2016 Cars with Apple CarPlay: Complete List & What You Need to Know

The year 2016 was huge for drivers who wanted to connect their iPhones to their cars. Before that, CarPlay was mostly in high-end luxury vehicles that cost a fortune. But in 2016, everything changed.

Major car brands like Chevrolet, Honda, and Volkswagen started adding Apple CarPlay to everyday cars that regular people could actually afford. This meant you could finally get the same smartphone features in a mid-range sedan that were once only in six-figure sports cars.

Key Takeaway

• 2016 marked the first year CarPlay became widely available across mainstream brands, not just luxury vehicles
• General Motors led the rollout with CarPlay on Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, and Buick models
• Honda, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Mercedes also offered CarPlay on select 2016 models
• Most 2016 CarPlay systems required a wired Lightning cable connection (wireless wasn't available yet)
• You needed an iPhone 5 or newer with iOS 7.1 or later to use CarPlay
• CarPlay was often limited to higher trim levels with specific screen sizes (typically 7 or 8 inches)
• If your 2016 car didn't come with CarPlay, aftermarket solutions can add it for $400-1,200

Why 2016 Was a Turning Point for Apple CarPlay

When Apple first introduced CarPlay in 2014, they launched it in the Ferrari FF. That's a car that cost over $300,000. Not exactly something most of us could afford.

But by 2016, CarPlay started showing up in vehicles people actually drove every day. Brands realized that drivers wanted to use their iPhones in their cars, and they wanted it badly enough that it could influence what vehicle they bought.

The timing made sense. By 2016, people were completely used to their smartphones. Going from your iPhone's smooth interface to your car's clunky built-in system felt frustrating. CarPlay solved that problem by bringing the familiar iPhone experience right to your dashboard.

This wasn't just about convenience either. It was about safety. CarPlay let you use navigation, make calls, and send messages through voice commands and easy-to-use controls, keeping your eyes on the road instead of fumbling with your phone.

Complete List of 2016 Vehicles with Apple CarPlay

Let me break down which 2016 cars actually came with CarPlay. I've organized this by manufacturer so you can easily find what you're looking for.

General Motors (The CarPlay Leader in 2016)

GM went all-in on CarPlay for 2016. They offered it across nearly their entire lineup, making them the biggest supporter of the technology that year.

Chevrolet Models:

• Camaro
• Colorado
• Corvette
• Cruze
• Impala
• Malibu
• Silverado 1500
• Silverado 2500/3500
• Spark
• Suburban
• Tahoe
• Volt

Cadillac Models:

• ATS
• ATS Coupe
• ATS-V
• ATS-V Coupe
• CT6
• CTS
• CTS-V
• ELR Coupe
• Escalade/ESV
• XTS

GMC Models:

• Canyon
• Sierra 1500
• Sierra 2500/3500
• Yukon
• Yukon XL

Buick Models:

• LaCrosse
• Regal

The great thing about GM's approach was that they made CarPlay available across different price points. You could get it in an affordable Spark or a luxury Escalade.

Honda's Strategic Rollout

Honda took a more selective approach, focusing on their best-selling models.

Honda Models:

• Accord (EX, EX-L, and Touring trims)
• Accord Coupe (EX, EX-L, and Touring trims)
• Civic (EX, EX-T, EX-L, and Touring trims)

What's important to note here is that CarPlay wasn't available on every Accord or Civic. You needed to get the right trim level. The base models didn't have the necessary screen or audio system to support it.

Volkswagen's Democratic Approach

Volkswagen announced that "almost every 2016 VW model in virtually every trim" would get CarPlay. They really committed to making it widely available.

Volkswagen Models:

• Beetle (SE trim and higher)
• CC (Trend trim and higher)
• Golf (all trims except base 2-door)
• Golf GTI
• Golf SportWagen
• Golf R
• e-Golf
• Jetta
• Passat
• Tiguan

VW's strategy was interesting because they offered different screen sizes depending on trim level. Entry-level models got smaller 5-inch screens, while higher trims got 6.3 to 8-inch displays. But all of them could run CarPlay.

