After long promising to implement CarPlay support in its vehicles, Volvo recently announced that the new 2016 XC90 is the company's first CarPlay-enabled car in the United States, reports CNET.
The new vehicle is equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen in the center console, with the CarPlay interface featured on the bottom half of the screen. Volvo's Sensus Connect controls remain at the top of the screen, offering access to features like directions, media playing, temperature, and more.
/article-new/2015/12/volvocarplay-800x496.jpg?lossy)
A button on the steering wheel brings up Siri, allowing users to compose messages, place phone calls, and access built-in CarPlay apps.
Like most CarPlay vehicles, Volvo owners will need to connect their iPhones directly to the vehicle using the built-in Lightning connector. Volvo has said it will support wireless CarPlay features in the future, but wireless capabilities are not yet available.
All 2016 XC90 vehicles are eligible for CarPlay support. Those who already purchased a 2016 XC90 can make a service appointment with their dealer to get the update installed.
Though CarPlay was first announced in 2014, it's taken many months for car manufacturers to get on board. Late 2015 and early 2016 will see more than a dozen car makers releasing their first vehicles with CarPlay support, and we've compiled a comprehensive list of all upcoming CarPlay cars.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Step aside, Pilot and Highlander. XC90 is now the front runner for the next car purchase.
The Volvo XC90 starts at a higher MSRP than the top of the line 2016 Pilot (and I'm sure the Highlander). They're not even in the same price range. It's like saying you're cross-shipping the Camry, Accord, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class....These consoles are going to be dangerous. In fact, I'm guessing these cars will prove to be the most dangerous cars built in the last decade or two. Too many distractions. And don't tell me that pressing a button and having a conversation with Siri isn't going to prove to be just as dangerous as driving with half a dozen beers in you, because it will be. Your conscious brain CANNOT multi-task. Now it can shift gears from one task to another very quickly. But when you are thinking about and interacting with console, you will not be a good driver. And the more times per ride that you do that interaction, the more often that moment of distraction can coincide with a surprise event on the road.
Talking to Siri as dangerous as being about 4 drinks beyond the legal limit? How in the hell have we dealt with talking to our wives and kids? Remember when changing radio stations was a freaking little red line that slid behind a piece of glass that you could barely see? This XC90 comes with so many autonomous features that the rest of your rant is really not necessary. It has complete autodriving up to 30 mph and software upgradeable to 80 mph...as well as the autobraking. It's been dubbed the safest car the world has every seen..also has 360 degree cameras that monitor for cars and pedestrians. Even has airbags in the hood so if you actually DO hit one, they are cushioned as they hit the hood. Volvo's goal is no fatalities in a Volvo by 2020...I think they might know a thing or two about safety, btw.Fortunately, rudimentary auto break features should be available in all cars in just a few years from now. We really just need some form auto break to not hit car or pedestrian in front of us. So we will go back to being safer. And then driverless cars will really help out. But autobreak is the key thing that needs to be added with these gizmos. Tesla has that figured out and that is why they are releasing auto drive now.
But for other cars this stop gap isn't going to work. A touch screen without tactile feedback but with lots of changing things to interact with is going to be a distraction.
In case you were unaware, many of these features lock while you're driving, you need to spend some time with this before you judge.
Oh, one more thing. Compare this to fumbling with your smartphone in a rental car while you try to learn a new system that isn't quite syncing correctly with what you have. It's like night and day. Every car you get into will have an identical experience as well, which solves the biggest problem between all of these disparate systems.