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Will 2019 Highlander get a software upgrade for Carplay?

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#21 ·
I have used CarPlay for a long time. Anyone who says it sucks doesn’t like having the ability to easily text with voice, run both Waze and google maps at the same time (waze routing sucks, but the alerts are fantastic), listen to my music and audiobooks directly from my phone.

Oh, and the CarPlay requires lots of bandwidth to work so it needs a hard wired connection or a wifi connection.

The result of the hardwired connection is significantly improved audio quality on music and text to speech. It also makes it much easier for Siri to understand you because your spoken words are in much higher resolution.

My Siri accuracy went from 40-50% to 95% when I tested it. It may make one mistake on a text, and it’s normally the first word. I just say the first few words a little slowly now then I can go as fast as I want and Siri normally does a good job.

The new version of CarPlay coming out in a couple months will vastly improve the capabilities. Including letting your passenger use the phone without changing the screen on your car. It will be separated finally. I can’t wait for that.

I am a power user, I am in the car 30k miles per year. So while I understand some people don’t use it, I bet they are the same people I see weaving all over the road while trying to use their phone. I rarely have to touch my phone anymore and I can text, call, and use Siri to all the normal stuff.
 
#22 ·
I asked this question to Toyota here was their response a few weeks ago:


Toyota strives to offer products and services that match our customers' diverse driving needs, and we continuously evaluate emerging technologies for use in our vehicles. Currently we do not have any confirmation of a future update for your vehicle to include Apple Car Play.

We certainly appreciate your inquiry, as it is through communications such as your that Toyota learns of our customers' expectations and reactions. If you would like to receive emails from Toyota regarding new or updated products, please subscribe to our email list. You may also sign up to receive updates via our RSS Feed when articles are posted at the Toyota USA Newsroom web site.



So, keep pegging them with questions about this and they may roll out a "retrofit package" or something in the future if enough people bug them about it.
 
#23 ·
As mentioned in one of the many other threads on this subject, the Entune 2.0 radios are totally different from the Entune 3.0 radios. They even a different operating system at the most basic level. So it's not as easy as "just a software upgrade" as many want to hope. The only reason Toyota was able to upgrade 2018 Camry and Sienna was that they came with Entune 3.0 (those were the first models to get it) that did not have CarPlay at the time those cars were made.
 
#24 ·
Barrypii said:
I am a power user, I am in the car 30k miles per year. So while I understand some people don’t use it, I bet they are the same people I see weaving all over the road while trying to use their phone. I rarely have to touch my phone anymore and I can text, call, and use Siri to all the normal stuff.
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I'm sorry, but the notion of a "power user" of a phone while driving is really frightening. Me, I'm not weaving all over the road - I'm paying attention to driving and not even thinking about the phone or whatever it does.

I get that CarPlay takes away the need to push buttons on the phone while driving (something that's horribly dangerous), but if you're thinking about giving Siri instructions about playing and responding to texts, you're still distracted while driving and that's still scary.
 
#25 ·
When deciding between 2019 or waiting for 2020 Highlander the main thing keeping us on the fence was the fact that 202 will include Android Auto.

We ultimately decided to go with the 2019 SE. The Etune 2.0 may be antiquated and lack Android Auto, the savings off invoice to me are a better deal.
There seem to be some plenty of aftermarket head units that don't sacrifice factory functionality of other entertainment / hands free controls.

If we decide the 2019 Etune system will not meet our needs, then we will upgrade the head unit.
with 2019 HL we will get the SE model ( wont be offered in 2020) & rear lift gate window opens ( wont be offered in 2020).
 
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#27 ·
I don't understand why the 2019 HL does not have Apple CarPlay when some 2019's do within the Toyota lineup. I do know, that the 2019 Sienna's have it, because my wife drives one daily for work. I have heard some Camry's already have it, and some Tundras.
 
#28 ·
W1nD0L1Kr said:
I don't understand why the 2019 HL does not have Apple CarPlay when some 2019's do within the Toyota lineup. I do know, that the 2019 Sienna's have it, because my wife drives one daily for work. I have heard some Camry's already have it, and some Tundras.
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The general consensus is that our 2019s are the end of the production life with an outdated Entune 2.0. Other models are still fresh from a new platform and were equipped with Entune 3.0 which is compatible with CarPlay. WHich is why the 2020 highlanders (now refreshed and on the new TNGA platform) are updated with Entune 3.0 and thus Carplay.
 
#29 ·
wflanagan said:
In reading the discussion, it's described as "rolling out" to Toyota's in 2019. I'm wondering if it will be upgraded to support it?

