Volkswagen ID.3 Pro Facelift Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Review

In this video, I will show you how to connect your iPhone and Android device to the all-electric Volkswagen ID.3 Pro infotainment system for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Thanks to Caffyns Volkswagen of Brighton for the test drive (impressions coming soon) and for allowing me to film in their demo 2023 ID.3 PRO – A great medium-sized EV that, like the Cupra Born, closely matches my current VW Golf 7 GTI!

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 – Brief overview
0:44 – Wired Apple CarPlay
1:47 – Pairing Bluetooth to iPhone
3:00 – Wireless CarPlay performance
3:20 – Microphone Quality
3:35 – Call quality & delay
3:53 – Wireless Apple CarPlay impressions
4:05 – Wired Android Auto
5:11 – Pairing Bluetooth to Android
5:22 – Wireless Android Auto performance
5:38 – Call quality & delay
5:48 – Wireless Android Auto impressions
5:54 – Wrap up

If you would like to see other demonstrations similar to this one in other vehicles, please let me know in the comments down below and I will do my best to make it happen.

How to connect Wired Apple CarPlay to Volkswagen ID.3/ID.4/ID.5/ID.7

1. Locate the CarPlay USB-C ports on the inside of the lower centre compartment below the two armrests. Slide the panel backwards to reveal the two USB-C ports on the front side of the compartment. The CarPlay USB port to use is usually the one nearest to the driver’s side.
2. Connect your iPhone USB-C to USB-C or Lightning to USB-C cable to this USB-C port and the other end into your iPhone.
3. Wait a few seconds and a prompt to connect to your phone will appear on the car’s display. Tap the [Use Apple CarPlay] button on this prompt. You may also be asked to unlock your iPhone to start CarPlay.
4. Once unlocking your iPhone you should see Apple CarPlay appear on the main display.
5. Tap the VW app icon on the CarPlay home screen or the side home button on the driver side of the display to exit Apple CarPlay, and back to the car’s main system screen.

How to connect Wireless Apple CarPlay to Volkswagen ID.3/ID.4/ID.5/ID.7

1. Enter the App-Connect section of the car system menu. This can be either via the home screen or app shortcuts you may have set up elsewhere on the system menu screen.
2. Make sure both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are active and discoverable on your iPhone and go into the Bluetooth settings area on your iPhone.
3. Now, look for a new VW Bluetooth profile to appear on your iPhone, it will likely have ID.3 in the title or VW or Volkswagen. Once it appears tap on it to start the Bluetooth pairing process.
   
   Alternatively, you can select Settings on the side menu of this screen and select Mobile devices. Tap on the CarPlay button next to your iPhone from the Known Devices list to connect to your phone wirelessly.
   
4. Select [Pair] on the iPhone screen, followed by the [YES] prompt on the car screen. A passkey will display on both the iPhone and on the car display. Confirm both prompts are the same.
5. It may ask to “Allow Contacts and Favourites Sync?” on your iPhone. This is asking if you wish to share your phone’s contacts with the car. Pressing [Allow] is recommended and it makes it easier to make calls directly from the car display.
6. Your iPhone will next ask “Use CarPlay with ID.3?” or similar, and when this shows select the [Use CarPlay] button in the prompt.
7. Wireless CarPlay will now connect with the car system display.

How to connect Wired Android Auto to Volkswagen ID.3/ID.4/ID.5/ID.7

1. Locate the Android Auto USB-C ports on the inside of the lower centre compartment below the two armrests. Slide the panel backwards to reveal the two USB-C ports on the front side of the compartment. The Android Auto USB port to use is usually the one nearest to the driver’s side.
2. Download Android Auto from the Google Play store if it isn’t already installed on your phone. You can check this by going into Settings on your Android phone, going to search in settings and entering the word “Auto”. If the option for Android Auto appears you have it installed.
3. Connect your Android USB-C to USB-C cable to the left USB-C port and the other end into your Android.
4. In a few seconds, you should see Android Auto appear on the main display.
5. If you don’t see Android Auto, go to the home screen and look for App-Connect. Select this to view Android Auto.

How to connect Wireless Android Auto to Volkswagen ID.3/ID.4/ID.5/ID.7

1. Follow the above procedure to easily connect your Android wired first, and then remove the cable and select your Android again that’s still present on the display to connect to your phone wirelessly and enable wireless Android Auto.
2. Download Android Auto from the Google Play store if it isn’t already installed on your phone. You can check this by going into Settings on your Android phone, going to search in settings and entering the word “Auto”. If the option for Android Auto appears you have it installed.
3. To connect wirelessly directly without doing the above step. Enter the App-Connect section of the car system menu. This can be either via the home screen or app shortcuts you may have set up elsewhere on the system menu screen.
4. Make sure both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are active and discoverable on your iPhone and go into the Bluetooth settings area on your iPhone.
5. Now, look for a new VW Bluetooth profile to appear on your Android Bluetooth settings screen, it will likely have ID.3 in the title or VW or Volkswagen. Once it appears tap on it to start the Bluetooth pairing process.
   
   Alternatively, you can select Settings on the side menu of this screen and select Mobile devices. Tap on the Android Auto button next to your phone from the Known Devices list to connect to your phone wirelessly.
   
6. Select [Pair] on the Android screen, followed by the [YES] or [Use Android Auto] prompt on the car screen.
7. In a few seconds, your Android phone will connect to the car display for wireless Android Auto.