If you have a car with one of those center console screens, and you probably do if you’ve bought a car this decade, then you’re likely familiar with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Both of these are software that runs in your car — although they’re not exclusive to just there — that can help make your drive a bit more manageable. This software manages your music, text messages, and maps. I know I rely on my screen a lot with road trips, and I’ve always used Google Maps on my Android Auto screen.
What might sound strange is that Google Maps has always been lagging behind the competition. For whatever reason, it had more features on Apple CarPlay. Google and Android are obviously very tied together, so it’s weird to see Apple essentially have priority, but that’s been the case for years. It was only very recently that Google Maps started to feel like it’s on a common playing field. In fact, I’d go as far as saying that it’s finally worth using Google Maps over alternatives such as Waze on Android Auto. Sure, a lot of it simply comes down to person preference, but Google Maps is good enough now.
Android Auto trivia
challenge
How well do you know Google’s car platform?
From launch year to voice commands — put your Android Auto knowledge to the
ultimate test.
HistoryFeaturesConnectivityAppsNavigation
In which year did Google officially launch Android Auto?
Correct! Android Auto was officially launched in 2015, first announced
at Google I/O 2014 and made available to the public in March 2015. It debuted alongside the Open
Automotive Alliance, a group of manufacturers committed to bringing Android to cars.
Not quite. Android Auto launched in 2015, even though it was announced
at Google I/O the year before. Google partnered with a wide range of car manufacturers through the Open
Automotive Alliance to bring it to market.
Which connection method was required to use Android Auto when it first launched?
Correct! When Android Auto first launched, a physical USB cable
connection between your Android phone and the car’s head unit was mandatory. Wireless Android Auto came
much later and required specific hardware support from both the phone and the car.
Not quite. Android Auto originally required a USB cable to connect your
phone to the car’s infotainment system. Wireless connectivity was introduced later and is still not
universally supported across all vehicles and head units.
What is the name of the Google assistant voice command trigger phrase used in
Android Auto?
Correct! Android Auto accepts both “Hey Google” and “OK Google” as voice
trigger phrases to activate Google Assistant. This gives drivers flexibility and makes it easier to keep
hands on the wheel while interacting with the system.
Not quite. Android Auto actually accepts both “Hey Google” and “OK
Google” as valid voice triggers for Google Assistant. Google transitioned its branding toward “Hey
Google” but kept backward compatibility with the older phrase.
Which of the following messaging apps was among the first supported on Android Auto
at launch?
Correct! Google Hangouts was one of the messaging apps supported on
Android Auto at its initial launch in 2015. Since then, support has expanded dramatically to include
WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and many other popular apps.
Not quite. At launch, Android Auto supported Google’s own Hangouts for
messaging. Apps like WhatsApp and Telegram were added later as the platform matured and third-party
developers adopted the Android Auto SDK.
Which mapping app is built natively into Android Auto and serves as its default
navigation tool?
Correct! Google Maps is the default navigation app built natively into
Android Auto. However, other apps like Waze — also owned by Google — and third-party options like Sygic
are also supported on the platform.
Not quite. Google Maps is the default built-in navigation app for
Android Auto. Interestingly, Waze is also available on Android Auto even though it’s owned by Google,
giving drivers a crowd-sourced traffic alternative.
What major change did Google make to Android Auto in 2019 that affected how it works
on your phone’s screen?
Correct! In 2019, Google removed the Android Auto phone screen
interface, meaning it could no longer be used directly on your phone’s display without a compatible head
unit. Google introduced the Assistant Driving Mode as a replacement for phone-based use cases.
Not quite. In 2019, Google pulled Android Auto’s phone screen mode,
making it exclusively a car head unit experience. To fill that gap, Google developed Assistant Driving
Mode, which users could access through Google Maps on their phone.
Wireless Android Auto requires a phone running at least which version of Android?
Correct! Wireless Android Auto requires Android 11 or higher, along with
a compatible Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chipset. Not all Android 11 devices support it either — Google Pixel
phones and certain Samsung Galaxy models were among the first to gain full wireless support.
Not quite. Wireless Android Auto needs Android 11 as a minimum, and even
then hardware compatibility matters. Google’s own Pixel phones were among the earliest to fully support
the wireless connection, with Samsung Galaxy devices following shortly after.
Which of the following entertainment app categories was NOT supported on Android
Auto when it first launched in 2015?
Correct! Video streaming apps have never been supported in Android
Auto’s standard driving mode, and for good reason — watching video while driving is extremely dangerous.
Android Auto restricts content to audio-based apps and navigation to keep drivers focused on the road.
Not quite. Android Auto intentionally blocks video streaming apps in
driving mode as a safety measure. The platform focuses on audio content like music, podcasts, and
audiobooks, along with navigation and messaging, to minimise distraction behind the wheel.
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Google Maps isn’t bad anymore
You don’t have to feel bad using it
Google Maps is a fantastic maps app, but it has always been lacking on Android Auto, at least when you compare it to Apple CarPlay. The update that added the speedometer to the screen was actually the tipping point for me, and I no longer feel like I’m missing out on anything. Yes, my car has a speedometer, but it’s nice to get everything in one spot now instead of having to scan across my car. What’s nice about this update is that it finally feels like I’m not missing basic features that can be found elsewhere. Google Maps and Android fit like a glove, so I’m glad to see the features finally match.
To be fair, Google Maps has always done what it needed to do. In my car, I mainly rely on a maps app just to get to where I’m going, and that worked with Waze and Google Maps. In fact, it’s worth using Google Maps even if you’re not lost, because it can give you important information such as accidents along your route or if you need to slow down because police are ahead looking to pull people over.
These are great features that have been around for a while, but now that I have the speedometer on the screen that not only shows how fast I’m going, but also what the posted speed limit is at any given time, I feel very comfortable with Google Maps. On top of that, general Android Auto updates that let me split-screen Maps with Spotify make it feel like a good experience. It may have taken years to get to this point, but here we are, and I’m happy with it. I fully understand why you’d still want to use a Google Maps alternative, but I don’t think you’re going to find a noticeably better experience anymore.
Nothing beats the simplicity
That’s why I stuck with it for so long
Android Auto comes with Google Maps preinstalled, so it’s extremely easy to just connect your phone and start using it. That’s the major reason why I stuck with it because I don’t really want to mess with apps in my car. I also use Google Maps on my desktop and my phone, so it’s nice to seamlessly move over to the Android Auto version of the app without having to learn any new features. I’m very much a creature of habit, so sticking with something I know is something I prefer to do if it’s close enough to the competition.
What was always working in Google Maps’ favor is the fact that it was always a good navigation tool. Things like the speedometer and accident reports are icing on the cake for me instead of something that specifically draws me to an app. If I really wanted a better experience, I had it waiting for me the entire time. In a weird way, that waiting has paid off since all the features I could want are now here on Google Maps. This was going to be a different experience for me if Google Maps was bad at giving directions, but it never was. It was just an app that showed up on a screen that let me type in a destination and get going. Improvements like more precise directions — like telling me to pass a stoplight before turning instead of saying something like in 50 feet make a turn — have made it even better as of late. I’m sure there are even more improvements coming in the future, so I’m sitting pretty.
