What is Apple CarPlay®?

Apple CarPlay allows you to access your favorite iPhone® apps using your vehicle’s infotainment system—but what is Apple CarPlay®, really? Land Rover vehicles offer Apple CarPlay® as a solution to the problem posed by relatively unfamiliar in-car interfaces: when you can access the apps that you already use on your iPhone® every day, you can get more done on the road and improve your safety by limiting distractions.

How Does Apple CarPlay® Work?

Setting up Apple CarPlay® is simple. You’ll just need to activate Apple CarPlay® in your phone’s settings, connect your iPhone® to the vehicle using a Lightning Cable (or a wireless/Bluetooth® connection in select models), approve the connection on your phone and your vehicle screen, and start using iPhone® apps with your InControl® or Pivi® interface.

Whenever you plug your iPhone® into the vehicle or sync with a wireless connection, the CarPlay® interface should appear automatically. You’ll be able to start using whichever music, navigation, or media apps you prefer—right from the touchscreen in your Land Rover. What’s more, turning off Apple CarPlay® is as simple as unplugging the cable or disabling your Bluetooth® connection.

You’ve got the basics, but how does Apple CarPlay® work in practice? Really, it’s easy to understand how Apple CarPlay® functions because it essentially mirrors the iPhone® interface that you already use every day! If you know how to use an iPhone® and you know how to connect it to your vehicle, then you already know how to use Apple CarPlay®. 

Make the Most of Apple CarPlay® with Siri®

Since Apple CarPlay® has been designed to limit distractions, some features of your phone will not be accessible while Apple CarPlay® is engaged! However, that doesn’t mean that you have to limit yourself on the roads of Ridgewood and Jersey City. 

For example, you can’t text and drive while Apple CarPlay® is active. However, messages will appear on your vehicle screen, and Siri® can read them aloud! You can also use CarPlay® to dictate your response.

Although you can use the buttons on your vehicle screen to complete other tasks, many of these features and apps can also be controlled, hands-free, with Siri®. Here’s what you can do with your voice:

• Make phone calls
• Pull up GPS directions with your favorite map app
• Play music or podcasts from your preferred media app
• And much more!

If you’ve already enabled “Hey, Siri” voice commands on your iPhone®, then you can start to issue voice commands in your vehicle as soon as you’ve connected your device. You can also press and hold the CarPlay® home button to issue a command.

How Can I Get Apple CarPlay in a Land Rover?

Apple CarPlay® is now standard in every new Land Rover SUV.

Looking for a pre-owned model near you in Paramus? The feature is available in Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar, and Range Rover Evoque SUVs as far back as model-year 2019. The Land Rover Defender, released in model-year 2020, has offered Apple CarPlay® as standard since that time.

Any Questions? Let Us Help Today!

If you have any questions about setting up Apple CarPlay® or making the most of this tech feature on the roads of Fort Lee, all you have to do is let us know! The team at Land Rover Paramus is happy to answer any questions online or over the phone, or get you set up at our service department.