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Acura Makes Good On Promise To Update RDX With Android Auto - With OTA Update

Acura has updated the RDX with an over the air update that enables owners to enjoy Android Auto.
Acura updates RDX with Android Auto.

If you are like the testers at Torque News, you love Android Auto and also love the RDX. When Acura released the new RDX we tested it and were very impressed. However, one thing was left undone. Acura planned to introduce Android Auto with the new RDX, but due to time constraints, the vehicle was launched without the cell phone integration app enabled.

Related Story: 2019 Acura RDX Earns Top Award From New England Motor Press - Best Luxury SUV

Acura's New RDX Android Auto Update - How To Enable It
Acura has now completed its work with Google to develop the needed software and the RDX in your driveway should now have the app enabled. If you own one, you may have noticed the app was shown there as a ghost (in gray and unable to be accessed). Check your RDX this week and it should show in blue and be enabled. If you have any difficulty, try Acura's help page on updates.

acura RDXWhich RDX Models & How Much $
This update applies to all 2019 and 2020 model year Acura RDX vehicles in the U.S. free of charge. We like that the app was added for free. Mazda is charging owners of its CX-5, a competitor to the RDX, as much as $450 to upgrade their vehicles to have this technology, which it promised would be made available for the 2018 vehicles it shipped without it.

Related Story: You Can Now Get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto In Your 2014 Or Newer Mazda - Here's How & What It Costs

OTA Updates and Acura
Acura updated the RDX vehicles using an over the air (OTA) update. Contrary to popular belief, this technology exists in vehicles other than Teslas. Acura says that Android Auto gives drivers a simple, intuitive way to access maps, messaging, music, and other popular smartphone apps and services through Acura's True Touchpad Interface.

Android Auto Is Safer
In addition to the great interface that Android Auto offers, we like it because it has been shown in studies to be less distracting to use than automaker's native navigations and infotainment systems.

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Acura

Comments

james (not verified)    November 5, 2019 - 9:18AM

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i ran the ota update yesterday and the icon now shows up, but it is still grayed out and says 'androidauto is not available' if i click on it. checked for any other update and says im up to date. restarted the system. still not working.

Andy Abrams (not verified)    November 5, 2019 - 1:08PM

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I had the same problem and then realized that I had to connect my phone through the usb port rather than having it operate wirelessly. That did the trick for me.

MikeH (not verified)    November 6, 2019 - 12:01AM

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I also tried the USB cable and I was able to get the AndriodAuto working. Very strange when it dose not work through Blue Tooth?!

James (not verified)    November 6, 2019 - 8:12AM

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Thanks, i tried a usb connection and sure enough it works. Hopefully an uodate is coming to enable wireless connection, but wired in the car isnt horrible - might as well charge my phone while using it.
So far android auto is working great, maps look great on the rdx screen, and the touchpad is working to navigate around just fine.

Juan Vazquez (not verified)    November 11, 2019 - 5:36PM

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Downloaded the update and with phone plugged in everything works great. Except Waze. Cannot get the app loaded.

Steve H. (not verified)    December 2, 2019 - 12:09PM

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I have the vehicle's usb connected to the phone. This is the USB port in the console (the correct one for connection and playback), not down below. It still does not work. When attempting to open it on the car's display it says "android auto unavailable". The AA app is on my phone and start's, but the car cannot play it. Any ideas?

The dealer says bring in the car, but it is over a half hour away.

Fustrated (not verified)    January 15, 2020 - 2:49PM

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The icon showed bluish and greenish BUT stills shows "android auto is not available", is there any video in which USB port to use?. I went to the dealer they don't have any idea of a ready to use Android car play.