Other Manufacturers

Hyundai:

• Sonata (late availability)

Kia:

• Optima (late availability)
• Sportage (late availability)

Mercedes-Benz:

• B-Class
• CLA
• CLS
• E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet
• GLA
• GLE-Class

Volvo:

• XC90

Ferrari:

• California T
• FF

Some manufacturers like Ford announced that CarPlay would come to certain 2016 models with their Sync 3 system, but it often required software updates later in the year.

What You Actually Needed to Use CarPlay in 2016

Getting CarPlay to work wasn't complicated, but there were specific requirements.

Your iPhone

You needed an iPhone 5 or newer. That meant iPhone 5, 5s, 5c, SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, or 6s Plus would all work.

Your iPhone also needed to be running iOS 7.1 or later. Since most people kept their iPhones updated, this wasn't usually a problem.

The Cable Connection

Here's something that tripped up a lot of people: all 2016 CarPlay systems required a wired connection. Wireless CarPlay didn't exist yet.

You had to use a Lightning cable to connect your iPhone to your car's USB port. And not just any cable would work. It had to be a data cable, not just a charging cable.

This was frustrating because some cheap third-party cables only supported charging, not data transfer. People would buy a $5 cable at a gas station, plug it in, and wonder why CarPlay wasn't working.

The safest bet was using an Apple-certified Lightning cable. Yeah, they cost more, but they actually worked.

The Right Screen and Trim Level

Even if you bought a 2016 model that supposedly had CarPlay, you might not actually get it. Why? Because it often required specific trim levels or packages.

For GM vehicles, you typically needed either a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen. Base models with smaller screens were out of luck.

Honda limited CarPlay to mid and upper trims of the Accord and Civic. If you bought the base DX or LX trim to save money, you didn't get CarPlay.

This was one of the more annoying aspects of 2016 CarPlay availability. You had to do your homework before buying to make sure your specific trim level included it.

How CarPlay Actually Worked in 2016 Cars

When you connected your iPhone to a 2016 CarPlay-equipped vehicle, the car's screen essentially became an extension of your phone.

Navigation

CarPlay gave you access to Apple Maps with real-time traffic data and turn-by-turn directions. The big advantage over built-in car navigation was that it stayed current without needing expensive map updates.

Later in 2016 and beyond, apps like Google Maps and Waze became available through CarPlay too, giving you more navigation options.

Communication

You could make calls through your car's speakers and microphone system. Siri would read your text messages aloud and let you dictate responses without touching your phone.

This was genuinely useful for staying connected while keeping your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Music and Entertainment

CarPlay let you access Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, podcasts, and audiobooks. Whatever you listened to on your iPhone, you could control through your car's screen and steering wheel buttons.

The interface was designed to be simpler and less distracting than most built-in car systems. Large buttons, clear text, and easy controls made it safer to use while driving.

Voice Control with Siri

You activated Siri by holding down a button on your steering wheel or the home button on your car's touchscreen. Then you could say things like:

"Navigate to the nearest gas station" "Call Mom" "Play my workout playlist" "What's my next appointment?"

When it worked well, Siri was fantastic. When it didn't understand you or misinterpreted what you said, it could be frustrating.

The Real Experience: What People Loved and Hated

Based on our experience at Car Tech Studio helping customers with CarPlay installations, we've seen consistent themes about 2016 CarPlay systems.

What People Loved

The familiar interface was huge. People who'd never figured out their car's built-in system could use CarPlay instantly because it worked like their iPhone.

Real-time traffic updates made navigation actually useful. Unlike built-in systems that showed you stuck in traffic with no warning, CarPlay could reroute you around problems.

Software updates kept getting better. Because CarPlay was part of iOS, every iPhone update potentially brought new features to your car. Your 2016 vehicle could get smarter over time without visiting a dealer.

Common Frustrations

Connection reliability was hit-or-miss. Some people reported that CarPlay would randomly disconnect or fail to connect at all. Often this came down to cable quality, but sometimes the car's USB port or software was the problem.

Cable wear became an issue. That Lightning cable you plugged and unplugged every time you got in the car? It would eventually fail, leaving you frustrated and searching for why CarPlay stopped working.

