Your Car’s Infotainment System Sucks. Apple Finally Has a Fix

BY MUFARO MHARIWA
May 21
3 min read

Updated: Jun 4

If you’ve driven any modern car recently, you’ve probably run into this: confusing infotainment menus, sluggish responses, and a user interface that feels more like a chore than a feature. Despite advances in performance, comfort, and even autonomy, car software still lags behind.

Sure, there are exceptions: Tesla’s ecosystem is fluid and intuitive, Mercedes-Benz has thrown serious design muscle behind MBUX, and BMW’s iDrive remains solid, but even in those systems, many drivers end up defaulting to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Why? Because they’re simple, familiar, and work the way we expect.

The issue? CarPlay and Android Auto have historically been confined to the central infotainment screen. You’d still be left juggling clunky native menus for climate control, seat settings, or even viewing basic driving info. That’s the gap Apple now wants to close, and it’s doing it with CarPlay Ultra.

The 2022 Promise, Finally Delivered

When Apple teased the future of in-car software at WWDC 2022, it was bold: a full dashboard takeover, seamless integration with core vehicle functions, and an interface that felt more iPhone than instrument cluster. But after that initial splash, things went quiet. Really quiet.

Fast forward to 2025, and that vision has finally arrived. Apple’s next-gen CarPlay, now officially called CarPlay Ultra, is no longer a concept. It’s here, and it’s making its debut in one of the most unexpected places: the latest lineup from Aston Martin.

Now, let’s be honest, Aston Martin isn’t exactly your average commuter car. Most people won’t get near one, let alone own one. But for what it’s worth, Apple’s execution here is impressive. CarPlay Ultra doesn’t bulldoze over a car’s design identity. Instead, it blends in smoothly, adapting to the personality of each vehicle without losing that clean Apple feel.

It’s not just about making CarPlay prettier. It’s about making it smarter, more useful, and truly native to the driving experience.

What CarPlay Ultra Can Actually Do

CarPlay Ultra isn’t just a shinier version of the old setup. It’s a total rethink of what in-car software should be, and Apple’s finally making good on the promise of giving your dashboard the brains it always lacked.

Here’s what’s new:

Full dashboard takeover: CarPlay Ultra stretches beyond the central screen, taking over the instrument cluster with live data like speed, RPM, fuel levels, and range, in the familiar Apple layout.
Deeper integration: From aircon and seat warmers to radio and driving modes, CarPlay now plays nicely with more of your car’s built-in functions.
Smarter widgets: Calendar, Weather, Reminders, Podcasts, and others; all accessible without fiddling with your phone. It’s an ecosystem in motion.
Siri-powered control: Whether you're using the touchscreen or a physical dial, Siri can now handle more in-car commands
Custom looks: Apple’s given automakers some wiggle room here. While the structure stays Apple, brands can tweak fonts, colours, and layout to match their cabin aesthetic.

The Cars That Get It First

Right now, CarPlay Ultra is rolling out in a few select cars, starting with Aston Martin’s latest models like the DBX, DB12, and Vantage. It’s a bit ironic since Aston Martin isn’t exactly what most people drive every day, but it’s a good test bed for the system.

There have also been sightings of Porsche testing it on some concept cars, and Apple originally announced a whole list of brands back in 2022, including Acura, Audi, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar, Renault, and Volvo. The catch is, many of these brands haven’t said exactly when CarPlay Ultra will be available in their cars, so it might take a while before it becomes widespread.

Will Every Brand Adopt It?

From a cost perspective, CarPlay Ultra makes sense for smaller or mid-size carmakers. It lets them skip the hassle and expense of building their own in-car software, which can be a real headache.

But bigger players like Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo have invested heavily in their own systems. They’re unlikely to hand over full control to Apple anytime soon. What might happen instead is a middle ground: offering CarPlay Ultra as an option alongside their native software, giving drivers the choice between the two.

At the very least, it’s a step towards better in-car tech, where having good software isn’t a luxury but just something you expect.

Your Car’s Infotainment System Could Finally Make Sense

By fully integrating with the car’s controls and letting automakers keep their own design touch, CarPlay Ultra strikes a balance between tech and tradition. Whether it becomes the new standard depends on how quickly brands adopt it and how well it performs on the road.

For now, if you’ve been frustrated by your car’s infotainment system, CarPlay Ultra might just be the fix you’ve been waiting for.