For me Tom misses the main point here. Correct me if I’m wrong but my understanding is that you have the connectivity for the apps for 3 years and you have the maps for 8 years. So if you lease no problem but if you buy, you eventually end up paying a subscription. So the reason I wanted CarPlay, even before it existed is because I have a smart phone that I already pay a fee for. So the infotainment can be dumb and my smart phone gets updated regularly and I’m not paying extra. It has worked well for me since 2014. The twist here is that with an electric vehicle it’s useful for the car to communicate with the infotainment/maps so that it knows how much battery you have when you are navigating to chargers. So that’s an advantage with this system. But many would probably prefer to have the option of using CarPlay and having a choice.
@@bassandtrebleclef I only know Apple so I wasn’t aware that headphone jacks still existed and expandable storage isn’t something I’d thought about. So yes I was unaware of the irony. I cared about the headphone jack when apple first did that now I don’t care. Not sure that limiting myself to Apple universe means I can’t want choice in any other situations. Anyway, my main point was that my understanding is that the connectivity for the apps is 3 years and not 8, and Tom made I sound like it was 8 years for everything. I know I can live without CarPlay, it’s main use to me is the fact that it doesn’t require me to get another subscription. I think the fact that so many people are leasing the GM EV’s has quieted down the CarPlay issue. It will be a problem for next owner. Meanwhile people get used to Google. If EVs turn out to be as low maintenance as we hope that they will be, then car companies will need new revenue. Starting out free is probably a good way to get that started.
You definitely are underestimating how important a data connection is for a car like this. Having phone projection doesn't solve all your problems because this car is made to be connected to a network for updates to apps, in car software etc. Not to mention it has wifi hotspot capability. Using only phone projection would be limiting.
@@shethjones4494 you can’t change music with the dash touchscreen though. I can play music through my phone screen with my son’s 20-year-old Scion and an aux cable. I expect better integration from a modern $40k EV.
@@DrivenCarReviews that’s for changing tracks on a given album or playlist, not for changing from one album or playlist to another. I know all this is the definition of a First World Problem, but similarly-priced competitors make it so much easier to interact with your music portfolio.
This smells like GM’s way of easing subscription based services onto their customers down the line. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are free for the life of the vehicle, no matter who owns it.
Chevy is saying "at least 8 years", I get the impression it's leaving the door open to be longer. Hyundai gives the first owner unlimited access for the life of the car, the only one that's better. And really? 8 years? Damn,that's a long time. Most people will sell the car before then.
@@DrivenCarReviews that is a lot of uncertainty. People are keeping their cars for longer. GM can pull the program early and what happens then? What are they doing with our data? Why can’t you pay for a lifetime activation? Subscription model in cars are a concern. It’s all about retention for the makers. Same strategy for streaming services and video games.
@@Ziakel it sounds like you should just get another car. Also, data is being collected regardless, if you are using apps (even on an iphone) data is being collected. Im amazed that people dont know this
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come from two tech giants, for whom these technologies are their bread and butter. Neither the companies nor the products will go away anytime soon. The products are constantly updated, they get new features, provide new functionality on the same screen no matter how old is your car as long as it supports these technologies. The look and feel is universal, so you need less time to learn the UI of every new car you jump in. The automotive apps work across the car brands. I saved $2K on car navigation system by simply buying a car that supports Android Auto. Today having these features is essential. No Auto and Apple CarPlay - no sale. Although I have never really cared about chevys.
Android Automotive isn’t the same. Not the same as CarPlay or Android Auto. Until you live with that situation a lot of people don’t really get it. The app quality and availability just aren’t there and Android Automotive has been available for going on 4 years. There are fundamental differences and a tight grip from Mountain View that make it a lesser system. Stability is poor, updates are buggy, and it’s clear it’s not a priority for Google or automakers. In my Polestar 2 CarPlay is the saving grace.
Thank you for a balanced review! I have had a blazer ev since June and find that other than the texting, I don’t miss CarPlay. I was so used to stepping into the car and fiddling with my phone to connect CarPlay each time in my previous cars and it’s nice to now just leave it in my pocket or ignore connecting it and go.
I have wireless CarPlay in my current vehicle and it connects every time without issue. I never take my phone out of my pocket either and it's a much better experience
I just charge at home, so the super fast charging really doesn't apply. That being said I found a free electric charging station that does DC 62.5. its not the fastest, but I top off my mileage to 80% which takes about 15-20 minutes. Says it adds about 140-160miles of range per hour. This is a for a Blazer EV, similar platform. Using the interface for about 2 weeks that I've had the car, lacking droid/carplay is really a non issue. Every other function works fine, though I prefer waze which is downloadable on the interface. Maybe if I run into an issue later. But so far its been pretty seemless. No system is perfect, even the ones that do have carplay and droid auto. Tesla people live fine without it.
