Honda and Hyundai Rolling Out Wireless CarPlay to Select 2021 Vehicles, Including Accord and Santa Fe

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Honda this week introduced the 2021 Accord with upgraded styling and tech features, including wireless CarPlay and Android Auto integration on the higher-end EX-L and Touring trims, accessible through an 8-inch touchscreen display.

carplay dashboard ios 14
Wireless CarPlay works over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for the iPhone to be connected to the infotainment system with a Lightning cable. Together with wireless charging, these features free up the USB ports in the vehicle, which have been moved to the front of the center console for easier access.

Hyundai has also added wireless CarPlay and Android Auto to the 2021 Santa Fe, on models that are not equipped with navigation. Wired CarPlay and Android Auto remain standard on navigation-equipped models. The vehicle is now equipped with a larger 8-inch touchscreen, an upgrade from the 7-inch display in previous models.

In addition to Honda and Hyundai, wireless CarPlay is available in select vehicles sold by Ford, GM, Chrysler, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Alpine and Pioneer also offer aftermarket wireless CarPlay systems for self installation.

CarPlay‌ is Apple's in-car platform that enables drivers to access a range of iPhone apps from the dashboard, such as Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Pandora, WhatsApp, and Downcast. Since iOS 12, third-party navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze have also been supported.

The 2021 Accord went on sale at Honda dealerships in the United States earlier this week, with pricing starting at $31,090 for a trim equipped with wireless CarPlay. The 2021 Santa Fe will arrive at Hyundai dealerships in the United States by the end of the year, but pricing was not disclosed in the press release.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Tags: Honda, Hyundai, Wireless CarPlay
Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology

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Top Rated Comments

redgreenski Avatar
redgreenski
58 months ago
Wireless CarPlay was always the most obvious future. I don’t know why most car makers didn’t embrace it from the beginning. Soon we are going to have a bunch of older cars CarPlays incompatible with iPhones that no longer have a physical plug in.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mnsportsgeek Avatar
mnsportsgeek
58 months ago
If Apple doesn’t make a dongle for CarPlay when the phone goes portless, we riot.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bornee35 Avatar
Bornee35
58 months ago

What is the audio quality like over Wireless CarPlay? Last time I checked, Bluetooth audio still sucks in comparison to USB, and could be one of the reasons Apple and car manufacturers didn't focus on Wireless from the get-go.
I’m fairly certain wireless CarPlay uses a wifi access point.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Deinocheirus Avatar
Deinocheirus
58 months ago

Wireless CarPlay was always the most obvious future. I don’t know why most car makers didn’t embrace it from the beginning. Soon we are going to have a bunch of older cars CarPlays incompatible with iPhones that no longer have a physical plug in.
My guess is that it costs more to implement, and the user experience is actually quite dismal. Wireless CarPlay does not always work as well as Wired does, and wireless charging in cars is only just now starting to become a thing...no one enjoys wireless CarPlay and arriving somewhere with their phone dead.

The phone really does need to still be charging while using CarPlay, so unless you have the complete experience of wireless charging + wireless CarPlay...you're better off with with Wired. And that has been the case for the years.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yossi Avatar
yossi
58 months ago
They need an adapter that will let older cars provide wireless car play
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AnorexicPig Avatar
AnorexicPig
58 months ago

My guess is that it costs more to implement, and the user experience is actually quite dismal. Wireless CarPlay does not always work as well as Wired does, and wireless charging in cars is only just now starting to become a thing...no one enjoys wireless CarPlay and arriving somewhere with their phone dead.

The phone really does need to still be charging while using CarPlay, so unless you have the complete experience of wireless charging + wireless CarPlay...you're better off with with Wired. And that has been the case for the years.
This is false. I have been using wireless CarPlay in my 2018 M3 for last 2 years and it works flawlessly.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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