Android Auto coming to the Prius Prime ?

I understand your overall point. But as to the specifics, it probably started in 2018 - https://www.carmax.com/car/18538868 for example

 

That was my recollection. I know it was not available in 2017.

 

Android Auto is in Toyota's web page for 2020 Prius Multimedia: Toyota main /prius/features/multimedia/1221/1223/1225

(Sorry for the bizarre URL, but I am a very infrequent poster, and it would not let me post the URL. Convert the first part of the URL to Toyota's main URL before copying it into your browser's address bar, or just search Google for "2020 Prius Multimedia".)

Android Auto is just not displayed on that page but it is in the HTML source. After you load that page in your browser, use your browser's menu to show page source. In Firefox, it is Menu>Web Developer>Page Source. Once the HTML source for the page opens, use Ctrl+F (Command+F on a Mac) and search within the page source for "android auto". Android Auto is hidden in the page's source a few times, including a disclaimer that Android Auto is a trademark of Google LLC.

So maybe Android Auto will finally be in all 2021 Prius models???

 

I think that's just some kind of disclaimer section that they reuse for all pages. AA will probably be on the 2021 but I'm starting to doubt there will be retrofits for 2020. Now with the car industry in an existential demand crisis, the focus will be to entice purchase of new models, not exactly the right environment for companies to consider retrofits.

 

I agree. Probably not retrofits for 2020 or prior models since that does not generate more revenue for Toyota. What a shame, though, since it would probably just be a firmware update.

However, I just saw an article from MotorTrend claiming that Android Auto will be in all 2021 Prius models except for Prius Limited. I would assume that means Prius Prime as well. Probably on all models except those with the 11.6" touchscreen, although I don't know why since I think Apple Carplay is already available on the 11.6".

Go to Motor Trend's main website and then /news/2021-toyota-prius-special-edition-android-auto/

 

So what does this mean?...no Android Auto? If I purchase a Prius, I have to stick a magnetic hold somewhere on the dashboard to use my phone? The phone can't be used at all in concert with the touchscreen?...no calls coming through the car's speakers?...Nothing? If there are any Droid users on here, what CAN you do with your phone in this car?

 

You can still use bluetooth to do calls just fine.. just like we can in our 10 year old bluetooth enabled calls.

 

Phone can still be paired with the car, hands-free calling works. You can also get basic playback controls as if you are using a pair of bluetooth headphones outputted to car. In addition if you install the Entune App suite you can connect NPR One, and LiveXLive radio. Its just not as useful as CarPlay or Android Auto is.

 

My phone is a big extension of my life. I have about 120 apps just on my homescreen. I use a fair amount of them when I drive my 2005 Ram. I have to use ear buds to listen to Napster, Audible, YouTube, Waze, TuneIn, Google Maps, Text Messages because I want good, clean sound. Soooooo, I'm going to shell out $32K for a Prius and the ONLY improvement I get, with respect to my phone experience, is the thing I like to do LEAST with it, make/receive calls. This is, literally, absurd. I want a 2020 Prius Prime Limited, but no Android Auto is a deal breaker.

Thank you for your input.

 

First of all in many jurisdictions listening to earbuds while driving is considered distracted driving (if caught by police). No android auto is not that big of a deal, you can still use BLUETOOTH AUDIO to listen to your music in the car, or Aux input in fact. At this time the prime simply isn’t compatible with Android Auto, that’s a software limitation on Toyota’s part. If you aren’t worried about spending 32k on a car then a used iPhone to get essentially the same functions you are looking for won’t be that big of a deal.

 

@JAB71
I understand your pain. I initially decided not to buy my Prime because it didn't have Android Auto and a spare tire, but decided to buy a compatible spare at a local auto wrecker and even if the Prime came with Android the cars built in wireless/USB charging ports would not be able to keep my phone juiced up during long drives (they are too weak). I tend to use multiple apps on my Galaxy S10 and even with the most RAM possible with the latest processor I will need to plug my phone into the 12V cigarette adaptor with a higher watt dual USB adaptor to keep up with power usage while also charging the phone. This would result in cluttering up my cabin with a cable which I wanted to avoid so I decided to bite the bullet, deal with it and just use my phone display primarily for Google Maps on my dash with everything else via Blue Tooth through the car.
The Prime is pretty loud with a cabin decibel in the mid 60 to right under 70db at 40mph+ so ear buds are helpful if you want audio clarity without having to blast the cars speakers to drown out the level of ambient noise.
In the end, I am extremely happy with the car even without Android Auto but wish it already had better compatibility.

If there was another vehicle on the market that had the reliabilty, fuel efficiency, and plug-in capacity I would have passed on the Prime - YOU SEE THIS TOYOTA? You lucked out with me, please add Android Auto. I know other buyers who passed on Toyota because of the lack of Android Auto, it is that important to some.