New Vehicle Owners Largely Satisfied With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

[827538]

Looking at a $100k Range Rover Sport for my move to the states. Even with the new updated infotainment system - which is great but a little buggy still it doesn’t have Apple CarPlay which is a requirement of mine.

Who builds a $100k vehicle in 2018 without CarPlay?

 

[adnbek]

You know what I mean...

Actually I don't. Really.

 

[Macalicious2011]

I've have used both CarPlay and Android Auto and the latter is a lot better.

There's no homepage screen with icons. Instead, there's an bottom Nav bar where you can always hop between Music and Navigation with ease.

Google Assistant is very good at reading out incoming Whatsapp messages and I always reply to them in without Google Assist getting a word wrong. Once I had a 4-5 whatsapp message exchange with my GF over 10min. It was fun and easy.

Last but not least, Google Maps navigation are superior. On the map it occassionally highlights the extra time would be added if I deviated via an upcoming road. This has been handy a few times where I've seen traffic ahead of me and want go via a different road. On most sat navs you would only know the additional time once you have committed.

In My Skoda I used Android Auto which came standard. In my BMW I used the built in satnav which is generally very good. Ragardless of car used, I always check journey time and option on my phone/laptop before departing.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

I know. Drives me nuts. Never happens to Google Assistant.
[doublepost=1523605901][/doublepost]
No, it doesn’t. Waze is king in that respect.
[doublepost=1523606063][/doublepost]
Did I say ALL? Not all cars have CarPlay or Android Auto either. You choose your car based on features. This is one of these features. By the way, you may want to check with the manufacturer. Some cars that come without wireless charging can be retrofitted with it, using manufacturer optional part.
[doublepost=1523606428][/doublepost]
I agree on almost all points except for that Google Maps was better in 2010 than Apple Maps today. If I recall correctly, Google Maps didn’t have turn-by-turn navigation in 2012. I had to use NAVIGON for turn-by-turn on my iPhone in 2012. When people saw in 2012 you could navigate off an iPhone they were amazed. Back then, most people used standalone GPS units. As soon as Google Maps came out with turn-by-turn, that was the end of stand-alone navigation units mounted on dashboard.

Actually I got my first Android phone in 2010, the Droid X, and it coincided with Android having turn by turn in Google Maps. I lived in Germany in 2011 and used my second Android phone there, a Galaxy S2, and I used turn by turn almost all of the time there.

The only thing that I like about Apple maps is the UI. Whatever it uses for data, Siri I assume, I blame Siri anyway, seems braindead half of the time.

 

[radiology]

Interesting you found that. I've had an XC90 for 18 months and have spent no more than five minutes on CarPlay. Complete waste of time in my experience. Having said that, the navigation and voice recognition is a waste of time on the Volvo. Easily its worst feature. But since I don't need navigation it's a bit irrelevant. Sound quality is way better using FLACs on a memory stick in the other port.

I might try it if it were wireless, but plugging a phone into a car is not something I can be bothered to do this decade.

I totally agree that having to plug the phone is inconvenient and that the Navigation system in the Volvo is bad, but CarPlay takes care of that. What I find interesting is that you don’t mind using a memory stick, which is something that I can’t be bothered to do this decade. ; )

 

[ggibson913]

Just bought a CRV with Car Play.

 

[D.T.]

I like CP quite a bit, been running it for about 1-1/2 years: the UI/typography is clean, phone/messages work terrific, fast, responsive, it's [mostly] my source for music and podcasts, connecting the phone is a non-issue (and it stays charged, I have ports on the center stack and in the armrest if I want to totally put the phone away).

One thing I really like about it: for people with more than one car, where there's different HU designs/platforms, it gives you a consistent interface, the same layout, a predictable set of features.

 

[Macalicious2011]

I might try it if it were wireless, but plugging a phone into a car is not something I can be bothered to do this decade.

I only use Android Auto when driving to places that are outside of my commute, shopping etc. Given that most cars have music control buttons on the wheel, there is no need to plug your phone in for every trip.

 

[Garfybeds]

New vehicle owners who have purchased a car that's equipped with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are satisfied with the system and are increasingly relying on it for all in-car tasks, according to a new report released today by Strategy Analytics.

In a survey querying new vehicle owners that have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto installed in their vehicles, Strategy Analytics found that 34 percent of CarPlay owners rely on CarPlay for all of their audio infotainment needs, while 27 percent of Android Auto users use the Android platform exclusively for audio infotainment.

32 percent of CarPlay users and 33 percent of Android Auto users rely on those systems for all of their navigation needs, with CarPlay's slightly lower number here likely attributable to customers who continued to be unsatisfied with Apple Maps compared to other mapping apps like Google Maps or Waze.

Speech recognition usage is said to be "strong" across both sets of users, with CarPlay owners taking advantage of Siri for hands-free tasks while driving.

Overall, more than 85 percent of CarPlay and Android Auto users are "somewhat or very satisfied" with their system, and more than 90 percent are likely to recommend those systems to others.

