Apple carplay and Android Auto standard... especially now.

 

[bbbggg]

I rented a car recently that had Car Play and it was ****ing stupid. I can't remember exactly, but I think I was listening to Spotify and then whenever I brought up another app on my iPhone (directly, not through Car Play), either the music stopped or the music info disappeared from the car screen, or maybe both. Apparently with Car Play you can't run music apps in the background. Dumb dumb dumb. Compare to the phone's old "iPod" USB connection, where I can mess around with my phone and the music keeps playing and the track info and album art keeps playing on the car screen, as any reasonable person would expect. Also, no album art with Car Play. No Google Maps either. It was just the most idiotic interface I've ever seen from Apple, I was shocked at how bad it was.

 

[littleasian36]

i have a 2017 audi a4 and i love using carplay. definitely wish i could use google maps or waze instead of apple maps, but that's more apple's fault then anything.

 

[extrachrispy]

I would agree with you ... except I drive a Ford Explorer with Sync. That thing is beyond horrible. I've considered getting a new car just because the system is so bad. It seems like every-time I get in my car the audio is different.

Sync and Sync2 are Microsoft products ('nuff said).

Sync 3 is QNX-based, and it's really quite good. Astonishingly good, even. Better in some ways than CarPlay, even. If I could mix and match CarPlay apps with some of the Sync 3 apps, that'd be the bee's knees (Sync 3 maps and climate control, CarPlay everything else).