Review: 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Adds Wireless CarPlay With Multi-Screen Support for Apple Maps Directions

1.5 years left on my Golf lease. I very much want a Tiguan!! Only issue it’s a business vehicle and I really need it to come in red… hopefully 2023!
 
Canada here, always had Volkswagen but this time I intend to buy an Audi A3 because the 2022 engine wil have
213 hp and 250 lbs/pound with micro 48 volts hybrid system, so the same as 2021 the Golf GTI WITHOUT the teenage look… And in Canada QUATTRO will be standard (don’t know in US). Furthermore there is driver modes which is not available on the normal Golf and so you can delete the atrocious variable assistance steering, among others…
 
I've been using wireless CarPlay for quite some time now in my BMW, and it's a *huge* improvement over the wired version. It's so nice to simply get in my car with my phone in my pocket and have CarPlay immediately work. It also displays Apple Maps turn-by-turn directions in the heads-up display and on the second screen, so that's really nice as well.

VW always does a great job with this stuff, so I'm sure they nailed the implementation as well.
 
TomieCzech said:
I just bought 2021 Honda Accord Touring 2.0T and noticed it displayed the Apple Maps turn directions on my HUD!! It must be the same functionality and I think it can be displayed also on the instrument cluster.
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Depends on what the manufacturer does with it, but Apple Maps absolutely supports using all of that simultaneously. CarPlay has come a long way from where it started.
 
BornAgainMac said:
Anyone else notice how the native interface from car makers is always terrible even in the year 2021.
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Because car manufacturers know how to make cars, not software interfaces. It's why an apple car would probably be pretty bad right now which is why they are taking so freaking long

That said, the best ones are from Porsche, Mercedes, bmw, Tesla, and Volvo.
 
iapplelove said:
Ive been behind the wheel of a VW since 1998. I won’t drive anything else, and I have even owned Audi
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Well Audi is VW. Lol

BornAgainMac said:
Anyone else notice how the native interface from car makers is always terrible even in the year 2021.
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It’s actually pretty good. It’s extremely easy to use and the main screen on my 9.2” system is even really close looking to CarPlays main screen with the music and maps split across.

ikramerica said:
Having owned Audi, VW, MB and 1x BMW, Toyota, Nissan and Mazda, the VW delivers usable tech in a more roomy package for much less money than the other german cars without the gimmicks of the Japanese. Granted they are underpowered to not compete with Audi, but they use similar engines, so there’s an app for that… well, it’s a chip flash from goapr.com.

After having adaptive cruise in both our VWs (included in many trims and reasonable packages, not just an overpriced package like other german brands) I won’t buy a car without it.

Having lived with the unusable Mazda head unit, and not wanting to deal with the convoluted Audi infotainment and overpriced MB options, we have settled on VW going forward. Taos is next…
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Look into Comma Ai if you even want to add Tesla Like self driving to your VW’s that have adaptive cruise!

SactoGuy18 said:
I wonder will the Volkswagen Taos coming in a month or so have a similar feature.
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It does.

dubuilding68 said:
Canada here, always had Volkswagen but this time I intend to buy an Audi A3 because the 2022 engine wil have
213 hp and 250 lbs/pound with micro 48 volts hybrid system, so the same as 2021 the Golf GTI WITHOUT the teenage look… And in Canada QUATTRO will be standard (don’t know in US). Furthermore there is driver modes which is not available on the normal Golf and so you can delete the atrocious variable assistance steering, among others…
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Less than a power GTI but I get your point
 
I have the wireless CarPlay on my 2021 gti and like it. Wish I had the digital dash. Thinking about retrofitting it. A few people already have.
 
I got a 2020 Tiguan back in November and my biggest issue is not having the route guidance function work on the speedometer screen, less so the wireless functionality. Seems like an easy thing to implement....
 
The only cars to leave me stranded - let alone multiple times, have been VW's. All for electrical issues. Once on the way to a funeral. They make wonderful cars, very fun to drive, but I can't own any more due to reliability issues. Japanese for me. Each to their own.
 
TomieCzech said:
I just bought 2021 Honda Accord Touring 2.0T and noticed it displayed the Apple Maps turn directions on my HUD!! It must be the same functionality and I think it can be displayed also on the instrument cluster.
Click to expand...
Good car, far better than any rubbish modern German ride.
 
I have wireless CarPlay & charging in my new 2021 Golf GTI. So much better without the faffing around with cables.
 
what are the chances they make them multi screen CarPlay compatible on the 2020 Tiguan? Would be great to have the directions in the digital cockpit.
 
verpeiler said:
Well, AUDI is owned by VW. They even share most of the technology (engine, chassis etc.), only differences are design and the materials used.
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Yes but only lower end Audi’s share the same platform as Volswagens,(Audi A1 is based on VW Polo,Audi A3 based on VW Golf) other Audi’s are a thing of their own despite being owned by VW..
Audi to Volkswagen is what Lexus is to Toyota for the most part.

VW also owns Porsche,Lamborghini and a few more but they aren’t necessarily sharing engineering and tech between all.
 
Seeing this makes me sad as my MY20 Mercedes GLE with a nice big high resolution screen and MBUX interface has black bars on either side of the wired Carplay UI (looks ugly), and isn't able to put directions into the digital dash or HUD like the native navigation app can. At least it can display album coverart from Spotify/Carplay on the digital dash though.
 
I purchased my 2021 Tiguan SE two weeks ago and my CarPlay still isn’t working. I’ve contacted VW and have tried to figure it out myself through google, YouTube, etc but no results. Is anyone else here having an issue connecting to Apple CarPlay or does anyone know how to fix the issue?? I’m not even getting the option to connect. I’ve used the USB-C and tried wirelessly. I have also taken it to VW and the salesman tried to fix it with no results. They tried to blame my phone which is a Apple 12 Max Pro but soon realized that wasn’t the issue. The technology is new and they have no clueS I’m now waiting for my appointment with the service department.
 
BornAgainMac said:
Anyone else notice how the native interface from car makers is always terrible even in the year 2021.
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I agree with you - although I have to commend VW on their tech and instrument cluster - at least it looks mature (2018 Golf).

My friends Honda CRV looks like it was made by a comic artist. It took me back a little.
 
brofkand said:
The only cars to leave me stranded - let alone multiple times, have been VW's. All for electrical issues. Once on the way to a funeral. They make wonderful cars, very fun to drive, but I can't own any more due to reliability issues. Japanese for me. Each to their own.
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I just lease them - I’m too scared to own a VW past 4 years!
 
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