Previous discussion here on Chevy killing off the Bolt line. As a Bolt EUV owner who loves my car, I’m excited that this means that many other people will get the opportunity to own one. The...
Previous discussion here on Chevy killing off the Bolt line.
As a Bolt EUV owner who loves my car, I’m excited that this means that many other people will get the opportunity to own one. The downside is that it won’t come with CarPlay/Android Auto unless they change their minds on that decision as well.
That is the most boneheaded decision. I think GM is blinded by their own greed to the fact that not having CarPlay/Android auto is an actual dealbreaker for many potential customers. My wife has a...
That is the most boneheaded decision. I think GM is blinded by their own greed to the fact that not having CarPlay/Android auto is an actual dealbreaker for many potential customers. My wife has a 2022 Bolt EV, which she loves, and she absolutely would have gone for something else if CarPlay wasn't available on it.
Honestly, I can't wait for the Bolt EV (No-Carplay) to sit on the lots for way too long and get some heavy discounts. I can just get a phone mount, ya know?
Honestly, I can't wait for the Bolt EV (No-Carplay) to sit on the lots for way too long and get some heavy discounts. I can just get a phone mount, ya know?
A phone mount is nowhere near the same experience unfortunately. Not only is the phone physically smaller than a car touchscreen, the CarPlay UI itself is far better designed for use while driving.
A phone mount is nowhere near the same experience unfortunately. Not only is the phone physically smaller than a car touchscreen, the CarPlay UI itself is far better designed for use while driving.
I own an Android Auto car and having come from using a phone mount previously, I'm not a convert to the cult, honestly. With my phone mount, I had my phone raised into the corner of my vision and...
I own an Android Auto car and having come from using a phone mount previously, I'm not a convert to the cult, honestly.
With my phone mount, I had my phone raised into the corner of my vision and angled directly at me. My Android Auto does a great job of having the screen pointed directly at my rear seats and just further down than I want to look. I'm currently looking into a phone mounting spot for my phone despite the integration.
I rent a lot for work and no car or van I've used, not even the Transit 350, has a 'cockpit' where the displays are angled toward the driver or high enough for quick glances. Now, BMW or Audi could easily have one, I'm not familiar with the luxury segment but so far no 'commuter' car's screens have impressed me enough to make AA a 'must have'.
I like it, don't get me wrong, but it's not the end all be all. Besides, my phone's orientation gives me a better view of the road ahead than my 'widescreen' car display.
The thing CarPlay (and presumably Android Auto) does so exceptionally well is the UI itself. With CarPlay, the default view puts navigation on one half of the screen, and puts media controls and...
The thing CarPlay (and presumably Android Auto) does so exceptionally well is the UI itself. With CarPlay, the default view puts navigation on one half of the screen, and puts media controls and reminders on the other half. This means I can glance at my dashboard and get an immediate overview of everything that is important while driving and nothing else. I don't need to futz about switching between apps to get this information. I can tap any of the panels to get the full music player, map, or calendar UI if needed. Returning to this dashboard view is accomplished by tapping the bottom left corner, which importantly is easy to do by feel without looking at the screen. The big panels themselves are also much easier to fat finger your way to than tiny app icons.
The UIs for the individual apps are also much better designed for single finger use while driving. Everything is simplified down to a few easy to hit buttons. It is all built to give you critical functionality as fast and easy as possible to minimize distractions.
When I mount my phone in my other car, the only thing it does better is putting the screen closer to my face. Everything else about the experience is downgraded, and I feel less safe trying to drive this way. Because smartphones are not designed to be used while driving.
In my experience, I genuinely wouldn't own a car without it again given the choice. It's so huge for me to have the maps on an easily readable, comparatively large screen. I also don't have any...
In my experience, I genuinely wouldn't own a car without it again given the choice.
It's so huge for me to have the maps on an easily readable, comparatively large screen. I also don't have any issues with the angles I've seen the screens at to be fair, but I hate if I use a phone for maps. It feels irresponsible by comparison.
Well, if it works for you that's cool. Like I said, until I get a cockpit where all the screens and controls are angled at me, the driver, I'm not happy. It's one of my big pet peeves with the...