Siri misunderstandings happened a lot. In noisy environments or with unusual street names, Siri would completely miss what you said. Instead of helping you navigate, you'd end up distracted trying to correct it.

Limited app support meant you couldn't use every app you wanted. Apple restricted which apps could work with CarPlay for safety reasons, but that meant some useful apps weren't available.

The Setup Process Could Be Rough

While most people found setup straightforward, some had nightmares getting CarPlay to work initially.

We've had customers come in who spent hours troubleshooting. Sometimes their car needed a software update from the dealer. Sometimes they needed a specific USB hub that didn't come standard with the car. Sometimes the dealership staff didn't even know how to help because they weren't trained on the new system.

One Ford owner spent four hours figuring out that their Sync 3 system needed to be version 3.0 or later, required a CarPlay-compatible USB hub (which their car didn't have), and would only work with certain USB ports.

What If Your 2016 Car Didn't Come with CarPlay?

Not every 2016 vehicle offered CarPlay. If you bought a Toyota, Nissan, BMW, or several other brands, you were out of luck from the factory.

But that doesn't mean you're stuck with your basic radio forever.

Aftermarket Head Unit Replacement

The most common solution is replacing your entire head unit with an aftermarket stereo that has CarPlay built in. Companies like Pioneer, Kenwood, Sony, and Alpine make these units.

They typically cost between $500 and $1,200 depending on screen size and features. Professional installation adds another few hundred dollars if you don't do it yourself.

The downside is that you lose your factory radio and its specific integration with your car. Some vehicles also make it difficult to replace the head unit without losing climate controls or other functions.

If you're looking for a modern upgrade, check out our collection of premium wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto head units designed for various vehicle models.

Interface Modules

A more elegant solution is an interface module that adds CarPlay to your existing factory screen. Companies like Hamilton Motor Company and RDVFL make these.

These modules connect behind your factory radio without replacing it. They cost about $400-900 depending on your specific vehicle. Installation is less invasive than replacing the whole head unit, and you keep your factory controls and appearance.

The catch is that these aren't available for every vehicle. You need to check if one exists for your specific car model and year. Browse our selection of Apple CarPlay & Android Auto modules to see if there's a compatible option for your vehicle.

Wireless Adapters

If you have a 2016 car with wired CarPlay and you want to make it wireless, you can buy an adapter that plugs into your USB port.

These cost around $100-300 and basically convert your wired CarPlay connection to wireless. They're the cheapest and easiest upgrade option, but they only work if you already have CarPlay in the first place.

How 2016 CarPlay Stacks Up Today

Looking back, 2016 CarPlay was pretty basic compared to what we have now.

It was wired-only, which meant dealing with cables every time you got in the car. The app selection was limited. The interface, while better than most car systems, wasn't as refined as it is today.

But here's the thing: those 2016 systems still work. If you buy a used 2016 Accord or Silverado with CarPlay today, it'll still function with your current iPhone (assuming you have the right cable adapter if you have a newer iPhone with USB-C).

The core functionality hasn't changed much. Navigation, music, calls, and messages work the same way they did in 2016. You just won't have some of the newer features like multi-stop routing or SharePlay.

For a used car buyer, CarPlay from 2016 is still a valuable feature. It's infinitely better than no smartphone integration at all.

Why This Mattered for the Car Industry

The 2016 rollout of CarPlay across mainstream brands changed everything about how we think about car infotainment.

Before 2016, car companies spent millions developing their own systems. They hired software engineers, designed interfaces, and tried to compete with Apple and Google.

After 2016, they realized they couldn't win that battle. People wanted their phone's interface in their car, not a car company's attempt to build a smartphone interface.

This is why by 2025, 40% of people who drive have either CarPlay or Android Auto in their vehicle. It became an expected feature, not a luxury.

Some manufacturers are now trying to move away from CarPlay, with GM announcing they'll phase it out in new electric vehicles starting in 2024. But consumer pushback has been intense. According to research, 87% of buyers say they wouldn't purchase a car without CarPlay or Android Auto.

The 2016 wave of CarPlay adoption created expectations that are now very hard for car companies to undo.

Should You Buy a 2016 Car for CarPlay?

