Between Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both systems offer provisions for native apps including Phone, Maps, Calendar, Music, News, Podcasts/Audiobooks and Settings. Similarly, you can also get third-party integration for apps like Spotify for music and Waze for mapping, as well as a host of other music streaming, podcast, internet radio, messaging, and navigation apps.

To avoid distractions, in-car voice assistance is a simpler version of what you might expect from your phone or smart speaker at home. You can ask questions like “What time is it in London?”, “What’s the temperature outside/in Sydney?” or “How long does it take to drive to Yass?”. However, you cannot ask for a recipe for chocolate cake, for example, or a history of sights you see on the street.

While both smartphone mirroring platforms allow notifications, Android Auto is more discreet in announcing incoming calls, texts, and messages. Apple CarPlay’s voice assistant turns off the screen and reads out a notification, while Android Auto simply minimizes and reads out the notification. For example, you can continue to follow the navigation while you have messages read to you.