Well, if it works for you that's cool. Like I said, until I get a cockpit where all the screens and controls are angled at me, the driver, I'm not happy. It's one of my big pet peeves with the smart stuff and touch screens.
Right there with you. I really like the Bolt. But introducing a new ecosystem I can already imagine the monthly subscriptions (and other pay apps) they have planned to nickle and dime their...
Right there with you. I really like the Bolt. But introducing a new ecosystem I can already imagine the monthly subscriptions (and other pay apps) they have planned to nickle and dime their customers. Software subscription models moving to car ownership (eg. Adobe)? Hard pass.
No need to imagine. We can see what they’re already charging. Their base plan starts at $30(!) a month. I believe (and I could very well be wrong on this since I don’t use their services) that fee...
I believe (and I could very well be wrong on this since I don’t use their services) that fee only unlocks the ability to use apps in the car but doesn’t actually pay for subscriptions. So, if you want to use Spotify, you have to have an active Spotify subscription that you’re paying separately as well.
As you mentioned, this could certainly change with their revamped models next year, and, like you, I don’t trust that it’ll be done well or in an affordable manner. I love my car itself, but everything else about my experience with Chevy has felt scummy in a money-driven way.
This is the car I was really hoping to trade mine in for, so I'm excited, but not having carplay isn't a dealbreaker for me. The biggest things I want are a backup camera and driver pre-sets anyway
This is the car I was really hoping to trade mine in for, so I'm excited, but not having carplay isn't a dealbreaker for me. The biggest things I want are a backup camera and driver pre-sets anyway
As a car guy and a Chevy hater, I'd buy a Bolt in a heartbeat; they're just handsome, neat little cars and I'm happy to hear they aren't discontinuing them (for now). I'm still unlikely to buy one...
As a car guy and a Chevy hater, I'd buy a Bolt in a heartbeat; they're just handsome, neat little cars and I'm happy to hear they aren't discontinuing them (for now). I'm still unlikely to buy one anytime soon (Unless my Honda Fit takes a dump), but it's nice to know that I could if I wanted to (and had the money).
I got this as an email from them this morning. I’m actually a little pissed about this announcement because I rushed into buying a Bolt while they were still available since every other EV was...
I got this as an email from them this morning. I’m actually a little pissed about this announcement because I rushed into buying a Bolt while they were still available since every other EV was roughly in the $40K+ range.
But the fact that they changed their mind is a good thing because it means there is going to be an EV on the market that people can actually afford.
To be honest given how hard it was to buy this car in the first place their decision to discontinue it seemed to be completely nuts. Reading between the lines it seems like the reaction to their newer more expensive models was a lot weaker than they were anticipating. They showed off the Blazer EV in Barbie and the interior looked so much like the Bolt that I thought they were driving my car, so I wouldn’t be too surprised that people weren’t enthused.
I got the same email, which is what prompted me to look for a summary article to submit here. I have a friend who, like you, bought because of the cancellation announcement. No idea if he’s pissed...
I got the same email, which is what prompted me to look for a summary article to submit here. I have a friend who, like you, bought because of the cancellation announcement. No idea if he’s pissed or not though, as CarPlay/Android Auto are also a pretty big sell for him. He’s still waiting on the car though.
Also, I didn’t realize you had gotten a Bolt (not sure if I missed that or if you just haven’t brought it up here). What are your thoughts on it compared to the Leaf?
I may have hinted about it, but I didn't make a bit deal about it for sure. I didn't buy a new one because that's basically impossible right now in my area, so I bought a used 2020 model and...
I may have hinted about it, but I didn't make a bit deal about it for sure. I didn't buy a new one because that's basically impossible right now in my area, so I bought a used 2020 model and haggled down the price. It's a huge upgrade from my old Leaf but that's mostly having to do with how old mine was; the newer models have a lot of improvements that make it compare more favorably to the Bolt. One thing that surprised me is that the bolt has a lot of the features that were on my my leaf as part of the higher-end trim, like heated seats, even though it was a base model. The performance on it is really overkill, though, and it means that the accelerator pedal has a hair trigger, which I really don't like. I am pretty much guaranteed to never use the "sports" mode. There are two features that I miss, though; an "eco" mode that lowers the acceleration curve, and an integrated garage door opener.
