Which 2016 Cars Have Apple CarPlay?

If you're among the millions who crave the ability to seamlessly link your smartphone to your vehicle, the 2016 model year looks to be a giant step in that direction.

Related: Which 2016 Cars Have Android Auto?

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow users to control smartphone functions such as text messaging, navigation and music via their car's dashboard touch-screen, steering-wheel buttons and voice commands. They're scheduled to become available on more than 30 vehicles during the 2016 model year.

Features such as these usually appear first on high-end vehicles and then trickle down to the lower price cars, and CarPlay started that way: Its world debut was on the $302,450 Ferrari FF.

In the 2016 model year, though, mass-market brands such as Chevrolet and Volkswagen are getting the jump on many luxury makes by offering CarPlay and Android Auto on most of their models. Both also are scheduled to be available on the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata.

The operative word here is "scheduled" because some automakers said they would offer these features earlier only to find that integrating a smartphone into a vehicle's audio system is no easy task. On several vehicles, only one of the two systems will be available initially, and the other is supposed to be added later in the model year. It is possible that one or both could be delayed.

These late availability additions will be updated to the 2016 cars already sold. Owners will be able to get the connectivity later either via an update they perform themselves or at the dealership.

Moreover, CarPlay and Android Auto may require specific audio systems and/or a built-in navigation system on some vehicles.

Several automakers have indicated they will soon add CarPlay and Android Auto, so expect more models to get them during the course of the model year. (The list below is accurate as of Sept. 10, 2015).

We can also confirm that major automakers such as Ford (Ford and Lincoln brands), Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep and Ram brands) and Toyota (Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands) will not include CarPlay in their current slate of 2016 models.

CarPlay is supposed to work with iPhone 5 and later versions. If history is a guide, there's a good chance that all phones won't work equally well, all functions that are supposed to transfer from phone to vehicle won't, and many frustrated users will return to dealerships for help or seek guidance from other equally frustrated users in online forums.

Read our Hands-On Report With GM's Apple CarPlay, Android Auto

The best approach is to try CarPlay before [2]you buy to ensure that it does at least some of what you want and to have realistic expectations that the plug-and-play promise might not be entirely fulfilled.

2016 Vehicles Offering Apple CarPlay

Buick
LaCrosse
Regal

Cadillac
ATS
CTS
ELR
Escalade
XTS

Chevrolet
(Models with a 7-inch or 8-inch MyLink screen will have CarPlay at launch.)
Camaro
Colorado
Corvette
Cruze
Impala
Malibu
Silverado
Silverado 2500HD/3500HD
Spark
Suburban
Tahoe
Volt

GMC
Canyon
Sierra
Sierra 2500HD/3500HD
Yukon
Yukon XL

Honda
Accord (EX, EX-L and Touring)

Hyundai
Sonata

Kia
Optima (late availability)

Volkswagen
Beetle (SE models and higher)
CC (Trend models and higher)
Golf (all trims except base 2-door)
Golf GTI
Golf SportWagen
Golf R
e-Golf
Jetta
Passat
Tiguan

Volvo
XC90 (available in November)