Upgrade to a smarter ride with Android Auto
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOOGLE’S SPECIAL ANDROID MODE DESIGN SPECIFICALLY FOR IN-CAR USE.
ANDROID AUTO IS an interface designed to make Android devices easier to use and less distracting in a car. The whole idea is to use your smartphone functions without taking your attention off the road, and much that you would read or type on your phone is handled by spoken words.
In a compatible car, Android Auto uses the infotainment system in place of your smartphone screen, displaying a simplified interface featuring voice interaction and touch control. The voice recognition is very good, with almost no mistakes in our testing, and the text-to-speech is equally good, reading out messages on request.
Android Auto anticipates where you might want to go next, and what you might want to know or listen to, so there’s a chance it will display possible destinations, weather, and music links all on the one screen.
Android Auto does not add functions; in fact, it reduces choices. You have no access to scrollable text boxes and complex notifications. Instead, they’re replaced by a limited range of large squared-off buttons on your infotainment screen. Once you get used to it and start using voice commands for most functions, Android Auto is a great (and legal) way to interact with your phone while driving. Just search for it on the Google Play Store for a free download.
There is only one big (to us) catch, which should disappear sometime in the future. That is the need to plug your phone in via a USB cable. We finally have a car with Bluetooth and wireless charging, but no, we’re back to plugging and unplugging cables!
WHAT CARS DOES IT WORK IN?
While it was only released in 2015, most new cars now support Android Auto (and Apple CarPlay), except Toyotas and a random assortment of other makes. Purely in the interests of writing this article, we test drove the new Jaguar E-Pace, but no, it doesn’t have Android Auto — just an expensive optional Smartphone Pack.
Ferrari and Bentley were similarly disappointing, but at least Lamborghini has seen the light, and Hyundai, Kia and just about every mainstream car include Android Auto in their latest offerings. Surprisingly, the final choice of test vehicle was a Peugeot 3008, which includes Android Auto, Apple Car Play, and MirrorLink along with more smart tech than any of the others, but that’s another story.
IS ANDROID AUTO A MUST-HAVE?
We originally thought ‘yes’, but given you still have to plug in a cable to use it on your car screen Android Auto is more a nice-to-have. Once it goes wireless, Android Auto will become much more attractive. Unfortunately, that upgrade is unlikely to be just a software update to most existing vehicles, it requires new Wi-Fi enabled hardware. It turns out our Peugeot test vehicle has built in Wi-Fi, so with luck it will be able to implement wireless Android Auto in the near future.
BUT MY CAR DOESN’T SUPPORT ANDROID AUTO…
Of course, if you have a vehicle more than a few years old, or a Jaguar, you won’t have AA anyway. But, if you want to add Android capability, you have some excellent options.
The easiest approach is to simply run it on your phone or tablet. No USB cable connection required, just a phone mounting bracket that puts the screen in your line of vision. All the same functions will work right there on your phone, in any vehicle. It won’t mute your sound system automatically, but otherwise the functionality will be similar.
If you are keen to go all the way with updating your older car, complete with a screen sticking up from the dash, you can buy add-on Android-powered units that include reversing camera and more for $150-$200. Just search eBay for “Android GPS Bluetooth smartphone dashcam” or similar. Make sure it is an Android 5.0 or later unit that lets you download and install apps.
There are also audio head units that provide Android Auto, and if you have an older car these units will probably fit straight in the dash, replacing your existing radio/CD unit. Some of the latest units (mainly from Kenwood) even support Android Auto wireless for the ultimate AA experience.
Note that Android Auto is a power hog at the best of times, and that will be worse on Wi-Fi, so you’ll need a wireless charging pad or cable on longer trips for your smartphone.
ANDROID AUTO VS STANDARD CAR CONNECTIVITY
Just about all modern cars can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth and do a great job of handling phone calls on the move, plus many will let you stream music from your device.
Android Auto is similar, with the added smarts of live Google maps and other online apps. It is generally easier to use and more intuitive while driving, although this varies between vehicle manufacturers and models. Our test vehicle has voice recognition and the latest navigation software, but neither work quite as well as the Android and Google combination.
ANDROID AUTO VS MIRRORLINK AND APPLE CARPLAY
MirrorLink was designed by Nokia as one of the original smartphone integration systems. It is an open standard and can also be used on many Android devices, but not Apple. MirrorLink is similar in scope to Android Auto but less consistent and intuitive to use because each app within it may operate differently. It does, however, support Google Maps and Waze along with a quite wide range of apps, and is available in a very wide range of vehicles.
Apple CarPlay is again similar in concept, but restricted to the Apple ecosystem. Most commentators say the iPhone style interface suits Apple users well, but the lack of Google Maps and a few other limitations imposed by Apple make it less functional overall. Apple CarPlay is also apparently only available on iPhones, not iPads. It is going wireless though, and a couple of BMW and Mercedes models already support that.
Overall, Android Auto supports a wide range of music streaming apps, the major messaging apps, plus Google Maps and Waze in a consistent interface across all vehicles that can run it. This makes it the current leader in vehiclesmartphone connectivity systems.
DOES ANDROID AUTO HAVE A FUTURE?
As mentioned, Android Auto is going wireless. Currently only new Pixel and Nexus phones support this function, and we don’t know of any car support yet, but it will come. Google is also working on Smart Home integration for Android Auto, so you’ll be able to control your home automation from the car. The heating might switch on when you are 15 minutes away, the garage door open as you approach, the TV line up the program you asked it to record while you were delayed in a traffic jam, and much more. Vehicle automation and integration with smart devices is just beginning.