Customer satisfaction is one of Kia’s driving goals, and the auto manufacture has found a way to make a lot of its consumers very happy. At the end of July, Kia will enable owners of some late model year Kia vehicles equipped with its UVO infotainment system to add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration through a software update.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is a feature recently supported in Kia’s UVO system, which is available on most new models on the market. First launched in the 2017 Sportage and 2016 Optima in May, these smartphone integration applications enable occupants to use phone-based applications for entertainment and navigation rather than what’s available on the embedded platform. Owners who purchased those models before May were offered the integration through a software update, and Kia now decided to share the love and will make it available to all models that have a compatible UVO system. Consumers who narrowly missed this feature when they purchased their vehicle earlier this or last year, or at least for Kia Souls, as far back as 2014, will now get to take advantage of this convenience option.
There is no fee to update UVO software — any Kia model equipped with a compatible system is eligible for this upgrade. The only catch (if you can even call it that) is that you have to register with UVO’s Web site to download the software update. While owners are there, they can take advantage of other UVO features, such as 911 Assist, vehicle health reports, and geo fencing capabilities.
The following vehicles are eligible for the software update:
Forte (MY17)
Optima (MY15-16)
Optima Hybrid (MY15-16)
Sedona (MY15-16)
Soul (MY14-16)
Soul EV (MY15-16)
Sorento (MY16)
Sportage (MY17)