Earlier this year, Audi launched their implementation of Android Auto in the 2016 Audi Q7. Which we reviewed earlier this year, and spent some quality time with the Q7 to see exactly how well Android Auto was implemented here. While Audi did implement Android Auto a bit differently, it still works really well, despite not having a touch screen. At the time, the car maker had announced that they would be bringing Android Auto – as well as Apple’s CarPlay – to the 2017 Audi A4 which is available at your local Audi dealer right now. The car maker is also making it known that they will be bringing it to the 2017 Audi A6 and Audi A7 this fall, with the Audi A3 following soon after that.
For those that may not be all that familiar with Audi’s lineup, the A-series are all sedans (with a few exceptions like the A5, S8 and a few others) with the Q-series being SUV’s. The Q7 is their largest SUV – and it is quite roomy to be honest. The A6 and A7 are their larger sedans, with the A6 starting at $47,600. The 2017 A7 will start at $68,800. Meanwhile the smaller 2017 Audi A3 will start at $30,900. This is a compact car, and actually the cheapest model you can get from Audi.
Audi has decided not to go all-in with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay for that matter, right off of the bat, like many of GM’s brands have decided to do. Audi is taking it nice and slow and rolling it out to their more popular vehicles first, and then moving to the rest of their lineup. Google’s Android Auto website does list the 2017 Audi Q2 as getting Android Auto, it doesn’t yet have it. This model isn’t actually sold in the US, it appears to only be sold in the UK. Which is likely why Audi USA didn’t have anything to say about the Q2.
Android Auto is Google’s way of giving its users a usable infotainment system in the car. If you’ve driven a modern car – one from the last few years with a navigation unit – then you’ll know just how clunky infotainment systems can be. Google’s approach is to basically take your phone and put it on a larger display in the car. You can think of it as plugging in your laptop to a monitor, that’s essentially what you’re doing with your Android smartphone (or iPhone with CarPlay) in the car. Although things are still a bit limited, you do get Google Maps, access to music, podcasts, audiobooks and other media apps, as well as the phone for making and receiving phone calls and there is some functionality built in for replying to text messages through supported apps. It’s pretty simple, and if you have a car that has Android Auto built in, you’ll likely have an even better experience, than using a third-party head unit.