Even if you don’t live in one of the 26 states (and Washington, D.C.) that prohibit you from using your cell phone while driving, this is still just a bad idea. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 3,522 people died in distracted driving crashes in 2021. A large portion of these crashes were likely the result of people taking their eyes off the road to read their texts. Fortunately, if you have an Android smartphone, you have a better and safer way to interact with your phone in the car. It’s called Android Auto, and it helps you keep your eyes on the road by reading texts to you, among many other things.
What exactly does Android Auto do?
Android Auto is a system created by Google that allows you to mirror apps from your Android phone to your car’s infotainment system, allowing for hands-free use. It also integrates Google Assistant as well as many other Google apps like Google Maps, Google Play Music, YouTube Music, and third-party apps like Spotify, WhatsApp, Discord, and Skype. It even supports Apple Music. Google maintains a list of Android Auto compatible apps here.
How to connect Android Auto in my car?
Android Auto can be connected to your car in two ways. The first is with a USB cable. This has the benefit of allowing you to charge your phone while driving. Second, you can connect your phone wirelessly via Bluetooth, which has been technically supported since 2018, but wasn’t widely available until later. Now, the majority of vehicles and phones support wireless connectivity.
Which cars are compatible with Android Auto?
Like rival Apple for Android and CarPlay phone integration, the list of vehicles that support Android Auto is always growing, especially as more manufacturers start using the Android Automotive operating system for their cars’ infotainment systems. Google’s Android Auto website maintains a comprehensive list of vehicles and stereos that support the system, making it very easy to see if you can enjoy the fun, especially if you have a car that’s not brand new.
If you want to know which new cars in 2023 come with Android Auto, we can help you with the list.
- Acura: Integra, MDX, RDX
- Alfa Romeo: tonal
- Audi: A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, E-tron, E-tron GT, Q3, Q5, Q7, Q8
- BMW: 2 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, 8 Series, iX, i4, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, Z4
- Buick: Enclave, Encore GX, Envision
- Cadillac: CT4, CT5, Escalade, Lyriq, XT4, XT5, XT6
- Chevrolet: Blazer, Bolt EV, Bolt EUV, Camaro, Colorado, Corvette, Equinox, Malibu, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, Trailblazer, Traverse
- Chrysler: Pacifica, 300
- evade: Durango, Hornet
- stronghold: Bronco, Edge, Escape, Expedition, F-150, F-250, F-350, Mustang Mach-E
- GMC: Acadia, Canyon, Hummer EV, Sierra, Terrain, Yukon
- Honda: Accord, Civic, CR-V, HR-V, Pilot
- Hyundai: Elantra, Kona, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Sonata, Tucson, Venue
- Infiniti: Q50, QX50, QX55, QX60, QX80
- Jaguar: E-Pace, F-Pace, F-Type, I-Pace, XF
- pocket: Compass, Grand Cherokee, Grand Wagoneer, and Wagoneer
- He should: Carnival, Forte, K5, Niro, Rio, Seltos, Sorento
- Lexus: ES, GX, IS, LS, LX, NX, RX, RZ, TX, UX
- lincoln: Corsair, Navigator, Nautilus
- Maserati Ghibli, Levante, Quattroporte
- Mazda: CX-50, CX-90, Mazda 3, MX-5 Miata
- Mercedes Benz: C-Class, EQB-Class, EQE-Class, EQS-Class, GLB, GLC, GLE, S-Class
- April: Arya Frontier Titan
- Porsche: 911, Cayenne, Panamera, Taycan
- ram: 1500, 2500, 3500, Promaster
- Toyota: BZ4X, Corolla, Crown, Grand Highlander, Highlander, Mirai, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tundra, Venza
- Volkswagen: Arteon, Atlas, Golf, ID.4, Jetta, Taos, Tiguan
Why is Android Auto so useful?
Aside from the safety factor and familiarity of using apps you already know and trust, one of the big advantages of Android Auto is that it’s always the same, no matter what car you’re in. For example, if you step out of your 2022 Honda Civic daily car and want to load up your 2019 Ford F-150 for a weekend of camping, you’ll get the same seamless infotainment experience in both vehicles. It’s also very useful if you and your significant other share a car.
What are the best features of Android Auto?
There are a lot of cool features that make Android Auto great, but here’s a short list of our favorites:
- Media playback will automatically resume when you return to your car
- It can read and reply to messages from many applications such as Facebook, Instagram, Signal, Telegram and WhatsApp
- It works with several mapping apps including Google Maps, TomTom Go, Waze (also built into Google Maps), and Samsung Maps.
- Google Assistant, powered by Android Auto, will interact with your smart home devices, so you can ask it to open your smart garage door or turn on the lights inside your home.
Can I add Android Auto to my old car?
While most new cars come standard equipped with Android Auto integration, many older cars did not previously have this feature. If you have an older car and wish it were more modern, the good news is that adding Android Auto is usually pretty simple thanks to the wide world of aftermarket car stereos.
Most of these units are what is known as a “double DIN” size, which should fit most vehicles with the proper installation kit. The installation process varies from vehicle to vehicle, but if you have it handy, it usually isn’t too difficult. If not, professional installation is the perfect solution. A decent Android Auto-compatible stereo starts at around $170 before installation, so it won’t break the bank to make your old car look more modern.
Can I use Android Auto in my country?
Android Auto is unfortunately not available in all countries. It is available in a large number of them, don’t get us wrong, but due to issues with Google Play Services providing location information, some users cannot use the system without finding some kind of workaround. Google launched with five countries supported initially, adding an additional 36 countries to the list of compatible languages back in 2020, and then six more in 2021 for a total of 47 countries. Google has a list of countries where Android Auto is available here.
When did Android Auto first appear?
Android Auto made its official debut in 2014 at the Google I/O developer conference, but the official app wasn’t released to the public until 2015. In 2016, Google enabled Android Auto to run directly from the phone via an app, rather than directly from Phone via the app. On car devices, though this will be discontinued for phones running Android 9 or later in 2022 in favor of more direct integration with Google Assistant.
Android Auto is a technology created by Google that allows users to integrate their Android smartphone with their car’s infotainment system. This allows for a safer and more streamlined way to access maps, music, messages, and more while driving. With the use of voice commands and a simplified interface, Android Auto aims to reduce distractions and provide a more seamless driving experience. Whether it’s for navigation, making calls, or controlling music, Android Auto offers a convenient and intuitive way for users to stay connected while on the road.