Greetings from southern Ontario Canada im still get used to my 2019Mazda GS sport hatchback and now that you are reviewing a fully electric sport utility vehicle with more challenges than a regular normal person can make any sense of thanks for the presentation 😊
I am an Android user the interface would be very easy for me to get used to but, like others have noted I'm already paying monthly for my cellphone connectivity now (admittedly 8 yrs on) I'll have to pay for my car's plan too. Not crazy about this direction of a subscription for everything we own to keep working.
All automakers are doing this to some degree. This is why so many are going to Google automotive. Once you have access to all the apps and functionality they are banking on the fact that people will want in car data. There are more apps on Android automotive than are available on Android Auto or carplay.
@@DrivenCarReviews EVs have been billed as greener tech compared to ICE, but ICE cars work 20 years and more, while you are suggesting ditching an EV in 8 years? This goes against every environment-saving idea.
@@ccroy2001 ev range data integration is the reason. Unlike gas cars, the idea is that priority #1 is providing real time info about vehicle range and charging station info, they wanted the EVs to have all of this integrated into navigation and apps like Waze, ABRP, plugshare, etc. to ensure accurate route planning and charge stop locating. Carplay only connects with vehicle data in Ford and Porsche models. Once you have an EV with integrated navigation data on charging and battery levels, you really won't want to go back to a divorced setup where you phone based nav is separated from the car data.
are you talking about the retired program that made the news months back? Thats overwith and it was enabled through onstar, had nothing to do with google built in.
I have had a 2024 equinox ev 3lt about 3 weeks now. I am an apple user, but I don’t see what the not having CarPlay is about. I receive all my texts and can make calls with voice, it plays all of my apple music with bluetooth, maps show you battery percentage when you get to destination or if you have to stop for trips. Plus you can do controls like hey google turn on my cooled seat to 3
Something to note Tom regarding power pricing: here in California our cheapest charging is now the daytime before 4PM. Yeah, we put in so much solar that Edison can’t give it away sometimes.
As an Android user, I have full unlimited control of my music MP3s. I just drag them from my PC to my phone and listen to them via Android Auto. How would I listen to my MP3s using GM's system?
@@haze1123 My guess is that you’d have to steam by Bluetooth. I test drove a Blazer and the Google wasn’t set up and so I used Bluetooth and I think it’s okay for music. It shows the information about the song and I think the album cover too if I remember correctly. As long as you can still use Hey Siri for voice commands I think it would work okay.
I'm guessing iPhone users would just download the music to their phones and stream them over BT. It's possible it could be put on a drive and accessed over USB but I didn't test that.
Tom, how does the system handle group messages? In my Tesla, if I get a text in a group and respond, it only responds to the individual who sent it. Also, how does Calendar integration work? Tesla does a decent job of syncing my Apple calendar, so I can pull up appointments and launch directions. Last question: if someone borrows your car, are they logged into your apps/accounts? Or is it a guest user. How could they get to their music, etc.
Oh and I would assume that anyone using the car would be logged in to apps and accounts, those are usually tied to a key. I only had one key though so I couldn't test profiles between two of them. People borrowing the car could add their phone to BT and stream their music that way. There's a choice of which phone has priority too. Nice that you would lend your car out. I wouldn't.
This is about manufacturers getting into bed with the likes of Google and money passing hands for having exclusive access to the dashboard. GM has made its choice and I will make mine, no CarePlay support then the manufacturer doesn't make it to my shortlist. I find in certain situations Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze more appropriate and I like to have the choice. Apple have developed a version of CarePlay that can take over the complete dashboard. I would be just as unhappy with that product displacing Google offerings as well. Choice is good.....
I agree that Apple CarPlay offers me the choice to use Waze, which gives me a lot of real time info and is highly accurate. Also, I don't like to use Bluetooth because it runs down my battery too fast, so I always plug it in. I am in the market for a new EV and as much as I like the way the Equinox rides, I do think the lack of CarPlay is going to be a deal breaker for me.
@@shethjones4494 I thought I heard it only had Google Maps. That's good to know. I am still considering the Equinox, but also looking at other car brands that still offer the Apple CarPlay. There are other factors for me that make me want to look beyond Chevy, such as better warranties, free charging, and better financing offers.
