Google Maps works better on Android Auto than CarPlay
An Engadget writer tested Google Maps on both car systems in one car and found Android Auto easier for Gemini voice, route stops, zooming and EV trips.
The facts
- According to Engadget, the writer ran the same searches and route changes on Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, using the same car screen in a 2025 Kia Sonet.
- Gemini could be started hands-free on Android Auto. On CarPlay a Gemini button appeared late in testing, but it needed a tap, and Google's help page still said Gemini was not available for CarPlay.
- Android Auto showed several stops along a route at once with ratings and added travel time. CarPlay showed results one at a time with Previous and Next buttons.
- On supported Android Auto cars in the US, Maps can estimate battery use and plan charging stops. Engadget says this covers more than 350 EV models from over 15 brands, and Google's announcement did not mention a CarPlay rollout.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
Same app, same car, different experience. The platform you plug into decides how good the software is. Google is clearly putting its newest features, like Gemini and battery-aware routing, on its own system first. That is a reminder that cross-platform apps are rarely equal. Remember this is one reviewer's test in one car, not a lab benchmark.
For builders
If you build for cars, don't assume Android Auto and CarPlay behave alike. Test on both, because gestures, templates and voice access differ. EV and navigation apps should watch whether battery-aware routing reaches CarPlay.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from Engadget's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.