CARS.COM — Forget about fuel economy, acceleration times or reliability. What many new-car shoppers want to know is if they'll be able to integrate their smartphone with a car's multimedia system.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allow operation of smartphone apps for navigation, text messaging and music through their car's dashboard touch-screen, steering-wheel buttons or voice commands, have rapidly become must-have features for many in the market for a new vehicle.
Related: Which 2017 Cars Have Android Auto?
The auto industry is racing to keep up with the growing demand. Less than a year ago, fewer than 50 vehicles were offering one or both, or were scheduled to. For the 2017 model year, the list has grown to more than 100, and more are coming for 2018.
General Motors now offers both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on more than 30 models. Ford wasn't even on the list a year ago, but for the 2017 model year, it became the first full-line vehicle manufacturer to offer CarPlay and Android Auto on every vehicle line it sells (Ford and Lincoln brands).
Android devices dominate the smartphone market, but more 2017 vehicles will be available with CarPlay than with Android Auto. BMW and Porsche offer CarPlay on most or all of their models, but so far neither has announced plans to add Android Auto. Mercedes-Benz offers both systems on most models, but you can only get CarPlay on the GLS-Class and SL-Class. The Nissan Maxima and Murano also have CarPlay only for 2017.
Stay tuned, though, because automakers will continue to add vehicles that offer one or both systems during the 2018 model year and beyond.
Don't hold your breath waiting for Toyota to join the crowd. Toyota is following its own path and doesn't intend to offer CarPlay or Android Auto. Instead, it is developing its own system and currently offers Scout GPS Link, which allows integrating a smartphone navigation app with the vehicle multimedia system, on several Toyota and Lexus models.
The ability to seamlessly integrate smartphone apps with a car's multimedia system answers a crying need from millions who rely heavily on their handheld device for many, if not all, of their communication, navigation and infotainment needs.
Here's a reality check: Everyone may not be fully satisfied by current versions of CarPlay, so don't count on every app working equally well in the car as it does on the phone alone. CarPlay works basically the same on all vehicles, but each manufacturer has different multimedia systems with different controls and displays, so what you see and get might vary.
That is why it remains imperative to find out before you buy a car how well your phone and apps will work with that car. Try it out before you buy.
Shoppers also should be aware that CarPlay may not be available on every version of a vehicle that offers it. For example, you can't get it on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu L trim, which is the base model, and Kia makes it available only on models with the UVO multimedia system, a feature reserved for more-expensive models. Though Ford offers it on all of its vehicles, it also requires the Sync 3 infotainment system, which is optional on many models and not available on some.
One final caution: This list of 2017 model year vehicles that offer CarPlay is based on information obtained from the vehicle manufacturers in April. The rollout over the past two years hasn’t always been on time, so it is possible that availability could still be delayed on some models. In addition, if CarPlay was added after the start of 2017 production, dealers could still have vehicles in stock that were built before CarPlay became available.
2017 Vehicles Offering Apple CarPlay
Acura
NSX
Audi
A3
A4
A6
A7
Allroad
Q7
TT
BMW
2 Series
3 Series
4 Series
5 Series
6 Series
7 Series
X3
X4
X5
X6
Buick
Encore
Envision
LaCrosse
Regal
Cadillac
ATS
CTS
CT6
Escalade
XTS
XT5
Chevrolet
Bolt
Camaro
Colorado
Corvette
Cruze
Impala
Malibu
Silverado
Silverado 2500HD/3500HD
Sonic
Spark
Suburban
Tahoe
Trax
Volt
Chrysler
300
Dodge
Challenger
Charger
Ford
C-Max
Edge
Escape
Expedition
Explorer
Fiesta
Flex
Focus
Fusion
F-150
F-Series SuperDuty
Mustang
Taurus
Transit
Transit Connect
Genesis
G80
GMC
Acadia
Canyon
Sierra
Sierra 2500HD/3500HD
Yukon
Yukon XL
Honda
Accord
Civic
Clarity Electric and Fuel Cell
CR-V
Pilot
Ridgeline
Hyundai
Azera
Elantra
Elantra GT
Ioniq
Santa Fe
Santa Fe Sport
Sonata
Tucson
Veloster
Jeep
Compass
Kia
Cadenza
Forte
Niro
Optima
Sedona
Sorento
Soul
Sportage
Lincoln
Continental
MKC
MKT
MKX
MKZ
Navigator
Mercedes-Benz
B-Class
CLA-Class
CLS-Class
E-Class
GLA-Class
GLE-Class
GLS-Class
SL-Class
SLC-Class
Mitsubishi
Lancer
Mirage
Mirage G4
Outlander
Outlander Sport
Nissan
Maxima
Murano (late availability)
Porsche
718 Boxster
718 Cayman
911
Cayenne
Macan
Panamera
Subaru
Impreza
Volkswagen
Beetle
CC
e-Golf
Golf
Golf GTI
Golf R
Golf SportWagen
Jetta
Passat
Tiguan
Volvo
S90
V90 Cross Country
XC90
Editor's note: This story will be updated as 2017 model information is released.
