Discussion
We test drove a new XC60 T6 yesterday, and apparently it comes with a 4 year subscription to a data service for the in built google maps, but after that you have to pay a monthly subscription. It had Apple Car Play but no mention of Android Auto. Looking online it appears you can install it if the car has the right USB hub.
https://www.volvocars.com/uk/support/topics/articl...
Has anyone installed it on a recent car and know it works ok as that article suggests some cars don't have the right USB hub, but no idea which ones?
https://www.volvocars.com/uk/support/topics/articl...
Has anyone installed it on a recent car and know it works ok as that article suggests some cars don't have the right USB hub, but no idea which ones?
Android phone compatibility with Volvo and Polestar’s Google Infotainment system is native, it doesn’t require a seperate Android Auto app.
You can just login to your google account and not need bother with a phone. If you do want to connect an Android phone it will be seamless.
https://youtu.be/hMombFHkdQo?si=NWD9g-E6JvJq9qwK
Lol this isn’t something to worry about!
You can just login to your google account and not need bother with a phone. If you do want to connect an Android phone it will be seamless.
https://youtu.be/hMombFHkdQo?si=NWD9g-E6JvJq9qwK
Lol this isn’t something to worry about!
Edited by wyson on Tuesday 14th November 06:10
Here you go Mr Rat:
https://support.google.com/googleappsincar/answer/...
Long story short you can use your phone as a mobile hotspot but some features like auto updating apps and Google maps in the background won't work.
Personally if the subscription is reasonable like £120 a year or something, I'd keep the car connected. When I tried the Google system in a XC40, I thought it was super convenient to have everything sync up through google, rather than being tethered to your phone. Tethering through your phone sort of defeats the purpose of being cloud connected.
I mean it's early days now, but in 4 years, I'd imagine it will be just like with phones, if you change your car, you'd just log into the Google system, all your apps, settings, music or whatnot will just be there. No need to set anything up etc.
Without a connection, instead of having something that just works and updates itself, it will be another system to manage when you tether. Seems odd to me, but a lot of ppl on pistonheads seem to like old skool ways, so some might prefer that I guess.
https://support.google.com/googleappsincar/answer/...
Long story short you can use your phone as a mobile hotspot but some features like auto updating apps and Google maps in the background won't work.
Personally if the subscription is reasonable like £120 a year or something, I'd keep the car connected. When I tried the Google system in a XC40, I thought it was super convenient to have everything sync up through google, rather than being tethered to your phone. Tethering through your phone sort of defeats the purpose of being cloud connected.
I mean it's early days now, but in 4 years, I'd imagine it will be just like with phones, if you change your car, you'd just log into the Google system, all your apps, settings, music or whatnot will just be there. No need to set anything up etc.
Without a connection, instead of having something that just works and updates itself, it will be another system to manage when you tether. Seems odd to me, but a lot of ppl on pistonheads seem to like old skool ways, so some might prefer that I guess.
Edited by wyson on Tuesday 14th November 09:09
Cheers, I'll have a read. Don't get me wrong, its a great system, but it seems silly to need it's own data connection when we're all used to connecting a phone with it's own data connection to the car to play music or navigate. That link suggests you can use a phone as hotspot to connect the car via wifi, but looks like it's not possible with all manufacturers. At least I know the questions to google now though.
The salesman at Volvo reckoned €25/month after the initial 4 year subscription, which seems steep when I'm paying less than half that 70GB/month on my phone.
Of course the other problem is you can install the Spotify app on the Volvo infotainment system, but presumably would always be logged in as me so I'd get stuff my Mrs listens to cropping up on my playlists
. I reckon they need to link the accounts to the presets for the seat positions to know who's driving
The salesman at Volvo reckoned €25/month after the initial 4 year subscription, which seems steep when I'm paying less than half that 70GB/month on my phone.
Of course the other problem is you can install the Spotify app on the Volvo infotainment system, but presumably would always be logged in as me so I'd get stuff my Mrs listens to cropping up on my playlists
. I reckon they need to link the accounts to the presets for the seat positions to know who's driving Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 14th November 09:23
RizzoTheRat said:
I reckon they need to link the accounts to the presets for the seat positions to know who's driving
Nice!Mind you, the MIL Octavia asks who is driving each time you key on!
Only downside if it defaults to the same base profile each time, rather than defaulting to the previous driver, so if borrowing the car for a week we just let it think she is driving it!
Don't know if it's the same set up but the data connection in my 2020 V60 was provided by a SIM card in a little holder in the glove box - the initial data SIM provided by Volvo was with Vodafone and the free subscription lasted for the first 12 months I had the car - after 12 month I had option to continue with subscription monthly by paying, I think, £20/month but it's was cheaper to remove the Vodafone SIM and slot in a prepaid data package sim from 3 - I picked it up from Amazon and think it cost about £30 for 24 GBs or so and it lasted for 12 months and worked fine for updating maps, streaming Spotify etc
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