Apple CarPlay Archives - Luxury Cars A2Z

We live in a technology-infested world because technology helps us perform difficult tasks easily. There is no denying that technology is useful, but some pieces of technology are indeed more useful than others. That being said, there is hardly an automotive-oriented piece of technology that is so relevant as Apple CarPlay. Apple CarPlay is a system designed by Apple which enables you to use all your main iOS apps right on the central infotainment screen of your car. This way you don’t have to use your phone while driving, and you can also enjoy the benefits of the best operating system right there on your car's main screen. Buying a used car is definitely a more value-oriented way of spending your hard-earned money, so if you combine Apple CarPlay and great used cars, you end up with cars such as the 2016-2018 Mazda 3, 2016-2018 Honda Civic, or the 2016-2018 VW Golf. If you want a more luxurious car that also offers Apple CarPlay, you should check out the 2016 Audi A4. If you want a larger SUV, check out the current Hyundai Palisade. If you want to combine the luxury of the A4 with the utility of an SUV, be sure to check out the Volvo XC90. 2016-2018 Mazda 3 – Class-leading when it comes to reliability and value for money The Mazda 3 is a car that skyrocketed the Mazda appeal to a much wider audience. In the earlier 2000s most Mazda models were nothing to be especially proud of, but the 3rd generation Mazda 3 has helped to change that attitude towards Mazda cars in general. The Mazda 3 has always been at the very top of most reliability and safety charts which significantly boosts the appeal of this hatchback. However, given the fact that the 3rd gen Mazda 3 is also nice to look at inside and out, and it comes with Apple CarPlay, it is definitely worth considering. 2016-2018 Honda Civic – Trailing closely behind the Mazda The Honda Civic is arguably one of the most popular cars in the US for decades now, especially when you consider compact cars. Everything listed about the Mazda 3 is more or less the same as with the Civic. This means that the Civic is also incredibly reliable, but it does cost a bit more. Looks-wise, the Mazda 3 takes it for me because the Civic has become a bit too cluttered lately which is not something you want from an economy hatchback. Nevertheless, Apple CarPlay is available for almost all trim levels, and either one of these two should satisfy your tech needs. 2018 Hyundai Palisade – An amazing all-around package The Hyundai Palisade is a great all-around SUV that should satisfy most customers when it comes to design, space, and utility. Furthermore, all Palisade models come with Apple CarPlay as standard which is not all that common for the majority of automakers these days. Even though the Palisade is a fairly new car, there are plenty of used Palisade models currently on sale through many online sites. Reliability is strong and so is visibility, and both of which are extremely important for cars as large as these. 2016-2018 Audi A4 – Executive used compact sedan benchmark The battle between the Audi A4, the BMW 3-series, and the Mercedes Benz C-Class is as rampant as ever, but one can hardly argue that the last-gen Audi A4 was not a better all-around car than the last-gen 3-series and C-Class model. This is rather apparent the moment you look at the used prices of these cars. With the Audi A4 being one of the most reliable cars Audi makes, it also comes packed with an incredibly futuristic-looking interior. The interior looks so good that even the current generation A4 still uses it, and it does not look old. CarPlay is indeed included, and some A4 models even offer wireless connectivity. 2016-2018 Volvo XC90 - Executive used mid-size SUV benchmark Whenever you take a look at any SUV benchmark out there, chances are that you will come across the Volvo XC90 being at the very top. This is because the 2nd gen XC90 is likely to be one of Volvo's greatest hits of all time. The XC90 looks sophisticated inside and out, offers plenty of space and technology while still being comfortable and easy to use. Safety and reliability are both above average, and the used prices are looking as appealing as ever. Volvo has cleverly designed its system so you can use CarPlay and Volvos infotainment system at the same time. FAQ Section Is Apple CarPlay useful? Apple CarPlay is indeed a useful system if you are using an iOS device on a daily basis because it enables you to use your phone wiling driving safely and conveniently. You can rely on apps such as Waze, Spotify, and such and you can also use advanced features such as dictating and voice-recorded text messages. This means that the overall driving experience stays safe and controlled, but you are still able to use your phone. Furthermore, if you are using more cars at the same time, the ability to use them with the very system makes the whole transition extremely easy. Is Apple CarPlay better than Android Auto? It depends on which phone you are using daily. So, if you are using an iPhone, Apple CarPlay is the obvious choice, if you are using an Android device, you are better off with Android Auto. However, Android Auto has Apple CarPlay beat when it comes to factory navigation apps such as Apple Maps and Google Maps. Google Maps are leads and bounds above Apple Maps which inherently means that Android Auto is the better system. However, Waze is also an extremely advanced navigation app that is available for both operating systems. What are the drawbacks of Apple CarPlay? Apple CarPlay is indeed a useful system, but it is not without fault. First of all, the majority of cars don’t let you use CarPlay and the car’s factory infotainment system at the same time which means that you will have to disconnect the phone in order to mess with most of the car’s functions. Furthermore, you can not use all your iOS apps on the main central screen and the screen optimization for some infotainment systems is not the best. Finally, CarPlay might be a bit too expensive for certain car models, especially when you consider using your phone on a dock is a rather similar experience.