The carplay feature was important to me, so I would have bought a 2023 or earlier model anyways, but I was fearing that the more expensive market was going to make even used cars more expensive. That's why I jumped into it. I would have saved up more money otherwise because I would prefer to have no debts, and I usually prepay for everything. Somewhat frustratingly, the carplay function stopped working about a week after I bought it so I had to take it in and have the stereo unit replaced. Thankfully I bought a certified model so it was covered under the 6 month warranty extension.
I was expecting to need to get the EUV model since you mentioned that the standard model was too small for you, so I was surprised when I was testing it out that it was luxuriously spacious. I'm kind of terrified of meeting you in real life now. :P
That EV skateboard packaging really lets them maximize interior space! Heated seats are included in the base spec of most EVs now because they're a far more efficient way to keep you warm than...
That EV skateboard packaging really lets them maximize interior space! Heated seats are included in the base spec of most EVs now because they're a far more efficient way to keep you warm than heating the whole cabin in cold weather, so I think they can use that to juice their range figures a bit.
I'm a gentle giant! 😆 I technically could have gotten the regular EV version over the EUV. I fit fine in the driver's seat of the EV, but I didn't come close to fitting in the back seat. Even...
I'm a gentle giant! 😆
I technically could have gotten the regular EV version over the EUV. I fit fine in the driver's seat of the EV, but I didn't come close to fitting in the back seat. Even though I doubt I'll ever really be sitting in those seats, it didn't feel right to me to buy a car that I didn't fit in half of -- to say nothing of my similarly-sized husband and friends who will appreciate the extra inches of legroom in the back of the EUV should they ever end up there. The big issue for me was that I wanted the Premier trim but I did not want the sunroof (because that lowers the ceiling too much for me), and those often come together. It's why I ended up ordering a custom one instead of just putting myself on a waiting list.
And yeah, I hear you on the accelerator. Took me a while to get used to it -- not just its sensitivity but also how much more get-up-and-go the car had compared to my previous one. The brakes also have a different feel -- they "catch" easier and require a much more subtle touch for smaller speed adjustments. I also would love a built-in garage door opener, as I'm already tired of changing the batteries on my remote. It seems to eat through them.
I was also similarly caught off guard with the sensitivity of the accelerator and brake pedals. I find that one-pedal driving results in a gentler acceleration/braking transition for me.
I was also similarly caught off guard with the sensitivity of the accelerator and brake pedals. I find that one-pedal driving results in a gentler acceleration/braking transition for me.
It's important because of the navigation features, which can be very important in cities where traffic can have a strong effect on how long it can take you to go on specific routes. My route to...
It's important because of the navigation features, which can be very important in cities where traffic can have a strong effect on how long it can take you to go on specific routes. My route to work fluxuates between three typical routes depending on the traffic.
Taking away carplay means that you have the choice of using your phone's tiny screen or paying the automaker for their extremely overpriced subscription service. To make things worse, many cars these days don't just stay on the bluetooth input, only allowing you to select it when it's connected to a device. That means when you get to your car you'd have to plug in the cable, attach the phone to the mount, turn on the car, wait for it to connect, select the bluetooth input, then select your destination on the phone. Carplay eliminates 3-4 of those steps.
Oh mine connects automatically and I can't relate with the navigation issues. I navigate on my phone before I leave and then just listen to the voice commands of my navigator.
Oh mine connects automatically and I can't relate with the navigation issues. I navigate on my phone before I leave and then just listen to the voice commands of my navigator.
The biggest problem for bluetooth via phone mount for me is that the voice activation is freaking terrible in my car. If I have the AC/Heater/Radio running forget about it being able to pick up my...
The biggest problem for bluetooth via phone mount for me is that the voice activation is freaking terrible in my car. If I have the AC/Heater/Radio running forget about it being able to pick up my voice, with them off there's a 50/50 chance I can get it to successfully interpret my commands worse if I'm running winter tires which increase in cabin noise a fair amount. I have had to pull over to the side of the road to change navigation due to something coming up mid trip enough times that I'm sick of it.
