This is an article about two very similar models, one of which has CarPlay and the other doesn’t.
I’m not sure that the stats would stand up to a massive amount of scrutiny due to the different marques, but I find it interesting that there’s such a discrepancy.
The key takeaway:
For the years these cars were sold together, the Honda (which had Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration) outsold the Blazer (without Apple CarPlay / Android Auto) by 43%, 73%, and 166% in each time period. Today in 2026, people are buying a Honda Prologue over one and a half times more often than the Chevy Blazer EV the Prologue is based on.
I’m sure I’m not the only one on this forum who would not buy a car without CarPlay! My wife’s 2016 Honda Pilot doesn’t have it, and I think an aftermarket purchase is in the cards.
-Eric
Yeah, but what do the figures look like for comparable models which have the same level of integrated tech. If they mirror the above, CarPlay makes no difference.
If the Chevy outsells the Honda with the same Tech, then CarPlay makes a difference.
Without a true A/B test (only one thing is changed), the figures prove nothing.
Very interesting.
A separate but related and important issue is the impact on the rental car market.
I find it to be extremely convenient that almost every car I rent nowadays works with CarPlay; that means I can instantly use the Nav system and Sirius XM subscirption I am used to.
I will consciously avoid rental cars in the future which do not support CarPlay.
I would definitely get a car with CarPlay. The wife always had it in her car and I just got a car with CarPlay, it is so nice.
I agree, I’ve had friends and family in the car business my entire life. People’s opinions about their cars may be more important than iPhone vs Android. IMO
There is nothing unusual about GM running Android Automotive. AA is an operating system not an application. A LOT of auto makers use it. (On newer Mercedes Benz automobiles the Gemini wake word is “Mercedes”). I would be very surprised if GM couldn’t install CarPlay with an over the air update, if they ever change their mind.
I stopped financing cars years ago, so I’ve only purchased used cars in this century. I might like CarPlay if I ever get a chance to use it. 
I’m buying my wife a new car tomorrow. I never considered any cars without Car Play nor will I. CarPlay or no deal.
I hear it enough from friends and colleagues to believe that it’s true at the point of looking for a car. It’s certainly true for me.
Cars are too expensive to eliminate anything from the purchase decision. Sure, CarPlay is a nice-to-have, but price is the decider for us.
Katie
Any car that didn’t have carplay was swiftly removed from my list.
Give it time. I’m going to do the same when CarPlay Ultra is more mainstream too.
We don’t buy cars that often, average 15 year gap, so the integrated smartphone interface finally became a conversation during a recent car purchase. We quickly arrived at the first test being how good was the CarPlay integration. This disqualified a bunch of cars, including Tesla/Rivian. I never thought my phone would dictate such a choice, but ‘finally’ having an option, it was obvious across the multiple drivers in the family, that CarPlay was a base requirement. We bought a Honda, in case you’re wondering
I guess I’m in the minority, I don’t have and don’t care about CarPlay or in fact any phone integration with may car. The less it has the better IMO. We do have a USB stick with a custom curated list of songs we like to listen to in the car and that is good enough. I disabled the connection to receive messages or phone alerts in the car as well. I find it distracting and driving is difficult enough as it is.
Unless I’m horribly misremembering, Honda has a significant perceived overall reliability advantage over Chevy. Whether data bears that out is another matter. Anecdotally, I’ve lost count of the people who have told me Hondas are great and reliable. I very rarely hear that about Chevy.
I drive an '08 Chevy that I purchased in 2009, a few days after my previous 3 year old car was totaled by some “inclement weather”.
I got lucky, GM went bankrupt in 2009 but it’s been a reliable ride.
I won’t even rent a car without CarPlay. I’d never buy one without it.
However, I don’t need (or want) CarPlay Ultra. The car should take care of its own systems. But I want phone, texts, music source, and nav to be through my phone.
This. A couple of years ago, we did a European trip that involved flying to Milan, then driving to various places in France and Italy. A rental car with CarPlay was the key to a hassle-free experience.
I’ve mainly traveled with a group since I retired. Or used Uber when I need a ride. As a result, I haven’t needed to rent a car in several years.
I’ve seen stories like the following from time to time. Do you think the problem is overhyped?
I don’t believe it’s overblown. Many times I’ve got into a rental or garage loaner to find someone else’s contacts sync’d and still present.
I love that CarPlay gives me a wall around them to protect that data without having to share it with the built in entertainment system.
