Can’t afford CarPlay?

Buying a new car just for CarPlay isn’t exactly a value proposition. You might not fancy £350 plus installation costs for a Pioneer head unit, either. Your car may not be compatible with the Pioneer, in any case. The obvious alternative is simply to use an iPhone or iPad and a good mount or dock.

The latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus have larger screens than ever, making them even more effective in-car. For larger vehicles, an iPad mini can work really well, too. Several apps include a mode optimised for in-car use, with simplified interfaces and big buttons for ease of use. The downsides are twofold. The first is clutter. Mobile devices sitting in cradles and attached to charging cables simply adds to dashboard mess. Your iPhone or iPad also won’t be fully integrated. At the very least your car will also need to have Bluetooth to enable music streaming and hands-free phone calls through the mic and speakers.