I rented a car with Android Auto built in and it worked pretty much flawlessly (ie. as flawless as talking to my phone in a non-driving environment) without having to turn down the audio or fans.
Voice navigation can be kind of tricky in ways that are difficult to describe. Google Maps always gave me directions too late for me to safely make the turns it wanted me to take. Apple Maps is...
Voice navigation can be kind of tricky in ways that are difficult to describe. Google Maps always gave me directions too late for me to safely make the turns it wanted me to take. Apple Maps is mostly better, but it has issues in suburbs where there are side-streets that have the same name as the adjacent main streets. Neither of them have a way to get it to repeat an instruction if you missed it.
I felt the same as you when I had my Lexus. All bluetooth, and used a USB drive for all of my music on shuffle. Now that I have Android Auto, I can't imagine being without it. Navigation, music...
I felt the same as you when I had my Lexus. All bluetooth, and used a USB drive for all of my music on shuffle. Now that I have Android Auto, I can't imagine being without it. Navigation, music streaming etc. Some of my family has CarPlay and they feel the same. It was something I didn't know I wanted until I had it.
If I was considering two similar options then it would greatly swing my choice. If the car I really wanted didn't have it then maybe I'd hold out for a while. If the car is a super budget econobox...
If I was considering two similar options then it would greatly swing my choice. If the car I really wanted didn't have it then maybe I'd hold out for a while. If the car is a super budget econobox then I'd be less picky but for 40k+ its a super basic feature at this point.
Previous discussion here on Chevy killing off the Bolt line.
As a Bolt EUV owner who loves my car, I’m excited that this means that many other people will get the opportunity to own one. The downside is that it won’t come with CarPlay/Android Auto unless they change their minds on that decision as well.
That is the most boneheaded decision. I think GM is blinded by their own greed to the fact that not having CarPlay/Android auto is an actual dealbreaker for many potential customers. My wife has a 2022 Bolt EV, which she loves, and she absolutely would have gone for something else if CarPlay wasn't available on it.
Honestly, I can't wait for the Bolt EV (No-Carplay) to sit on the lots for way too long and get some heavy discounts. I can just get a phone mount, ya know?
A phone mount is nowhere near the same experience unfortunately. Not only is the phone physically smaller than a car touchscreen, the CarPlay UI itself is far better designed for use while driving.
I own an Android Auto car and having come from using a phone mount previously, I'm not a convert to the cult, honestly.
With my phone mount, I had my phone raised into the corner of my vision and angled directly at me. My Android Auto does a great job of having the screen pointed directly at my rear seats and just further down than I want to look. I'm currently looking into a phone mounting spot for my phone despite the integration.
I rent a lot for work and no car or van I've used, not even the Transit 350, has a 'cockpit' where the displays are angled toward the driver or high enough for quick glances. Now, BMW or Audi could easily have one, I'm not familiar with the luxury segment but so far no 'commuter' car's screens have impressed me enough to make AA a 'must have'.
I like it, don't get me wrong, but it's not the end all be all. Besides, my phone's orientation gives me a better view of the road ahead than my 'widescreen' car display.
The thing CarPlay (and presumably Android Auto) does so exceptionally well is the UI itself. With CarPlay, the default view puts navigation on one half of the screen, and puts media controls and reminders on the other half. This means I can glance at my dashboard and get an immediate overview of everything that is important while driving and nothing else. I don't need to futz about switching between apps to get this information. I can tap any of the panels to get the full music player, map, or calendar UI if needed. Returning to this dashboard view is accomplished by tapping the bottom left corner, which importantly is easy to do by feel without looking at the screen. The big panels themselves are also much easier to fat finger your way to than tiny app icons.
The UIs for the individual apps are also much better designed for single finger use while driving. Everything is simplified down to a few easy to hit buttons. It is all built to give you critical functionality as fast and easy as possible to minimize distractions.
