In its brand-new vehicles, which will go on sale in Europe next year and in the United States in early 2016, Audi will start providing the Apple CarPlay technology.
In This Article...
The 2017 Audi A3 is Apple CarPlay compatible.
All Audi A3s from model years 2017 to 2020 include Apple Carplay connectivity, allowing you to connect to your iPhone. When it is officially delivered, we predict that the new 2022 A3 will also include Carplay as standard equipment.
The first thing you should do if your A3 lacks Carplay is an MMI software update. If not, you might need to connect your iPhone by performing the above procedures in order to use the Apple Carplay system’s convenience and security.
If you liked what you read here, take a look at some of our other articles:
Has the 2016 Audi A3 CarPlay?
One of the significant modifications, other from giving you a slightly better-looking car, is expanding the A3’s technical capabilities. The Audi family has introduced a lot of new technology in recent years, and the A3 is no exception. This is where things start to become interesting for a lot of people since you might have assumed that the fully digital driver display, or virtual cockpit, was out of your price range or on a vehicle that wasn’t practical for you.
The A3 now offers it as an option, although it is not a standard feature. You must choose the Technology Pack Advanced at 1395, which is only available on Sport and S line trim vehicles, if you want the virtual cockpit. Thus, the least expensive virtual cockpit version costs just under $23,000 as opposed to the Audi A3’s sub-$20,000 asking price. But we believe the cost is justified.
Since you already get the navigation with MMI Touch and the phone box with wireless charging, providing you somewhere to stow your phone for improved reception, the addition of the virtual cockpit hurls you into the future and is probably a worthy investment. And without this technological marvel, there may be less to be thrilled about with the new A3, as everything is already well-known.
The key selling point of virtual cockpit is the ability to switch views with the push of a button on the newly built steering wheel, enabling full-screen mapping, which is truly magnificent. Virtual Cockpit, which was created with the driver in mind, makes it simple to switch between the main views, such as vehicle information, music, calling, and mapping, and access the information you need without taking your eyes off the road.
The central pop-up display may no longer be necessary with the addition of virtual cockpit, and vehicles like the Audi TT show you can do without it for a cleaner overall dash design. The MMI system’s support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through Audi’s smartphone interface is one of the A3’s standard improvements, though.
Android Auto is a terrific update for Android phone owners because all you have to do is hook it into the USB port and your smartphone will be a slave to that main display, allowing you a variety of services including calling, music, alerts, and maps. We’ve looked at Android Auto separately.
Although the A3 already has Bluetooth as standard, Android Auto or Apple CarPlay do a few things that the car already does. However, now everyone has the option to connect via their phone.
The Audi A3 truly embraces the future, and driving when equipped with both is fantastic. It has a virtual cockpit for the driver and smartphone connectivity for entertainment through services like Spotify. A computer nerd’s ideal configuration, using Android Auto and Audi’s full-screen maps, but Google voice controls to obtain a report on your schedule or speak replies to your messages.
Has the 2017 Audi Q5 CarPlay?
The Virtual Cockpit System is one of the first features you’ll notice when you enter the Q5’s cockpit. This is similar to what we’ve seen on the Audi A4 Avant, A5, smaller Audi A3, and much larger Audi Q7, and it’s equally remarkable here. The virtual cockpit system, which replaces the traditional analogue instruments with a massive 12.3-inch display, is one of the best infotainment systems now available, in part because it’s so simple to customize.
On the 1,440 x 540 pixel screen, you can do everything from choose tunes from a paired phone to add a new destination to the satnav to improve your route visibility. With a few steering wheel clicks, though, it will also prominently display speed and revs.
The virtual cockpit technology is not a standard feature on the Q5, and depending on whatever model you add it to, it costs roughly $1600. Nevertheless, it is well worth the money. In a nutshell, it’s one of the greatest systems available and a significant differentiator between the Q5 and its rivals.
The vehicle I was driving also had a heads-up display (HUD), which is only available with the Technology pack, which costs either 1,100 or 1,600 and is included in the 1,150 Vision pack. I still found this function to be very helpful even though it isn’t quite as amazing as the virtual cockpit system. I didn’t have to take my eyes off the road because the HUD projected route instructions and speed information onto my field of vision after being adjusted via buttons on the steering wheel.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support
Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported by the Audi Q5, as you might anticipate. Although I was unable to test Android Auto, CarPlay performed as expected. It only required a few simple steps to activate the system after USB-connecting my iPhone 7 to the computer.
There is one point of contention here: the Audi Q5 lacks a touchscreen, exactly like its siblings, so you must use a dial and actual menu buttons to navigate a system that was built primarily for touch. However, once you figure out how to use it, you’ll quickly forget that there isn’t a touchscreen.
Although Apple CarPlay and Android Auto appear wonderful on the Q5’s navigation screen, there is no way to transfer them to the virtual cockpit system display, which is a little more frustrating.
There is one more restriction to make clear regarding Apple CarPlay. The functionality works flawlessly on my modern iPhone 7, but it won’t function on iPhone 4s or earlier models.
Satellite navigation
Along with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the Audi Q5 also includes its own own software, which is generally very good. Although the automobile in Baja California lacked the most recent information or signal necessary to provide us with precise instructions, the maps and terrain were well-presented and simple to read.
It became apparent after poking the satnav for a while that it was essentially the same as what was offered in the A5 and A3. The satnav technology in those vehicles can rapidly and precisely generate concise routes and displays each step in excellent time.
General connectivity
It was easy to pair my phone with the car via Bluetooth, but Audi also offers other connectivity options. The Q5 features two USB ports so you can charge your gadgets or connect to Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, but if you’re willing to spend money, you can add a multitude of additional options.
