BERLIN: A report in the magazine Test, published by German's Stiftung Warentest consumer organisation, suggests linking your smartphone to the dashboard with a smartphone integration app offers a much cheaper and more flexible approach than the carmakers' infotainment systems.
It advises new-car buyers to demand that Apple CarPlay, Android Auto or MirrorLink be fitted to vehicles at the factory, and the proprietary systems of the carmakers be left out.
Price is a key factor. Whereas the "Command Online" multimedia system in a little Mercedes-Benz A Class costs more than 3,600 euros, ticking the box to connect the car’s display and speakers with CarPlay or Android Auto would only cost 357 euros. On top of that, you get to keep all the benefits if you destroy or sell the car.
Unlike a manufacturer's system, your smartphone and its navigation or music apps stay with you and can be used in a rental car too, or in your next car - as long as it also supports the technology.
The phone-based software is also kept up to date more regularly, because apps and smartphones have more rapid release cycles than proprietary in-car entertainment systems do, the tester notes. Drivers can link mobile devices to their car using cables, such as through a USB port, or wirelessly.
The only prerequisite is that your new car has a screen and that its maker offers CarPlay, Android Auto or MirrorLink as an accessory.
Android Auto requires you to have a mobile device with Android 5.0 at minimum, MirrorLink is offered for some Samsung, HTC, LG or Sony phones and CarPlay works with the Apple iPhone 5 or later.
According to Test magazine, Mirrorlink couldn’t quite keep up with the other two programs, largely because it can only be linked with a few types of smartphone.
In any case, the added capabilities don't bring along any danger of driver distraction: a smartphone’s display remains locked when the programs are in use.