In a similar report from October, Strategy Analytics learned that CarPlay is becoming an increasingly important feature that consumers look for when purchasing a vehicle.

In the United States, for example, 23 percent of respondents said that CarPlay was a "must have" feature for a new car, while another 56 percent said they were "interested" in vehicles equipped with CarPlay.

While CarPlay has been available since 2015, car manufacturers did not begin widely adopting the feature until mid-2016. CarPlay is now included in many new vehicles from a wide range of manufacturers, with more than 200 vehicles on the market offering CarPlay support.

Article Link: New Vehicle Owners Largely Satisfied With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

[doublepost=1523621227][/doublepost]I have a 2018 UK Mini Countryman with a recent implementation of Apple CarPlay. While it has the benefit of bluetooth connection, the implementation is appalling. I can be listening to the radio on the car system, then I might receive and read a message on CarPlay - it is then inconsistent as to whether it returns me to the radio, or stays in CarPlay and decides to try and play music from my phone. The same happens if I call up Siri and request to send a message or any other request.

If I decide to use Apple maps for navigation, it gives me a window filling only 2/3 of the navigation screen so I get a very small display - why?

The implementation I had in my previous car - Kia Sportage (USB connection) was far more consistent and would always return me to the car radio if that is where I started. It also fully utilised the 8" screen.

I am amazed that a major company like BMW Mini can't get an implementation like this properly functioning

 

[Moshu]

Having used both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, I decided to go with Android. That means Apple also lost an iPhone sale, as I'm a Galaxy S8 customer now and I have to say it's not bad at all.

Coming back to the reasons:
1. NAVIGATION. Apple only allows Apple Maps and unfortunately, in the country I live in there's no traffic info associated with them, meaning that the proposed route does not take into account the current traffic conditions. Unfortunately for Apple, Google Maps does, and it does a very good job. Apple: 0 , Android: 1
2. NAVIGATION EXTRA (WAZE). It works on Android Auto, does not work on Apple CarPlay. It's the Nav software I am using now on a daily basis as I have a lot of info about police, events, speed cams etc from the other users. And I can also report them using the car's touch display. Apple: 0, Android: 1.5
3. MUSIC. I am not sure if it's possible to have anything else than Apple Music working with Apple CarPlay. However, Android Auto allows Google Music and Spotify, Spotify being my player of choice. As Apple Music is not that bad, I'll call a tie. Apple: 1, Android: 2.5
4. VOICE COMMANDS. Android wins again, supporting my native language and doing a pretty good job in voice recognition. Apple: 1, Android: 3.5

That's about it... I think it sums up my experience (1 year of using the car on a daily basis with one of the two - probably like 3 months in the beginning with Apple and the rest with Android).

 

[AlphaTeam]

Really??? CarPlay is the biggest pile of poo. I bought a car just because it had it. It disconnects all the time. Echo's on some calls, just says "loading...." and never connects. I've used at least 6 phones and they all do the same thing. I can't wait to get a new car.

 

[kyleh22]

I installed at aftermarket carplay head unit in my 2000 ford explorer. It seriously feels like I got a new car. I now prefer to drive that old beater more than my newer CR-V or BMW. Even though the CR-V and BMW are fully loaded the infotainment systems are just so bad compared to CarPlay (slow, terrible GPS, not intuitive, etc.). I've learned that Infotainment is much more important to me than many other aspects of the car.

If I would have ponied up for a wireless carplay unit, I'd probably never drive my CR-V or BMW again.

 

[Mike75]

When driving a rental with Ford Sync, I love CarPlay as an option. The same is true for Jeeps and I wish the Mazda's, Nissans, Infinity, and Hyundai that I've driven had CarPlay. However, when driving cars with more advanced human interfaces, CarPlay really shows it's failures and over reliance on touch screen input which is less than ideal for a driver. Modern BMW's with 8" or 10" screens and HUD will put CarPlay to shame. CarPlay doesn't use the full screen leaving most of the display unused, it cannot make use of the HUD, cannot make use of the touch input device on the iDrive Controller and relies too much on touch screen input which requires eyes off the road. BMW does allow use of Siri AND Dragon Dictation without CarPlay which is useful but on the 2017 and newer BMWs I will fully disable CarPlay every time.

This. My wife's BMW has CarPlay and I hate it. Not well integrated into the car, Apple Maps isn't any better than the iDrive nav, and its less intuitive to use. The iDrive system is miles ahead. Not worth the $350 IMO.

 

[Nikiaf]

Apple maps is very hit or miss, I've seen it get confused beyond belief directing me to a section of highway that had been demolished and re-routed...

Until Apple can honestly claim that their mapping system is at least equivalent to Google's, CarPlay is at best a gimmick since it doesn't do anything I can't already do with my phone over bluetooth.

 

[Cesar Battistini]

The moment Apple allows Google maps on Carplay the plataform will explode.

 

[spazzcat]

"Siri", "recognition" and "strong" in the same sentence. I need to buy a car with CarPlay to see how that Siri works.

