Does the VW Golf feature Android Auto? Let’s find out! The Volkswagen Golf has come a long way since its first release in 1974. At the time it was considered a modern front-wheel drive car setting new standards in its class.
Today, it is seen as an affordable quality car suitable for first-time car owners to seasoned driver. But just how far has VW brought this car?
Table of Contents
- What is Android Auto?
- What can I do with Android Auto Golf?
- How does Android Auto Golf differ from other infotainment systems?
- Is my Volkswagon Golf compatible with Android Auto?
- Which smartphones are compatible with Volkswagon Golf?
- How do I get VW Golf Android Auto?
- How do I use VW Golf Android Auto?
- Wrap Up
What is Android Auto?
We have all been guilty of it! Our phone pings and suspecting it’s important, we pick it up to check the screen while driving. On those long car journeys with the kids, who haven’t clicked a few buttons to find their favorite show and keep the peace.
Despite being dangerous, using our digital devices while driving does happen more than it should. That’s where Android Auto is helpful. You can use Android Auto the same way you would use your smartphone but in a much more sophisticated manner.
Whether you want to safely check the weather or news, reply to messages, or listen to your favorite music, Android Auto will mirror your phone contents into your car’s infotainment screen. What’s more, VW Golf Android Auto has been available since 2016.
What can I do with Android Auto Golf?
Essentially, Android Auto brings some of your favorite Android apps to your compatible built-in Golf display. Here are just some of the things you can do with Android’s infotainment system:
- Use Google Maps or Waze to set your destination, using real-time GPS updates for traffic or ETAs;
- Skip through your playlists on Spotify;
- Answer phone calls and reply to messages with Google Assistant;
- Check weather reports;
- Find out what is happening on your calendar;
- Install third-party apps to customize your Android Auto experience.
The most important thing is that you can do all of this without taking your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road. VW Golf Android Auto can be used with voice activation and by the controls on your steering wheel, but we will discuss this more later on.
How does Android Auto Golf differ from other infotainment systems?
There is only one other system that can be compared to Android Auto: it’s Apple’s CarPlay.
Android Auto was released in 2015, a year later than Apple CarPlay. Perhaps this year was spent finding a solution to improve the system. Those who are loyal Apple fans will prefer CarPlay no matter what, and its interface may be superior.
On the other hand, Android Auto supports 5 times more third-party apps, 100 more cars, and more phone brands. The main difference you will notice is with messaging.
With CarPlay, you can use Whatsapp and Messages. For anything else, you will have to disconnect your phone. Android Auto allows you to connect to WhatsApp, Slack, Skype, Facebook, Hangouts, and some more.
Is my Volkswagon Golf compatible with Android Auto?
It is safe to say that Volkswagen vehicles released before 2015 won’t be compatible with Android Auto. The 2018 VW Golf Sportswagon and the 2018 VW Golf GTI are two examples of compatible cars. To see the full list of compatible VWs, you can check here.
You will need one of the following infotainment systems: Composition Media, Discover Media, or Discover pro.
Which smartphones are compatible with Volkswagon Golf?
There are two ways that you can use Android Auto, via USB or wirelessly. If you attach your smartphone via USB, you can use any Android phone with Android 5.0 Lolipop (with a data plan). Though, for a better experience, it is recommended to use Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later versions.
If you want to use Android Auto wirelessly, your options are slightly more limited. Pixel, Nexus, and Samsung all have compatible version versions using Android 8.0 or higher. You can download the app from Google Play. If you have Android 10, the app is built-in. Again, you can check your mobile compatibility here.
How do I get VW Golf Android Auto?
Here are the very simple steps to get Android Auto running in Your Volkswagen vehicle:
- Download the Android Auto app from the Google Play store;
- Connect your smartphone to VW Golf’s infotainment platform using a quality USB cable;
- At this point, your phone should be unlocked and your ignition should be on;
- On your car system, you will find a menu button to select and then click on App-Connect;
- Then, choose Setup or Mirrorlink (in some cases it will be Android Auto);
- Click on Device List and choose your smartphone;
- Follow the instructions on the screen for the data transfer process and you will be ready to go.
VW Android Auto upgrade
Usually, the upgrade process is done automatically so you shouldn’t need to worry about it.
If you are concerned that it isn’t upgraded, you can control your app upgrades through the Google Play store on your phone by searching for any updates (the same way you would upgrade any of your other apps.
How do I use VW Golf Android Auto?
There are two principal ways to use Android Auto in your VW Golf.
- By using the touchscreen on the Composition Media, Discover Media, or Discover Pro;
- By activating Google Assistant (“OK Google”) and using your voice to search for songs, call or message people, set directions, etc.
You will also be able to use the controls on your steering wheel to skip songs and control the volume.
Wrap Up
VW Golf Android Auto is smart, fast, and easy to use. It boasts many advantages over Apple Carplay with more smartphones being able to connect and a lot more third-party apps available.
Volkswagen has done an excellent job of making sure that a wide range of its models supports Android Auto. There is no need to be tech-savvy to appreciate all the benefits of Android Auto in your car and most importantly, you can drive safely.
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