When I mount my phone in my other car, the only thing it does better is putting the screen closer to my face. Everything else about the experience is downgraded, and I feel less safe trying to drive this way. Because smartphones are not designed to be used while driving.
In my experience, I genuinely wouldn't own a car without it again given the choice.
It's so huge for me to have the maps on an easily readable, comparatively large screen. I also don't have any issues with the angles I've seen the screens at to be fair, but I hate if I use a phone for maps. It feels irresponsible by comparison.
Well, if it works for you that's cool. Like I said, until I get a cockpit where all the screens and controls are angled at me, the driver, I'm not happy. It's one of my big pet peeves with the smart stuff and touch screens.
Right there with you. I really like the Bolt. But introducing a new ecosystem I can already imagine the monthly subscriptions (and other pay apps) they have planned to nickle and dime their customers. Software subscription models moving to car ownership (eg. Adobe)? Hard pass.
No need to imagine. We can see what they’re already charging. Their base plan starts at $30(!) a month.
I believe (and I could very well be wrong on this since I don’t use their services) that fee only unlocks the ability to use apps in the car but doesn’t actually pay for subscriptions. So, if you want to use Spotify, you have to have an active Spotify subscription that you’re paying separately as well.
As you mentioned, this could certainly change with their revamped models next year, and, like you, I don’t trust that it’ll be done well or in an affordable manner. I love my car itself, but everything else about my experience with Chevy has felt scummy in a money-driven way.
No CarPlay no sale, IMO. It's a shame because I really like everything else about the Bolt.
This is the car I was really hoping to trade mine in for, so I'm excited, but not having carplay isn't a dealbreaker for me. The biggest things I want are a backup camera and driver pre-sets anyway
As a car guy and a Chevy hater, I'd buy a Bolt in a heartbeat; they're just handsome, neat little cars and I'm happy to hear they aren't discontinuing them (for now). I'm still unlikely to buy one anytime soon (Unless my Honda Fit takes a dump), but it's nice to know that I could if I wanted to (and had the money).
I got this as an email from them this morning. I’m actually a little pissed about this announcement because I rushed into buying a Bolt while they were still available since every other EV was roughly in the $40K+ range.
But the fact that they changed their mind is a good thing because it means there is going to be an EV on the market that people can actually afford.
To be honest given how hard it was to buy this car in the first place their decision to discontinue it seemed to be completely nuts. Reading between the lines it seems like the reaction to their newer more expensive models was a lot weaker than they were anticipating. They showed off the Blazer EV in Barbie and the interior looked so much like the Bolt that I thought they were driving my car, so I wouldn’t be too surprised that people weren’t enthused.
I got the same email, which is what prompted me to look for a summary article to submit here. I have a friend who, like you, bought because of the cancellation announcement. No idea if he’s pissed or not though, as CarPlay/Android Auto are also a pretty big sell for him. He’s still waiting on the car though.
Also, I didn’t realize you had gotten a Bolt (not sure if I missed that or if you just haven’t brought it up here). What are your thoughts on it compared to the Leaf?
I may have hinted about it, but I didn't make a bit deal about it for sure. I didn't buy a new one because that's basically impossible right now in my area, so I bought a used 2020 model and haggled down the price. It's a huge upgrade from my old Leaf but that's mostly having to do with how old mine was; the newer models have a lot of improvements that make it compare more favorably to the Bolt. One thing that surprised me is that the bolt has a lot of the features that were on my my leaf as part of the higher-end trim, like heated seats, even though it was a base model. The performance on it is really overkill, though, and it means that the accelerator pedal has a hair trigger, which I really don't like. I am pretty much guaranteed to never use the "sports" mode. There are two features that I miss, though; an "eco" mode that lowers the acceleration curve, and an integrated garage door opener.
The carplay feature was important to me, so I would have bought a 2023 or earlier model anyways, but I was fearing that the more expensive market was going to make even used cars more expensive. That's why I jumped into it. I would have saved up more money otherwise because I would prefer to have no debts, and I usually prepay for everything. Somewhat frustratingly, the carplay function stopped working about a week after I bought it so I had to take it in and have the stereo unit replaced. Thankfully I bought a certified model so it was covered under the 6 month warranty extension.
