Hyundai is offering free Apple CarPlay and Android Auto upgrades for current customers. The software can be downloaded to a flash drive and uploaded to owners’ 2015 Sonata with navigation or the Genesis with the 8-inch touch screen. It’s also offered for the 2016 Sonata, Genesis, Elantra GT and Tucson with navigation, and the 2017 Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe with navigation.
CarPlay and Android Auto basically port a user’s phone screen to the car’s info screen, which can then be used for navigation, music, podcasts, texts and calls.
Owners need the vehicle identification number and a USB memory stick (or the SD card from their navigation) to get the upgrade at myhyundai.com, which has walkthrough instructions. In the future, Hyundai says, owners also will have access to do-it-yourself videos.
The download takes one to three hours for most cars, but only 15-30 minutes for 2016 Sonata, Elantra GT and the 2017 Santa Fe. Upload time is 20-40 minutes.Owners can take a vehicle to a dealer to receive the update, but there will be a charge for labor.
Hyundai says it will soon make an announcement about CarPlay and Android Auto for the Sonata Hybrid, Sonata plug-in hybrid, Veloster and Azera.
