2024 Volvo XC60 Recharge Tech Check

Jill Ciminillo continues her look at the Google Operating System -- this time as it is outfitted in a 2024 Volvo XC60 Recharge. Lo and behold, it has Apple CarPlay.
Jill is a syndicated automotive writer, currently serving as the managing editor for Pickup Truck + SUV Talk and co-hosts two podcasts: the Consumer Guide Automotive Car Stuff Podcast and the Pickup Truck + SUV Talk Podcast.
website: www.pickuptrucktalk.com
twitter/instagram: @jillciminillo
twitter/instagram: @girlinthetrunk
tiktok: @jillciminillo

[@MariuszAleksandrowicz]

In Poland we have built-in wireless charger (I have B5 Polstar Engineered My2024). I bought one small Ottocast box which is plugged with usb 3 in central console to connect my iPhone 15 Pro Max with Apple Car Play system without using any wire. It works almost perfectly.

[@Molishious]

Nice review. It’s a good idea to do the tech separately from the rest of the car and this showed me a lot of things a regular overall car review would not have shown. My guess is that the real benefit for a Google system in an electric car is the ability of the system to know the charge of your car so that it can do route planning better. It might also be nice to have the system be independent so it doesn’t have to connect to your phone, therefore wireless connection doesn’t matter. All that said, I prefer my system which is essentially a dumb screen with a radio that shows what’s on my phone via CarPlay. I’m using the data plan that I already have and my phone is constantly getting updated. The climate controls on this car are a big negative for me. If I’m changing temperature or fan speed I want a one touch option meaning I don’t want to bring up a menu and then use that menu to do what I’d already have completed in that time in my current car. I want voice controls as an option, not as a feature to make up for the bad physical/screen controls. A lot of people will lease this car and not care about the subscription as it will last the length of the lease. This car still has CarPlay, but I wonder what it will do to the resale value of a car like the Chevy Equinox EV when the buyer knows they will need to pay a subscription to make the car function fully.

[@jillciminillo]

100%. I think the Google built-in system is amazing for range estimates on EVs. It's way more accurate than a lot of native systems I've seen that don't use the Google OS. So, I don't think it's right or fair that it becomes a subscription service after a free trial. Then again, maybe you'll know your car after 3 to 8 years and you won't need it anymore. But it just strikes me as off. And, while Google is great for navigation and climate controls, if you live in an Apple environment, it sucks for things like music, voice to text and listening to voicemails. You can have both a Google OS AND CarPlay, so I don't understand why some automakers are trying to force you into the "native" system. I've reached out to GM multiple times and have had several back-and-forth conversations but still have yet to get a satisfactory answer.

[@NMTRUCKER]

Thanks for the in-depth review of the operation of the Volvo infotainment system. 👍

[@jillciminillo]

@@NMTRUCKER thank you for sticking with me through the auto-focus debacle.

[@NMTRUCKER]

@@jillciminillo It was a little shaky but did not affect the overall explanation of the system operation.

[@jillciminillo]

@@NMTRUCKER glad to hear it. 🙌

[@marijnjc]

Car looks like it has a lot of room in the back

[@jillciminillo]

@@marijnjc I’m also short. 🤣