If you're shopping for a used vehicle and CarPlay matters to you, 2016 models are worth considering. They represent the first model year where CarPlay became widely available at reasonable prices.

But don't make it your only consideration. A 2016 vehicle is approaching a decade old. Focus on the vehicle's overall condition, maintenance history, and reliability first. CarPlay is nice to have, but it shouldn't override good judgment about the vehicle itself.

Also remember that even if a model offered CarPlay, your specific vehicle might not have it. Check before you buy, and actually test that it works.

If you find a great 2016 vehicle that doesn't have CarPlay, you can always add it later through an aftermarket solution. It'll cost you, but it's possible. Explore our Tesla-style CarPlay and Android Auto screens for a modern upgrade option.

The Bottom Line on 2016 Cars with Apple CarPlay

The 2016 model year was when CarPlay finally became accessible to regular people, not just luxury car buyers. General Motors led the charge, with Honda, Volkswagen, and others following closely behind.

If you have a 2016 vehicle with CarPlay, you've got a feature that still adds genuine value today. It makes your driving experience safer and more connected.

If you don't have it but want it, aftermarket options exist. They're not free, but they work.

Looking at where we are now, 2016 feels like the year everything changed. It's when our phones truly became part of our cars, for better or worse. And there's really no going back from that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which 2016 cars came with Apple CarPlay from the factory?

The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, Malibu, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, and Volt all offered CarPlay, along with most Cadillac, GMC, and Buick models from that year. Honda Accord and Civic (in EX trim or higher), most Volkswagen models, the Hyundai Sonata, and select Mercedes-Benz vehicles also included CarPlay in 2016. Not all trim levels within these models had CarPlay, so you need to verify the specific vehicle you're looking at.

Did all 2016 Honda Civics have Apple CarPlay?

No, only the 2016 Honda Civic EX, EX-T, EX-L, and Touring trims came with CarPlay. The base LX and DX trims did not have the necessary screen or audio system to support it. The same limitation applied to the 2016 Accord, which needed EX trim or higher.

Can I add Apple CarPlay to my 2016 car if it didn't come with it?

You have several options to add CarPlay to a 2016 vehicle that didn't include it originally. You can replace the head unit with an aftermarket stereo that has CarPlay built in (costs $500-1,200 plus installation), install an interface module that adds CarPlay to your existing screen (costs $400-900), or use certain manufacturer-specific upgrade kits if available for your vehicle.

Is 2016 CarPlay wireless or wired?

All 2016 CarPlay systems required a wired Lightning cable connection. Wireless CarPlay technology wasn't available in production vehicles until later model years, typically 2018 and beyond. You needed to physically plug your iPhone into the car's USB port using a data-capable Lightning cable every time you wanted to use CarPlay.

What iPhone do I need to use CarPlay in a 2016 car?

You need an iPhone 5 or newer running iOS 7.1 or later to use CarPlay in a 2016 vehicle. This includes iPhone 5, 5s, 5c, SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, and 6s Plus. Newer iPhones also work, though you may need a Lightning to USB-C adapter if your car only has USB-A ports and you have a newer iPhone with USB-C.

Why won't my 2016 car's CarPlay connect to my iPhone?

The most common reason is a faulty or incompatible Lightning cable. Make sure you're using a data-capable cable, not just a charging cable. Try using an Apple-certified cable and different USB ports in your car. Some vehicles only support CarPlay through specific USB ports. You may also need a software update for either your car's infotainment system or your iPhone.

Does CarPlay drain my iPhone battery in a 2016 car?

With wired CarPlay in 2016 vehicles, your iPhone typically charges while connected through the USB cable, so battery drain isn't usually a problem. The USB connection provides both data and power. However, if you're using navigation, streaming music, and making calls simultaneously, your phone might charge slowly or barely maintain its current charge level, depending on your car's USB port power output.

Are 2016 CarPlay systems still supported by Apple?

2016 CarPlay systems continue to work with current iPhones and receive updates through iOS updates on your phone. The CarPlay software runs on your iPhone, not your car, so as long as Apple supports your iPhone model, your 2016 car's CarPlay will continue functioning. The core features haven't changed significantly, though newer iOS versions may add features that work with older CarPlay implementations.