My next vehicle needs to include the Carplay and Android Auto feature; here’s the reason.

      I’ve been driving a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox SUV rental for the past week, which has clarified what I want in my next vehicle. It operates on Android Automotive, which I’ve already determined is essential for my future car, but the more notable feature is how Chevrolet has integrated CarPlay and Android Auto.

      CarPlay and Android Auto provide significant advantages with minimal drawbacks for drivers. They’re meant to bring your mobile phone and its applications into the car, making it easier to access current maps and traffic information without depending on outdated solutions provided by the automaker.

      However, these platforms do have a few notable shortcomings, and Chevrolet has adopted a solution that only a handful of other manufacturers have implemented. My next vehicle must include this CarPlay and Android Auto feature, and here’s why.

      How Android Auto and CarPlay typically function in cars

      Digital Trends

      Most automakers incorporate Apple CarPlay or Android Auto by directing the custom interface to the vehicle's main display. This is logical since the car's display, which is generally larger than any device you may own, becomes central to your driving experience. However, this setup necessitates looking away from the road for navigation guidance.

      Some manufacturers, like Mercedes and BMW, have taken steps to position your preferred mapping solution closer to your line of sight; BMW was the first to do so. Chevrolet uses a similar strategy, but instead of displaying maps in a Heads-up Display (HUD), they are shown on a secondary display typically located in the dashboard.

      While hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles support Android Auto and CarPlay on their center console display, far fewer offer this feature in the gauge display, behind the steering wheel, or in the HUD. This positioning is more logical: after driving 500 miles, it's less distracting to glance down for a moment—something you might do to check your speed—than to turn sideways to view a large screen.

      The various types of dual-display CarPlay and Android Auto

      Digital Trends

      Android Auto does not natively support dual display output, which means car manufacturers must develop this feature themselves. This could explain why so few vehicles offer it. Although large displays are common in center consoles, it’s much less frequent for manufacturers to include a secondary display behind the steering wheel or a Heads-up Display.

      For those that do, the integration of Android Auto and CarPlay is diverse. Most provide some level of connection between the display and the map application on your phone, allowing for the viewing of upcoming turn-by-turn directions (typically with distance to the turn), directions, and even a mini-map.

      Several vehicles offer this kind of integration, from early adopters like BMW to Polestar, the VW Group (including Audi), Mercedes, and Volvo. Not every model provides this integration, and the user experience can differ greatly. However, I’ve discovered the ideal implementation of dual-display Android Auto or CarPlay.

      Why Chevrolet's implementation stands out to me

      Digital Trends

      Having driven numerous vehicles and encountered various Android Auto and CarPlay implementations, I can recognize a good one when I see it. After a week in the 2025 Chevy Equinox, I’ve concluded that Chevrolet offers my preferred implementation for several reasons.

      One reason is that the entire instrument cluster is digital. While this might be frustrating for those accustomed to using buttons to change trip data or what’s displayed on a limited screen, it enables the manufacturer to create a more immersive experience.

      The digital format allows CarPlay and Android Auto maps to take over the majority of the display. Instead of a small window for turn-by-turn directions, you get a full map on this screen, meaning you mostly don't need to divert your gaze to the main display. However, there is a downside: this secondary display does not show information like estimated time of arrival (ETA) or distance.

      Digital Trends

      The more intriguing aspect is the different implementations available. By pressing a button on the steering wheel to cycle through various displays, you can choose either the full map view or a smaller window beside it showing turn-by-turn directions. I usually find it much easier to use the complete map while navigating, but the smaller window is helpful for monitoring the gauges.

      What’s especially interesting is how Chevrolet has integrated mapping solutions into this display. Since Android Automotive powers the vehicle, you get Google Maps with live traffic natively integrated into the car's operating system, along with whatever mapping application you use on your phone. Notably, Chevrolet allows you to switch between both, as it displays either in full-screen map view while cycling through the different screens.

      In summary, this is my favorite dual-screen display implementation with CarPlay or Android Auto to date, and I hope more manufacturers adopt this approach.