The Audi Phone Box, which Audi offers as a one-stop shop in the Q5, pretty much handles everything you could possibly want in terms of connectivity. When you put your phone in there, the hands-free system on the Q5 will immediately connect to it, and it will also improve its signal using the antenna built into the vehicle. The Audi Phone Box can also wirelessly charge your phone if it is compatible, albeit this function is not yet accessible on Apple iPhones.
There are two USB charging ports, one auxiliary port, and one wired charging port on the Q5 for those who want to use physical media or wired charging. Additionally, there is room for two SDXC cards, and I was pleased to discover a CD player in the Q5.
Audi Connect
You can also subscribe to Audi Connect if you want to be as connected as possible. Audi Connect leverages the data connection of your phone to update you on everything from the weather to gasoline costs, much like MMI services from BMW and Mercedes. Additionally, you’ll be happy to know that it can connect to your Twitter account if you’re a frequent user of social media.
Again, I wasn’t able to test this out myself with the Q5 due to signal troubles, but I have used it in the UK before. Audi Connects is offered as a free, three-month trial on the Sport and higher-end Q5 models so you may evaluate its value before subscribing. It’s interesting to note that Audi offers a built-in SIM card with this mode, which covers all data costs.
Audio
The Bang & Olufsen sound system was an additional option for the Audi I was driving. The Bang & Olufsen system, which is a component of the 1,500 comfort and sound pack, has 19 speakers with a combined power rating of 755 watts, and overall, I’d say it’s worth the money. The system sounded professional throughout, providing a balanced sound even at extremely high volumes, whether it was playing the newest album by Justice or something more unpolished and unfinished.
Even so, I wouldn’t argue that its performance was on par with that of a Burmester system in a Mercedes S Class or a B&W setup in a Volvo XC90. Although the music was presented precisely and scientifically, it lacked the Mercedes system’s breathtaking scope, detail, or depth.
Despite this, this system offered a significant improvement over the traditional system, and it excelled in moody songs like Matt Lange’s “Lying to Myself.”
Can Audi MMI be upgraded to Apple CarPlay?
By doing the following, you can link Apple CarPlay to the Audi MMI system: After making sure that Bluetooth is turned on for your iPhone, select “Phone” from the MMI’s main menu. Select “Connect mobile device” from the menu. Once it displayed on the screen, select your device and permit pairing with your Audi.
Does the 2018 Audi Q3 support Apple CarPlay?
Audi’s crossover lineup has enough diversity to satisfy any buyer’s needs.
The Q5 has recently undergone a facelift, making it an attractive compact luxury crossover alternative while the Q7 is best for individuals who require a lot of capacity for passengers and cargo. Audi’s subcompact Q3 is the ideal option for those searching for something little that still offers a ton of luxury features.
Audi has modified the Q3’s feature set and lineup for 2018. Some of the high-end Prestige trim’s standard features, like as blind-spot monitoring and LED headlights, have been shifted down to the lower-end Premium Plus trim. Heated seats and a new front bumper are added to the base Premium model, however.
The Q3’s exterior hasn’t undergone any changes from Audi since it was last updated in 2016. It has an aggressive hexagonal grille, a tailgate and roofline that are aggressively slanted, and recognizable xenon headlights. The Sport Plus package adds a blacked-out grille, an aggressive body kit, and 19-inch wheels with a matte finish for those who want their Q3 to stand out even more. But keep in mind that the Sport Plus kit is just offered on Premium Plus trim levels.
Audi has been selling the Q3 in other areas since the 2011 model year, yet it was only first made available in American markets in 2015. As a result, while being a new model, the Q3 already falls short in terms of features and misses many of the upgrades Audi has added to more recent models. For instance, despite its interior’s opulent materials and superb build quality, the design feels antiquated and uncomfortable. The Q3 lacks the newest MMI system from Audi and the climate controls are located too low in the center stack to be easily accessed. You won’t be able to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto as a result, and you’ll have to use Audi’s exclusive USB interface. Despite the control knob’s inconvenient placement on the center stack, the older MMI system is at least simple enough to learn. Both grades have Audi’s MMI Navigation Plus as an option.
For the class, interior room in the Q3 is quite small. Front passengers enjoy spacious chairs that are quite supportive on lengthy journeys. However, there is little space in the back seat, especially when compared to rivals like the BMW X1. In terms of available space, the Q3 falls between the Lexus NX and BMW X1 with 16.7 cubic feet behind the back seats and 50.3 cubic feet with the seats folded.
The Q3 only has a single powertrain option, a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. This is coupled with either Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD) or front-wheel drive (FWD) with a 6-speed automatic transmission. In comparison to other vehicles in its sector, many of which can reach 60 mph a good one or two seconds quicker, the Q3 is a bit of a slowpoke with a 0-to-60 time of 8.2 seconds. On the plus side, the engine is exceptionally refined; the cabin experiences very little noise and vibration as a result. The class average fuel efficiency is 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined with either drivetrain, which is a little underwhelming.
The Q3’s suspension is expertly calibrated to provide a relaxing and delightful ride. It smooths out bumps incredibly well, even on the optional 19-inch wheels. However, when pushed through corners, it exhibits a good degree of body roll, and the lack of feel in the steering makes it quite frustrating. Although you might have thought the Sport package would take care of this, it doesn’t make any adjustments to the steering or suspension. On the plus side, the Q3 is easy to maneuver in confined spaces because to its light steering and compact size.
The Q3 comes fully equipped in terms of safety gear.
Stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes with braking assist, a rearview camera with parking sensors, hill-descent assist, and tire-pressure monitoring are standard on all versions. The Q3 has only been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and the 2017 model received a Good rating across the board.
The base FWD Premium trim of the 2018 Audi Q3 costs $32,900, and the Premium Plus trim with quattro costs $37,900.