I was expecting to need to get the EUV model since you mentioned that the standard model was too small for you, so I was surprised when I was testing it out that it was luxuriously spacious. I'm kind of terrified of meeting you in real life now. :P
That EV skateboard packaging really lets them maximize interior space! Heated seats are included in the base spec of most EVs now because they're a far more efficient way to keep you warm than heating the whole cabin in cold weather, so I think they can use that to juice their range figures a bit.
I'm a gentle giant! 😆
I technically could have gotten the regular EV version over the EUV. I fit fine in the driver's seat of the EV, but I didn't come close to fitting in the back seat. Even though I doubt I'll ever really be sitting in those seats, it didn't feel right to me to buy a car that I didn't fit in half of -- to say nothing of my similarly-sized husband and friends who will appreciate the extra inches of legroom in the back of the EUV should they ever end up there. The big issue for me was that I wanted the Premier trim but I did not want the sunroof (because that lowers the ceiling too much for me), and those often come together. It's why I ended up ordering a custom one instead of just putting myself on a waiting list.
And yeah, I hear you on the accelerator. Took me a while to get used to it -- not just its sensitivity but also how much more get-up-and-go the car had compared to my previous one. The brakes also have a different feel -- they "catch" easier and require a much more subtle touch for smaller speed adjustments. I also would love a built-in garage door opener, as I'm already tired of changing the batteries on my remote. It seems to eat through them.
Anyway, I'm excited that we're now Bolt Buddies!
I was also similarly caught off guard with the sensitivity of the accelerator and brake pedals. I find that one-pedal driving results in a gentler acceleration/braking transition for me.
I didn't know CarPlay was so important to people. I have a 2019 Civic with simple bluetooth connectivity and I've never thought twice about it.
It's important because of the navigation features, which can be very important in cities where traffic can have a strong effect on how long it can take you to go on specific routes. My route to work fluxuates between three typical routes depending on the traffic.
Taking away carplay means that you have the choice of using your phone's tiny screen or paying the automaker for their extremely overpriced subscription service. To make things worse, many cars these days don't just stay on the bluetooth input, only allowing you to select it when it's connected to a device. That means when you get to your car you'd have to plug in the cable, attach the phone to the mount, turn on the car, wait for it to connect, select the bluetooth input, then select your destination on the phone. Carplay eliminates 3-4 of those steps.
Oh mine connects automatically and I can't relate with the navigation issues. I navigate on my phone before I leave and then just listen to the voice commands of my navigator.
The biggest problem for bluetooth via phone mount for me is that the voice activation is freaking terrible in my car. If I have the AC/Heater/Radio running forget about it being able to pick up my voice, with them off there's a 50/50 chance I can get it to successfully interpret my commands worse if I'm running winter tires which increase in cabin noise a fair amount. I have had to pull over to the side of the road to change navigation due to something coming up mid trip enough times that I'm sick of it.
I rented a car with Android Auto built in and it worked pretty much flawlessly (ie. as flawless as talking to my phone in a non-driving environment) without having to turn down the audio or fans.
Voice navigation can be kind of tricky in ways that are difficult to describe. Google Maps always gave me directions too late for me to safely make the turns it wanted me to take. Apple Maps is mostly better, but it has issues in suburbs where there are side-streets that have the same name as the adjacent main streets. Neither of them have a way to get it to repeat an instruction if you missed it.
I felt the same as you when I had my Lexus. All bluetooth, and used a USB drive for all of my music on shuffle. Now that I have Android Auto, I can't imagine being without it. Navigation, music streaming etc. Some of my family has CarPlay and they feel the same. It was something I didn't know I wanted until I had it.
Apparently. It's a strange feeling to hear you're massively missing out on something you never thought you needed. Ignorance is truly bliss?
Very much so. I also didn't care about CarPlay until I drove a car with it and found out how much better the experience was.
If I was considering two similar options then it would greatly swing my choice. If the car I really wanted didn't have it then maybe I'd hold out for a while. If the car is a super budget econobox then I'd be less picky but for 40k+ its a super basic feature at this point.