I have zero interest or intent tp consider a new vehicle that doesnt have AA or CP. My Mecedes EQS has a pretty decnet native OEM system but, the choice of navigation, etc. Is mine to choose. Nonetheless, not having the option is unquestionably a deal breaker for me...especially at vehicle prices today. Hard pass x1000!
Hard Pass. I've been environmentally crunchy longer than Tom has been Tom, and I really looked forward to EVs. But man, this is not what I thought they would be like. Tom didn't care about losing Apple Car Play because the car is an Android phone on wheels. GM wants to monetize the data it gathers the same way Google and Meta do. Ooooh they will give it to me for free as long as they get to tracks every little thing I do with this car for free and trust GM to "Not be Evil". I don't want anything in the way of connectivity that this provides. Making phone calls or texting are completely unnecessary. I didn't do it 30 years ago and I don't need to do it now. I can still read a map and come up with multiple options in case of road obstructions. I'm not tracked and it's good for my old brain.
@@DrivenCarReviews Not as far as I've heard. I Googled it - Ah! the Irony - and all I found was they said they stopped selling data on your "driving style". That is only a small part of the data they collect. How many phone calls do you make and to who. AFAIK it's all the same data that cell phones collect plus data about the car. They are still collecting data on your Driving Style they just aren't selling it to insurance companies. They are hardly unique in this, Hyundai got dinged for selling data without permission too. Motor Trend said they hoped to make $25 Billion on subscriptions by 2030.
@@shethjones4494 That's been the plan. But, as I get older I'd like the new safety features so now I have to decide. When I ask Lyft and Uber drivers about their cars - which have to be newer - they say they don't pay any of the subscriptions and just use their phones. They have to with their job so it makes it obvious that the car's UI is largely redundant. So just ignore the car UI is an option. I live in an urban area - which is why an EV is not an option - so I get to look into people's cars at lights and I see a lot of phones on brackets so I'd guess a lot of people do that.
It feels like its moving back to before the 'mirror' of your phone; companies were making their own OS and it wasn't that good while now using android base. And need a subscription to use after a few year. And, another system to log into that has your accounts/pw. Will be interesting to see where this goes; usually not the direction customers want but instead of where the $ flows.
Full disclosure - I'm an android guy not an apple guy but similar loyalties, right? I own a Tesla Model 3 and it does not have android auto. I don't mind. Really. What surprises me is why the omission of CarPlay or android auto would be a deal breaker. I can understand a preference but deal breaker? Really? One the one hand we have a device worth an investment of (let's say $1,000) and on the other hand we have an investment decision of some $40-$50K. I'm going to let that $1K determine what I do about a $50K decision (which as you note is overcome by simply plugging in to a USB cable)? I don't get the distress. I know we use our phones all day -- I'm as addicted as anyone -- but we spend hours in our car too. I just don't see the decision metric on this one.
I had a Model 3 and at the same time my wife had a Volvo with CarPlay. Every time I drove her car I was jealous my Model 3 didn’t have CarPlay. For just listening to music the M3 was fine, but texting and browsing media on my phone was challenging. For me it is a deal breaker, but that doesn’t mean it has to be for everyone.
But can you download your Spotify account music to the vehicle for when there is no cell coverage? With Android auto and my phone, I use no data when listening to Spotify while driving, which is important, since I am out of cell coverage much of the time.
So no apple car play compatibility but it's pretty much running Google as their main OS, good play google...? And I guess it's older cars for me, no way in hell do I want 1 a connected car, 2 a car that is running a google based OS.
Having carplay or droid auto is enough to swing your decision on a car, then you're probably the type of person that chooses to stay at a hotel if they do or do not put a mint on your pillow. If the interface works fine otherwise, who cares that much?
People are really obsessed with their apple products. This is mountain out of a molehill. How do these people survive at work where 90% of us use Windows??
Oh no. The sky is falling. No carplay? Typical Apple fanboy. I've never even driven a car with carplay or android auto, and I've somehow managed to survive
It's for Android Auto as well. That's because you don't have experience with newer infotainment. They're simply not good or require subscription for certain feature. CarPlay and Android Auto bypasses that.
@@moondog3056 I was fine without a cellphone for about 35 years not it’s a necessity. But I’m sure I can live without it, I just don’t want to pay a subscription after 3 years. My Toyota came with an almost completely useless infotainment system, but using CarPlay I’m happy and it gets updates so things actually improve.
Why would anyone buy the car. Mediocre quality, dubious reliability and a high chance of recalls. Just get a comparable Toyota or Honda and keep your CarPlay.
