• It's responsive.
  • It feels solid on the road.
  • Road noise is minimal for me.

But there's one part of the experience that keeps getting in the way:

The infotainment system.

Not the EV features themselves — battery, charging info, range estimates — those are fine.

The issue is how the system handles what I used to take for granted: my iPhone and Apple CarPlay.

What Changed: GM's Decision to Drop CarPlay in EVs

In the Equinox EV, there's no Apple CarPlay. There's no Android Auto.

GM made a deliberate decision to remove CarPlay and Android Auto from its new EVs, starting with models like the Blazer EV and Equinox EV, and to rely instead on a native Google‑based infotainment system. They've since said they plan to phase out CarPlay and Android Auto from all future vehicles — gas and electric — in favor of their own Google‑powered platform.

The idea, according to GM, is tighter integration between navigation, vehicle systems, and charging.

The impact, for iPhone users like me, is simple:

I lost something that already worked extremely well.

How I Used to Drive: CarPlay as the Center

In my wife's Tahoe, which still supports Apple CarPlay, the experience is smooth:

  • Plug in or connect wirelessly.
  • Maps, messages, music, podcasts — all in a familiar format.
  • Siri handles voice commands reliably.
  • Apps behave the way I'm used to.

It feels like one environment:

  • The car's controls.
  • My phone's apps.
  • My voice commands.

I don't have to think about what lives where. I just drive.

How I Drive Now in the Equinox EV: Two Environments

In the Equinox EV, the story is different.

There's GM's Google‑based infotainment system:

  • Google Maps built in.
  • Google Assistant for voice.
  • A selection of apps available through Google Play on the car.

And then there's my iPhone, mounted in a cup‑holder mount.

So I end up juggling two environments:

  • The infotainment screen for EV‑specific features (battery, range, charging).
  • My phone for everything that would have been handled by CarPlay — messaging, navigation the way I prefer, certain apps that either aren't available or don't perform as well through the car's system.

Sometimes I say the wrong trigger words for the wrong assistant. Sometimes Google Assistant misunderstands because I'm not using the exact phrase it expects. Sometimes the in‑car app experience just feels sluggish or limited compared to running the same app directly on the phone.

The result isn't "the future of integrated tech."

It's more like having two half‑solutions instead of one solid one.

The Gap Between "What GM Wants" and "What I Need"

I understand GM's reasons on paper:

  • They want tighter integration between routing and charging.
  • They want to control more of the software platform.
  • They're working with Google to build a native experience for EVs.

But here's my .02 as a long‑time customer:

  • They removed something that already works extremely well (CarPlay/Android Auto).
  • They replaced it with a system that, in practice, feels slower, pickier about voice commands, and less flexible with app choice.
  • They didn't focus enough on the full experience — especially for people who have built their driving habits around phone projection.

From my seat, it doesn't feel like "we're making this better for you."

It feels like "we're making this better for us, and you'll adjust."

What I Notice Most Day‑to‑Day

A few specific things stand out:

  • Voice triggers: Google Assistant works… sometimes. If you don't use the exact phrases it expects, navigation or commands can hiccup.
  • App availability and performance: Some apps I rely on simply aren't available in the car's Google Play store. Others are there, but they don't perform as smoothly as they do on my iPhone with CarPlay.
  • Constant context switching: I look at the car screen for range and EV details. Then I look at the phone for a message or certain apps. Then I talk to one assistant, realize I needed the other, and repeat myself.

None of that ruins the car. But it does chip away at the sense of one coherent experience.

The Tahoe Comparison: What "Just Works" Looks Like

When I drive the Tahoe:

  • I connect my phone.
  • Apple CarPlay comes up.
  • The center screen becomes a familiar extension of my iPhone.
  • I don't think about what lives in which ecosystem.

It feels like the car and the phone are working as one. The tech is supporting the drive instead of competing for my attention.

Then I get back in the Equinox EV and return to:

  • Two environments.
  • Two assistants.
  • Two different sets of limitations.

Same company. Very different experience.

My .02: Why Not Keep What Already Works?

Here's my simple question:

Why can't GM keep what already works best and still build what they want?

If Google‑built‑in brings genuine advantages for EV routing and charging, great. Let it co‑exist with CarPlay and Android Auto like it does in some other vehicles today.

Give the driver the choice.

Instead, GM's current path is:

  • Remove CarPlay/Android Auto from new EVs.
  • Plan to remove them from future gas models too.
  • Ask users to move fully into the native Google‑based system.

If I could tell GM one thing, it would be this:

  • Your EV drives beautifully. Don't let a software decision undo that goodwill.
  • Let CarPlay and your Google system coexist. Other automakers do it.
  • Trust your customers to choose — and they'll reward you for it.

For someone who has built a lot of their driving around CarPlay, this doesn't feel like "we're improving your experience." It feels like "we're asking you to give up what you already like."

What This Says About EV Experience in General

But that's just my experience — and I think it points to something bigger.

This isn't just about one SUV or one brand. It's about how EVs are being designed:

  • Driving dynamics and range are improving.
  • Charging networks are slowly getting better.
  • But software decisions can still ignore what users have clearly said they value.

Surveys consistently show that CarPlay and Android Auto are among the most wanted tech features in cars, and GM's removal of them has already generated plenty of frustration from owners and reviewers.

When we talk about "EV adoption," we usually talk about range, charging, and price.

We should also talk about everyday experience:

  • Does the car work with the phone I already have?
  • Does it respect the habits I've already formed?
  • Does it make the technology feel simpler, or more fragmented?

I'd Like to Hear Your .02

I'll end with a few questions:

  • Have you driven a newer GM EV or other vehicle without CarPlay/Android Auto but with a Google‑based system?
  • How did the experience compare to what you were used to?
  • Did you feel like you gained something, or mostly lost something?

And more broadly:

  • When you think about EVs, how important is infotainment and phone integration compared to driving feel, range, and charging?

For me, the Equinox EV drives great. I like the way it feels on the road.

But the tech decisions around infotainment make the experience more complicated than it needs to be.

That's my .02.

If you're an EV shopper or a GM owner, I hope it gives you one more angle to consider before you choose your next vehicle.