dominoman

I don't know how many people use it, but I find having Android Auto or Apple Carplay in a car a massive benefit. My current car (old Pajero) doesn't have it but I hire cars for holidays several times a year and they nearly all do now - even the cheapo Vauxhalls and Citroens.

I don't know why many car manufacturers still insist on forcing their own sat nav into the car. It's always harder to use and more confusing than the Google Maps we all are used to. With cars that have Android Auto / Apple Carplay you use your own phone and it shows on the car's screen. So much easier, and surely lower cost for the manufacturer too.

Anyway - my question is about which cars come with it? It's hard to find info online. I want to replace my old Pajero with a newer car. Probably I'll go for a 4 year old Nissan Patrol or a nearly new Pajero. Or maybe a Pathfinder. Does anyone have a Pajero and know if it has Android Auto?

FriendlyExpat

The 2017 & 2018 Saudi spec Pajero's do not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. I am fairly sure (but not 100% certain) that the 2017 UAE spec Pajero doesn't either.

martinbkk

And just because it has Apple car play doesn't mean all apps will work. I bought a new 2017 Merc GLA here and though Apple car play always worked Apple maps was not shown on the car play screen. Research showed this was standard for all Thailand spec Mercs. Last month it started appearing on the screen and works as expected. Note this is Apple maps not Google maps. I have never been able to get non Apple apps other than WhatsApp to show on the car pay screen. Nothing changed on the car, so far as I know so I assume it has to have been a phone update that changed this. But YMMV, even with car play you may get a mixed bag of apps just depending.

Just looking at the list of car play availability by country it shows that Apple maps are blocked also in Brazil, Chile, India, Saudi and UAE as well as Thailand. Thinking more what might have changed it could be that I recently switched my app store payments CC details etc and country info to UK.

Gavtek

I had a 2018 Pathfinder, it didn't have it. Dodge Durangos and Jeep Cherokees have it.

uk_grenada

TheShed

I'm also interested in this thread as I'm looking for a new car and CarPlay is a must have for me.

The problem I'm finding is that X manufacturer website says its available and then you go to a UAE dealership and they have a special GCC spec which EXCLUDES it Typical UAE backward mentality.

Martin - I have two apple iTunes (1 UAE and 1 UK) and they both have quite different App sets and access to radio stations, TC services, music etc are very different. FWIW, I don't maintain any UK credit cards, so I set the UK account up without any payment info and send myself gift cards through Apple iTunes when I need credit for films or apps.

dominoman

I'd be happy to buy an aftermarket stereo and fit it. Personally I don't need Apple so any of the Android units would do. The problem is it seems really hard to find any information online on fitting it to a Pajero. I don't want to shell out a chunk of cash for a decent unit and then find it doesn't integrate with the reversing cam - or the bass bin doesn't work.

If only every new car just had Carplay / Android Auto out of the box.

BTW - It seems Australian pajeros have it now: https://practicalmotoring.com.au/pro...hi-pajero-gls/

Millhouse

Careful - at this rate the headunit might be nicer than the car

Yellowhat would be able to sort you out.

martinbkk

That's kinda true. But trying to but an audio unit for a number of current motors without buying the rest of the car would be pretty difficult, they're pretty tightly integrated.

scrubbedexpat141

My Explorer has it and I avoid it like the plague if using the navigation.

Me 2.0

dominoman

Yeah, for playing music or using the phone you don't need it. Any car bluetooth connection is fine for that.

I never knew how much I'd value it until I started hiring cars more regularly. Each with their own sat nav system, each a pain to figure out in the stressy bit as you leave the rental place after a long flight, and none as good as Google Maps!

Millhouse

scrubbedexpat141

I could close my eyes and drive out of Avis to the M25 from Heathrow I reckon.

Apple car play work with google maps? Mine stops any maps from working (even the Ford sat nav) and forces you to Apple Maps which is....well, laughable.

dominoman

No. Apple CarPlay doesnt work with Google Maps. I got sick of Apple's petty restrictions and switched to Android a few weeks ago. Best thing I've ever done. Android is light years ahead of Apple in every regard. I honestly can't think of a single thing I miss about my iphone.