Malaysians really love their smartphones and it’s common to see most drivers rely on it for navigation and messaging (not supposed to) purposes. For a more connected hands-free drive, there’s Android Auto for Android smartphones and Apple CarPlay for those with an iPhone. Unfortunately, you don’t often see them included as standard when you buy a brand new car in Malaysia.
Naza Kia is about to launch the latest Kia Picanto in Malaysia next week which will support these two connected in-car interfaces. This is their compact A-segment car and it appears to be the most affordable brand new car you can get with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support in the country.
Android Auto was initially launched for newer cars with smart in-car displays. This allows you to drive while staying connected by hooking your phone to your in-car entertainment system. To expand its use to all vehicles, they have finally made Android Auto available on your Android smartphone.