Access to technology in our vehicles has made us both less and more aware drivers. Gone are the days of needing a passenger, and an unwieldy map which would open to cover roughly 99.9% of the front seat. Gone are the days of having to print directions off of Mapquest, or needing to plan business outings around locations with payphones. Gone, even, are those old days where all you had to listen to was the radio or what you had on 8-track/cassette/CD.
Technology has made driving a more comfortable, secure, and flexible experience. Unfortunately, it’s also brought about a wave of distraction. People are more connected than ever before, and it’s hard to abandon that constant virtual interaction when you’re behind the wheel. Many states have passed laws against texting while driving, and using the handheld interface of your smartphone can see expensive tickets and points lost in many states.
[READ MORE: How to Safely Use Technology While Driving]
What is Apple CarPlay?
In an effort to translate the simplified user experience of their smartphone operating system, iOS, Apple has created an in-dash experience called Apple CarPlay. CarPlay allows you to have access to popular iPhone applications through voice-activation, using your car’s speakers, or the center infotainment unit in your recent-model vehicle. These apps are optimized to give drivers big options that don’t require more than a microsecond of attention to adjust.
With a compatible smartphone, CarPlay means less, or zero, time with eyes off road for drivers!
The apps available, at the time of publication of this blog, for CarPlay include:
- Phone (make and receive phone calls)
- Podcasts (podcast app)
- Maps (navigation and turn-by-turn directions)
- Messages (read and send text messages using voice control)
- Audiobooks (audiobook app)
- iHeartRadio (internet radio app)
- At Bat (MLB official sports audio app)
- Spotify (streaming music)
- Stitcher (podcast app)
- CBS Radio (official CBS broadcast radio and show archives)
- Overcast (podcast app)
- Audiobooks.com (audiobook app)
- Audible (audiobook app)
- Pandora (internet radio app)
- Slacker radio (internet radio app)
- VOX (news, commentary, program archives)
- NPR One (new, commentary, program archives)
- Clammr (podcast, news, and music)
- Downcast (podcast app)
- Radio Disney (official radio app for Disney network)
- Amazon (streaming music)
New apps are regularly added to this list, as developers optimize them for the CarPlay interface. If you don’t see your favorite music/podcast/navigation app here, it may very well be on its way!
Which Kia Models Have Apple CarPlay?
Kia models with CarPlay as a standard or available feature include:
- Kia Soul (2014 – Present)
- Kia Optima (2015 – Present)
- Kia Sedona (2015 – Present)
- Kia Cadenza (2017)*
- Kia Forte (2017)*
- Kia Niro (2017)*
- Kia Sorento (2017)*
- Kia Sportage (2017)*
* Some of the above models have not been announced by Kia yet, so we don’t have official word on whether or not the 2018 rendition will support Apple CarPlay. Our most educated guess says that all future Kia models will have the feature available as either a standard feature or as a feature available at higher trim levels.
We’ll be sure to update you as we have more information about new Kia models, and the exciting technology on-board. Check back to our blog as that’s where we post all of the new things we discover (and occasionally some rumors!) Until then, if you have any questions about CarPlay or other tech features found on new Kia vehicles, contact us today!
My 2016 Kia Soul + did not come with Apple Car Play. My iPhone 7’s Bluetooth worked pretty seamlessly with the audio system up until iOS 13 and subsequent patches. Now it only connects for a couple of seconds and drops my music. Incredibly frustrating! Any suggestions?