I'm considering buying a 2019 Highlander. But, the EnTune is, from what I can tell on my Dad's 2018, pure crap. I really don't want to be saddled to that for the next 5 years. And, I don't want to spend another $1k+ upgrading the screen just to get Carplay. Anyone have any intel?
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'NO' wait for the 2020 gen4 model to arrive with entune 3.0 and carplay. It's much better looking Highlander as well, no more plantation shutters on the front grill. IMO
 
#30 ·
SDupp said:
'NO' wait for the 2020 gen4 model to arrive with entune 3.0 and carplay. It's much better looking Highlander as well, no more plantation shutters on the front grill. IMO
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We were contemplating waiting for the 2020 for the AndroidAuto, & with hopes the space in the 3rd row would increase.
After looking at specs for interior dimensions the 3rd row will only increase by 1.3 inches in leg room & will not sit any higher, in the 2020 the lift gate window no longer opens independently of the lift gate.

In conclusion, for us, What we know of the changes in 2020 are not significant enough to justify paying almost full MSRP.

We are happy with the 2020 SE ( SE trim will not be offered in 2020, we like the blacked out grill & black Alloy rims)

As far as the navigation , yes its not the latest & greatest but it works fine for our need. The integration with Blue tooth is more than adequate. The one complaint is the angle of the nav screen sometimes is washed out by sunlight, it god be angled a little more forward aside from that we like the way it seamlessly sits in the dash , clean lines and looks good.

If Android Auto/Car Play is a deal breaker then yes wait until 2020.

Obviously my opinion (a tech savvy guy in my early 40s) 2019 is a really solid choice for the money.
 
#31 ·
Hopefully Apple does a better job with Carplay then other manufacturers. I do a lot of business trips and rent a lot of vehicles. Many have Apple Carplay and some manufacturers have done it right, and others haven't.
 
#32 ·
  • I was going to wait for the 2020 models also for the Android auto however I learned many years ago to avoid first year changes and yes might look better on the outside but I got a $4,000 discount for buying a new 2019 XLE the way I see it I can buy a really nice radio to put in that vehicle for anywhere from 500 to $900 I'm still at least $3,100 a head.
  • At first I was worried about losing the ability to change the settings on the vehicle through the radio but you really don't do anything with them after that and the only function that you're really going to lose is the microphone to talk to the third row passengers which I don't have any so now it's just a matter of deciding what radio I want
 
#34 ·
#35 ·
ChadRex said:
We were contemplating waiting for the 2020 for the AndroidAuto, & with hopes the space in the 3rd row would increase.
After looking at specs for interior dimensions the 3rd row will only increase by 1.3 inches in leg room & will not sit any higher, in the 2020 the lift gate window no longer opens independently of the lift gate.

In conclusion, for us, What we know of the changes in 2020 are not significant enough to justify paying almost full MSRP.

We are happy with the 2020 SE ( SE trim will not be offered in 2020, we like the blacked out grill & black Alloy rims)

As far as the navigation , yes its not the latest & greatest but it works fine for our need. The integration with Blue tooth is more than adequate. The one complaint is the angle of the nav screen sometimes is washed out by sunlight, it god be angled a little more forward aside from that we like the way it seamlessly sits in the dash , clean lines and looks good.

If Android Auto/Car Play is a deal breaker then yes wait until 2020.

Obviously my opinion (a tech savvy guy in my early 40s) 2019 is a really solid choice for the money.
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This was exactly my thought process. I bought a 2019 SE for 10k off MSRP a month ago. Love the car...the entune system does suck and I will probably spend up to 1k replacing it but that more than offsets the savings I received because Toyota was blowing out their 2019 stock.
 
#37 ·
shmedly13 said:
This was exactly my thought process. I bought a 2019 SE for 10k off MSRP a month ago. Love the car...the entune system does suck and I will probably spend up to 1k replacing it but that more than offsets the savings I received because Toyota was blowing out their 2019 stock.
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We have had our SE for 2 weeks, & no real complaints. in fact we aren't really hating the entune. it works & the only issue is the Navigation. for longer road trips we will likely use Waze on Google pixel 3XL. rides comfortable & performed well in the first snow of the season.
We use the rear lift gate window all the time. & when at the grocery store we activate lift gate on the way to the HL, it is fully opened by time we get to it.
No regrets so far.
We will test drive the 2020 & maybe trade in our 05 Sequoia for another HL.
 
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#38 ·
ChadRex said:
We have had our SE for 2 weeks, & no real complaints. in fact we aren't really hating the entune. it works & the only issue is the Navigation. for longer road trips we will likely use Waze on Google pixel 3XL. rides comfortable & performed well in the first snow of the season.
We use the rear lift gate window all the time. & when at the grocery store we activate lift gate on the way to the HL, it is fully opened by time we get to it.
No regrets so far.
We will test drive the 2020 & maybe trade in our 05 Sequoia for another HL.
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Only reason I'm even looking to upgrade Entune is it's already intermittently turning off and on...which is insanely frustrating. If it even worked decently well, I'd think about keeping it for awhile. Other than that, loving the car overall. Very happy.
 
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