Living Without Apple CarPlay in the Chevrolet Equinox EV
Chevrolet’s Equinox EV is a new and relatively affordable long-range, all-electric SUV that aims to appeal to buyers who want to take the electric-vehicle plunge without breaking the bank. When the full lineup becomes available, Chevrolet says a base Equinox EV will cost just over $36,000, including the destination fee. But no matter which Equinox EV buyers choose, it will not offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone mirroring (just like Chevrolet’s Blazer EV). Buyers will have to live with the Equinox EV’s Google Built-In infotainment system and available apps, so we tried it to see what they’ll be getting into.
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Can You Live Without Apple CarPlay?
There’s lots of evidence to support this; both Tesla and Rivian haven’t integrated either popular smartphone mirroring feature into their vehicles, and cars existed before Apple CarPlay. But the familiar display and functionality of Apple CarPlay remains the easiest user interface I’ve encountered across various vehicles, with only small variations depending on display size and orientation.
The Equinox EV’s 17.7-inch center touchscreen does an admirable job competing against Apple’s familiar pixels, with intuitive controls and sharp graphics. I don’t find it as intuitive as the Apple CarPlay interface, but it’s one of the better native systems available today.
Frustration began to take hold as I attempted to integrate my life (temporarily) into the vehicle. Logging into my Google and Spotify accounts involved scanning QR codes then logging in with my phone — a much easier process than trying to type in my username and password on the Equinox EV’s touchscreen. But while the Google login gave me access to all of my saved addresses and history via the built-in Google Maps navigation system, the Spotify app looks barren, isn’t as easy to navigate as it is in CarPlay (or on my phone or laptop) and isn’t as responsive, either. There are other music app options for folks who use them, though it might not come as a surprise that Apple Music isn’t among the choices.
I found other features of the built-in Google system lacking in comparison to my CarPlay experiences. Accessing and reading text messages via the touchscreen is overly complicated (requiring two Bluetooth pairings and a setting change in the phone itself), and I prefer Siri to Google Assistant if I must use voice controls because it can better understand commands that don’t follow a specific prompt format.
There’s also something to say about the data subscription required for these functions. Google Built-In requires a service plan, and while there may be some level of complimentary access depending on the vehicle, as of this writing, owners will eventually have to purchase a data plan to maintain full access to Google Built-In features.
It’s not that hard to function without access to Apple CarPlay in the Equinox EV; again, there are many other vehicles on the road today that don’t offer the feature, and we survived without it for years in our long-term Tesla Model Y. When it’s framed this way — can you live without Apple CarPlay? — the answer is clearly yes.
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Where the native system currently excels over anything available in CarPlay is its Google Maps functionality. The built-in version includes detailed route planning for longer trips — including charging times — and will update you on your likely state of charge upon arrival at your destination.
The Google Maps app on your iPhone currently lacks this feature (though, clearly, it is possible) and Apple Maps can currently do it only in select Ford EVs and the Porsche Taycan. This functionality may spread to other EVs in the future, but until then, a native system that is aware of the car’s vitals is likely best.
The built-in Google Maps also takes full advantage of the Equinox EV’s screen real estate, making it easier to use while driving. The Apple CarPlay interface has dimensional constraints in many other vehicles, making the map view artificially smaller than it otherwise could be.
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Should You Live Without Apple CarPlay?
As my colleague, Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman, put it when we were discussing the Equinox EV, “You can live without Apple CarPlay, but why should you?” While the Blazer EV also lacks the feature, the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX, two badge-engineered versions of the Blazer EV, offer Google Built-In and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. While the built-in Google Maps navigation in both of these vehicles remains superior to the phone-based version, it’s still nice to have the rest of the phone’s functionality readily available and intuitively organized.
Having both types of interfaces like the Honda and Acura do is my preferred solution to this unnecessary problem. Excellent native navigation with route planning is great for an EV, but shoppers shouldn’t have to exchange smartphone mirroring for this feature. “CarPlay or die” is a silly stance, too, but it also seems silly for Chevrolet not to offer a desirable feature for reasons not related to technological limitations. Greater choice is usually a win in shoppers’ eyes.
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