Legacy carmakers have struggled to create user-friendly software for their vehicles, but a new wave of car companies like Tesla and Rivian are approaching it differently. They prioritize software as much as the hardware, and traditional carmakers are taking notice. Rivian, in particular, is doubling down on its own software, refusing to integrate CarPlay, despite persistent customer requests. After driving a Rivian R1S for a week, I understand their stance. Rivian’s software, while still evolving, is surprisingly good. The map interface, central to the experience, makes searching, adding stops, and following directions effortless. While some journalists find the zoom behavior confusing, I found it intuitive. The map’s strength lies in its seamless integration with other controls – media playback, vehicle information, and camera access are just a tap away. Initially, the media controls being on the right side of the screen felt awkward, but I quickly adapted to using the steering wheel controls instead. Other interfaces like media settings, vehicle information, and camera access are equally well-designed and accessible. What truly sets Rivian’s software apart is its driver-centric approach. It saves numerous presets, including seat position (common) and fan position (rare), making for a personalized experience. While the motorized fan control requires in-screen adjustments, the consistent settings mean you rarely need to touch them. Even with its strengths, Rivian’s software isn’t perfect. While climate temperature controls are always visible, I missed having constant access to fan speed, requiring a menu dive to adjust. Integrating Rivian’s software with my phone was surprisingly seamless. The Rivian app, though basic, is easy to use and offers a robust set of features for remote vehicle control. You can check your car’s location, charging status, remotely adjust climate, and even open the tailgate and front trunk. Your phone doubles as a key, eliminating the need for physical keys. This integration makes for a streamlined experience, especially when combined with smart locks and digital wallets. While the car usually unlocks automatically when detecting my phone, the Rivian app needs to stay open in the background, and occasionally, unlocking isn’t immediate. These instances are minor inconveniences. The Rivian app widget provides quick access to climate settings, trunk controls, and charging status. However, responsiveness can be inconsistent, possibly due to my iOS 18 beta. Despite the lack of CarPlay, navigation is effortless. Opening Apple Maps on my phone and sharing the destination with the Rivian through the share menu works seamlessly. Media playback is equally smooth, allowing me to continue podcasts with a single press on the steering wheel. Launching new content requires Siri or the phone itself, though this will change with the upcoming Apple Music app. Of course, there are some CarPlay features Rivian’s software lacks. Messaging notifications are the most noticeable absence. Rivian only uses Bluetooth for phone connectivity, meaning Apple’s Announce Notifications, which requires AirPods, doesn’t work. While you can send messages via Siri, receiving a response requires checking your phone. Siri activation is also less intuitive, requiring voice commands only. This could be addressed with dedicated buttons, but it’s not a major issue given the reliance on voice commands anyway. However, Siri’s performance over Bluetooth is noticeably slower than in CarPlay. Other minor omissions include the lack of Apple Maps’ Share ETA feature. However, Rivian could potentially implement a workaround, like a service that sends ETA updates to recipients. The future of car software is uncertain. While CarPlay is increasingly popular, more automakers may choose to forgo it. The success of this approach depends entirely on the quality of their native software. GM’s recent move away from CarPlay, hampered by its poor software, serves as a cautionary tale. Rivian, however, demonstrates that well-designed software can not only mitigate the loss of CarPlay but also raise the bar for the entire industry. As drivers, we need to adapt to the absence of Apple-specific features or encourage automakers to find alternatives. In the meantime, Rivian’s software stands as the best currently available, offering a compelling alternative to CarPlay.
Rivian’s Software: A CarPlay-Free Experience That Works
