Apple CarPlay Contributes to Higher Vehicle Satisfaction in Latest Survey

A new survey released last week by J.D. Power shows that U.S. consumers continue to prefer vehicles with support for Apple CarPlay.

Apple CarPlay Dash
The market research firm's annual U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study found overall satisfaction with in-vehicle infotainment systems to average 805 on a 1,000-point scale. However, satisfaction was higher among owners who use Android Auto (832), and even higher for those who use CarPlay (840).

The study is based on responses from 99,144 owners of new 2024 model-year vehicles in the U.S. who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership, according to J.D. Power. The study was conducted from July 2023 through May 2024.

CarPlay has routinely fared well in vehicle satisfaction studies since launching in 2014, so this latest one is no surprise. However, it comes after General Motors last year controversially decided to stop offering CarPlay and Android Auto in its new electric vehicles, in favor of its own software system. Electric vehicle maker Rivian also prefers its own software over CarPlay. J.D. Power's study reinforces that these automakers are betting against a consumer preference, and it remains to be seen if they will ever reverse course.

The next-generation version of CarPlay that Apple announced in 2022 has yet to become available in any vehicles, but Apple's website says the rollout will begin this year. Next-generation CarPlay will be more deeply integrated across multiple screens in a vehicle, offer a built-in FM radio app and climate controls, and more. It will also be highly customizable, allowing automakers to tailor the design of the system to uniquely match their vehicles.

Related Roundup: CarPlay

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro and Air Feature

Two iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air Colors Appear to Scratch More Easily

Friday September 19, 2025 10:02 am PDT by
As reported by Bloomberg today, some of the new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air models on display at Apple Stores today are already scratched and scuffed. French blog Consomac also reported on this topic. The scratches appear to be most prominent on models with darker finishes, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in Deep Blue, and the iPhone Air in Space Black. Images Credit: Consoma ...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone Like 'Two Titanium iPhone Airs' Joined at the Hinge

Monday September 22, 2025 2:16 am PDT by
Next year's rumored foldable iPhone will showcase an ultra-thin design resembling "two titanium iPhone Airs side-by-side," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in the Q&A section of his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says Apple's first foldable device will be "super thin and a design achievement," combining Apple's thinnest iPhone form factor with cutting-edge folding...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.1 Coming Soon, Likely With iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Fix

Thursday September 18, 2025 9:17 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. The update will have a build number of 23A350, or similar, the account said. It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's Henry T. ...
iPhone 17 Pro Colors

iPhone 17 Pro Max Teardown Reveals Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 Modem for 5G

Friday September 19, 2025 7:39 am PDT by
While the iPhone Air is equipped with Apple's custom C1X modem for cellular connectivity, all of the iPhone 17 models are outfitted with Qualcomm modems still. A teardown video shared on Chinese platform Bilibili today (via Reddit) appears to confirm the iPhone 17 Pro Max is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 modem in particular. The same modem is likely used in the iPhone 17 and iPhone ...
iphone 17 pro max techwoven

Here Are The Best Cases You Can Buy for Your New iPhone 17 and iPhone Air

Friday September 19, 2025 6:46 am PDT by
Apple's new iPhones launch today, and there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to protecting your new device from drops and scratches. In this article, we're taking a look at some of the best options for iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Air cases, as well as a few charging accessories. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
iphone 17 pro inside

iPhone 17 Teardowns Confirm SIM and eSIM-Only Battery Capacities

Friday September 19, 2025 8:39 am PDT by
YouTube channel REWA Technology today shared an iPhone 17 Pro teardown video, offering a closer look inside the model with a SIM card tray. We are still waiting for repair website iFixit to share a more comprehensive teardown of the latest iPhone models, but this video provides a good look in the meantime. The device features various internal design changes, including larger rear camera...

Top Rated Comments

Wolf Puppy Avatar
15 months ago
I will not consider a vehicle if it lacks CarPlay. I’m sure many agree.
Score: 99 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DocMultimedia Avatar
15 months ago

Carplay is whatever. If you've ever been in a car with a good infotainment system like a Tesla, or Polestar. Carplay is a luxury. Of course if you drive crap cars you'd want it
I will never get another Tesla. Miserable experience by itself, and even worse without CarPlay. Even though my Tesla is only three years old I've started looking at other cars (usually my cars last me 15 years or more). CarPlay is now a requirement for me.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Goodeye Avatar
15 months ago
And yet GM wants to remove it for their own in-house crap which I don’t care if they are working with Google on it, their attempts thus far on their infotainment systems have been utter trash.

Then you have Rivian and others who say: “we’re not going to add it even when our customers ask for it”.

Good luck if people keep pushing for it then maybe there is a reason. I need something seamless not your inferior systems trying to make sense of what’s on my phone so I can access it.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
orev Avatar
15 months ago
People want CarPlay because car makers just don't have the right mentality for supporting a software app platform. They think about cars as hardware that you sell and then they don't want to think about it except for getting maintenance fees from you. Software makers know that you need a team of people dedicated to supporting the software, releasing updates, etc.

That's why a phone will always be better than the built-in interface. You upgrade your phone every few years. Cars you upgrade maybe once a decade (if you're being financially smart). People also don't want to pay for another data subscription for their car to be connected to 5G when the phone they have with them already has a data connection.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mousse Avatar
15 months ago
People like consistency. Who wants to learn a new UI every time they get in a new car? Besides, the home grown infotainment system of auto manufacturers is rubbish.

Personally, I'd do away with infotainment systems all together. I'm OG; just give me buttons and knobs for climate control. I don't need radios or other distractions.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
con2apple Avatar
15 months ago
No surprise.
Competition from Apple has made the media systems in cars better.
But let's be honest, it's still a disaster in comparison.

I still don't understand why an iPhone SE 1G can display a smooth map view via CarPlay, but the computer in a Mercedes S-Class fails to do so.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)