Owners that were able to install Apple Carplay with the 8" screen: do you think it's worth me choosing against the Ultimate Package?

[daviderle]

I’m shopping for a 2015 and I’m pretty sure I want to get a 5.0 non-ultimate because (a) I don’t care about most of the Ultimate features and (b) I love having Waze and Audible app on the screen while I drive. Although I do wish I could have the bigger, clearer screen. Anyway, I can’t find any videos of an upgraded 2015 with CarPlay, and I just want to be sure that the performance is decent on hardware from that era.

I did find this video of a 2015 Sonata with CarPlay. Safe to assume that it’s the same underlying system as a 2015 genesis?

IMHO the simplest way is to take you lightening USB cable along with your phone, plug it in the vehicle when you are sure you are going to buy it (but before you show any interest), if the Apple play icon appears / or your phone asks you to trust the car, you have the latest interface, if that does not happen, then the system does not have the required update and you can use that fact to lower the price + $179 for the March 2019 map update, that will have the required Apple play update bundled with it.

BTW it is unlikely the dealer can update it for you, Hyundai where giving that update for free, until earlier this year, but they have stoped doing that, and it is only available via the mapnsoft update.

I can do a video for you, but it is really much easier to ‘try before you buy’

 

[Scamp]

I’m shopping for a 2015 and I’m pretty sure I want to get a 5.0 non-ultimate because (a) I don’t care about most of the Ultimate features and (b) I love having Waze and Audible app on the screen while I drive. Although I do wish I could have the bigger, clearer screen. Anyway, I can’t find any videos of an upgraded 2015 with CarPlay, and I just want to be sure that the performance is decent on hardware from that era.

I did find this video of a 2015 Sonata with CarPlay. Safe to assume that it’s the same underlying system as a 2015 genesis?

I was in your exact boat. Of course, that will probably come as no surprise being that I started this thread

I will try to see if I have my old iPhone to take video of how CarPlay looks on the Genesis while it's connected on my current phone, as I wished so badly I could have found someone showing me the same thing you're looking for

In the meantime, here's what I can tell you. That Sonata video looks identical to my Genesis. From the functionality to the display, everything looks the same to me. As far as how I rate the actual day-to-day with it, I give it 5 stars. I'm a tech guy so I'm very critical of infotainment in cars because let's face it, almost every manufacturer had been doing a terrible job with it short of a few exceptions, and most of those being recent developments in the last 3 years. To me, having CarPlay was critical because it makes the car so future-proof in my opinion. I rely on Waze every single day, and I just don't like the idea of not being able to use my car's main display with it, thus I decided it was a must have.

I too shared the desire for the bigger screen before seeing the one I have (and having driven a few Ultimates), and in pictures I would see, it seemed like mine would feel dwarfed by the rest of the cabin and the borders shaped around where the larger display would normally fit. When I first got in for a test drive in my car, though, I was so relieved to find I felt it was plenty big for me and that I was not compromising by having the smaller one of the two to get CarPlay. It's something like what, 8 inches? Definitely bigger than my cell phone, on par with most new cars today, and I love the way Waze looks on it.

By not having the Ultimate package, I missed out on 3 more speakers (17 vs 14 which is still overkill and sounds amazing), the HUD, a bigger screen in HD that wouldn't have given me CarPlay, and the ability to navigate the infotainment from a dial by the armrest (which would be nice at times, but I doubt it would work all that great with CarPlay and I'd still probably end up touching the screen or using my phone to make it do what I want most of the time). Since you're looking at a 5.0 as well, you still automatically get all the stuff from the Signature and Tech packages, so all the safety features, the cool little add-ons like illuminated door sills, real wood trim, etc.

If there's anything in particular you want me to demonstrate for you if I'm able to get some video, just let me know. I'd be more than happy to help a potential buyer having been one myself just a month ago. Also happy to take on super specific questions about app functionality with it!

 

[RogersMJ]

plug it in the vehicle when you are sure you are going to buy it (but before you show any interest)

Well it looks like I'm going to be buying a car without seeing it myself first (e.g. from Carvana or from a far away dealership after a PPI) because there are pretty much no Genesis 5.0 in my area at the moment (Indianapolis). There is, amazingly, an actual rare Genesis dealer not 3 miles from my house, but they have no 5.0 (new or used). In the entire city area, there's one 5.0 and I tried to go drive it yesterday but the dealer said they're not selling it because they bought it at auction and then it didn't pass their service inspection. So...highly likely I'll Carvana it and then be able to return it if I need to.

@Scamp That is such a huge help. You addressed all my points, and alleviated any lingering doubts about missing anything on the Ultimate.

To me, having CarPlay was critical because it makes the car so future-proof in my opinion. I rely on Waze every single day, and I just don't like the idea of not being able to use my car's main display with it, thus I decided it was a must have.

Exactly! In my (likely totaled) 2016 BMW that didn't have CarPlay, even though it had one of the best infotainment systems I've ever seen from the factory, I never used any of it. I had a little mount for my phone and ran everything off of that -- position and screen size was not ideal though. My rental car that I have at the moment is a 2019 BMW X3, which has wireless CarPlay, which I've decided is my absolute favorite thing ever. Having Waze and Audible within easy reach is wonderful.

 

[wabbajack]

there are pretty much no Genesis 5.0 in my area at the moment (Indianapolis).

I am also in Indianapolis and I drove to Lexington to buy my 2015 Genesis 5.0. I was shopping for about 4+ months before I found the model (mileage, price, features) that I wanted. I have had it for 1.5 months now, and it's solid.

Carplay was installed by the previous owner, which I appreciate. I've had carplay in my previous two cars (I went through 3 cars in as many years). Navigation isn't bad actually, as I can use the car to navigate, and then use carplay to play my media.

 

[Scamp]

I am also in Indianapolis and I drove to Lexington to buy my 2015 Genesis 5.0. I was shopping for about 4+ months before I found the model (mileage, price, features) that I wanted. I have had it for 1.5 months now, and it's solid.

Carplay was installed by the previous owner, which I appreciate. I've had carplay in my previous two cars (I went through 3 cars in as many years). Navigation isn't bad actually, as I can use the car to navigate, and then use carplay to play my media.

Had to drive 3.5 hours myself to get the one I wanted. So worth it.