It works good, I use to to respond to txt and play music all the time.
[doublepost=1523624671][/doublepost]

I still think there's a way to go with Apple CarPlay. Those who have used Waze a few times will know that you cannot return to Apple Maps. This means you still have your phone mounted on your dashboard which is exactly what CarPlay is supposed to put an end to. Also as wireless CarPlay is quite rare amongst manufacturers, this means a cable running to the phone. Until 3rd Party nav apps are allowed and wireless is mainstream, it's a case of 'close but no cigar' in my opinion. And lastly there's a real lack of updates. Let's hope CarPlay gets some airtime at WWDC....

I use Waze and Apple maps for to very different things. I would never use Waze to navigate in a area I didn't already know. Waze is amazing for getting around traffic for daily commuting, not so much for long navigating.

 

[LordVic]

this is good and I hope more manufacturers include and backport support for these features. The biggest issue I've had over the years of car ownership is that none of the manufacturers default software keeps up with the times. They're always slow to update, and behind in tech. THis is something a phone never has to worry about as we have the power to update, change and upgrade when we want better features and support.

as Is, i'm frustrated by Toyota's willful ignorance of these in order to keep pushing their own "entune" system, which is a dog, costs $200 to update the maps, and is woefully inadequate for today's digital age. unfortunately, i know that my 2012 is never going to get CarPlay/Android Auto due to it's age and Toyota's lack of "G.A.S.". I'd love to replace it, but Toyota's done their damn hardest to embed their car infotainment system into pieces throughout the dash, so it's a massive undertaking

 

[djlythium]

Actually I don't. Really.

Oh. Well, what I meant was that it should be wireless from the factory, within OEM installs. Whatever the hang up, and I suspect it’s on Apple’s side, it needs to change.

 

[redgreenski]

I am actually dissatisfied with Car Play.
1. USB connection only
2. Failure to connect via USB 3% of the time, iPhone recognized as USB instead.
3. Bluetooth pairing with Apple Watch prevents USB connection to car play, I have to disable Bluetooth every time
4. It is slower than my built in GPS in my other car
5. Apple music not well integrated, shows a banner in Apple maps that pops out every 5 seconds, very annoying, I switched to Spotify.

Things in general need to become more wireless, 100% reliable and actually faster. At this point it doesn't feel like Apple software.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Looking at a $100k Range Rover Sport for my move to the states. Even with the new updated infotainment system - which is great but a little buggy still it doesn’t have Apple CarPlay which is a requirement of mine.

Who builds a $100k vehicle in 2018 without CarPlay?

A vehicle with a very well connected system in it already...You'd be throwing away so much functionality for barely any gain...A bit like what the Mercedes owner said a few posts back....

The full integration in the car across multiple screens is very good, neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto support that. But that is what you are paying for in a $100K car as well....

On a different note, I think Apple Maps is pretty good...Sure I live near London, but travel all over Europe and it hasn't let me down yet. Saying that, so is the latest iteration from Mercedes. Traffic updates seem to be the same. As are map updates; 3 month old roads are already showing...

 

[RickInHouston]

CarPlay is garbage. There are so many aftermarket head units out there running Android that makes CarPlay look and feel amateur. I have this 12 inch head unit running full Android.

THAT looks fantastic. 2017 Mercedes E Coupe. Android Auto - not fantastic.

 

[BigSky20]

Apple CarPlay is Great! Unless of course you need to use it for navigation. Then, it is terrible. Apple, use some of that "courage" and allow Waze and Google Maps on CarPlay now to make CarPlay really Great!

 

[icanhazmac]

I'm pretty satisfied with Carplay in my Honda.

Model and year?

My 2017 CR-V has issues with CarPlay and my 6s. I cannot connect the phone to the car, start the car and hope for it to connect, its about 50/50. It is far better to wait until the car system is completely booted and then connect the phone. I also have intermittent disconnects at least daily and as I drive and travel for a living that is an issue.

 

[mms13]

Just got CarPlay in my new Accord - absolutely love it. My past two car infotainment systems have been a nightmare. I use Spotify for music, and even if I was actively listening to a song on that, as soon as I plugged my iPhone in it would fire up the Apple Music app and start playing the first song alphabetically. Infuriating! If I took a bluetooth phone call or used voice-to-text, rather than resuming my song on Spotify it would launch Apple Music and play the first track again. CarPlay handling that alone was enough to sell me, but I've found myself using the voice texting, and yes, even Apple Maps a lot. I'd love to see 3rd party nav apps so I could use Google Maps, but overall I've been loving it.

 

[OneTraveler]

I rented a VW when I was in Switzerland...[Edit]No way in hell was I trying to use Apple Maps to navigate me through treacherous wintry mountain roads and a country I have never been to before... lmao.

Had CarPlay in a rented MB this past Christmas while in Scotland. Apple Maps had absolutely no problem getting me all around Glasgow, Edinburgh, and all parts north. Never faultered, always nailed address- both spoken and typed. Maps has always been great for me. But hey, YMMV.