Chevy, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru & Volkswagen preparing new CarPlay-ready vehicles
In tandem with this week's New York International Auto Show, several major car brands have unveiled more vehicles supporting CarPlay, Apple's bridge interface between iPhones and dash displays.
2017 Chevy Sonic
This fall, General Motors' Chevrolet division will launch two compatible vehicles, the 2017 Sonic and the 2017 Trax. While the latter is an SUV, the Sonic will be its first subcompact car to offer the option, making the technology more affordable.
Honda is taking a similar approach with the 2017 Civic Hatchback, also due in the fall. On the opposite end of the spectrum, people will be able to run CarPlay in the U.S. version of the Clarity Fuel Cell, a $60,000 hydrogen-powered sedan set to go on sale in "select" California markets by the end of the year.
Hyundai will notably be bringing CarPlay to the 2017 Ioniq, available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and full electric models, though no firm release date has been announced. The company's Kia subsidiary will add the platform to its 2017 Cadenza sedan, shipping in late 2016.
2017 Hyundai Ioniq
Subaru, meanwhile, is using CarPlay in the 2017 Impreza, and Volkswagen is adding it to the U.S. version of the 2017 Golf Alltrack. The latter is rolling out this fall.
Most or all of the above vehicles will also support Android Auto, Google's competing dash standard.
CarPlay initially launched in 2014, but didn't pick up much automaker support until mid-2015. The platform now has over 100 compatible vehicles, though many people may still have to install an aftermarket dash unit if they want access.
2017 Chevy Sonic
This fall, General Motors' Chevrolet division will launch two compatible vehicles, the 2017 Sonic and the 2017 Trax. While the latter is an SUV, the Sonic will be its first subcompact car to offer the option, making the technology more affordable.
Honda is taking a similar approach with the 2017 Civic Hatchback, also due in the fall. On the opposite end of the spectrum, people will be able to run CarPlay in the U.S. version of the Clarity Fuel Cell, a $60,000 hydrogen-powered sedan set to go on sale in "select" California markets by the end of the year.
Hyundai will notably be bringing CarPlay to the 2017 Ioniq, available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and full electric models, though no firm release date has been announced. The company's Kia subsidiary will add the platform to its 2017 Cadenza sedan, shipping in late 2016.
2017 Hyundai Ioniq
Subaru, meanwhile, is using CarPlay in the 2017 Impreza, and Volkswagen is adding it to the U.S. version of the 2017 Golf Alltrack. The latter is rolling out this fall.
Most or all of the above vehicles will also support Android Auto, Google's competing dash standard.
CarPlay initially launched in 2014, but didn't pick up much automaker support until mid-2015. The platform now has over 100 compatible vehicles, though many people may still have to install an aftermarket dash unit if they want access.
Comments
Would you believe - the damn Entune system comes with a 400-page user manual?! Drivers better be prepared to have that manual handy for several months, because it's a pain in the ass initially to puzzle out a non-obvious system without consulting it. Zero intuitiveness.
I knew at the time that the company had not incorporated CarPlay, although it indicated that it would in the future and that my next Avalon would probably offer it. Now, the path that Toyota is following destroys my confidence in them.
For a second time from Toyota, it looks like there will be zero commonality and continuing dangerous distraction for drivers from a needlessly complex, inefficient and failure-prone navigation and entertainment offering.
I'm skeptical that Toyota has any idea what it's doing, other than abandoning commonality and bullheadedly pursuing a "not invented here" posture. Keep it up, Toyota. You'll go the way of Sony and Betamax, and I'll go the way of some other brand that better fulfills my expectations. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Good to see that the vehicles I will be purchasing will come with CarPlay. While I have had a fantastic experience with Hyundai vehicles, my experiences with GM have been disappointing. But there is no other pick up like the Colorado diesel.
CarPlay should offer a very good experience.
There is is a community of 2015 & 16 Honda owners who were led to believe that Honda would release backward firmware updates for folks who bought Display Audio equipped cars. This was a blatant bait and switch and rather shows that Honda would rather leverage CarPlay to sell new cars (and to sell 1000$ navigation units or a shitty nav app go 60$) than surprise and delight current owners.