Best navigation system

The winners (today 2025-10-05)

  1. Google Maps built-in (Android Automotive / “Google built-in”) — e.g., Volvo/Polestar
    When you set a DC fast charger as a stop in the in-car Google Maps, the car automatically preconditions the battery on the way there. This is the cleanest, most reliable nav⇄car integration in Europe right now. (Volvo Cars)

  2. Your car’s native OEM navigation (brand stack)
  • Tesla navigation → auto preconditions when routing to a Supercharger. (CarPlay isn’t supported anyway.) (Tesla Motors Club)
  • Porsche (PCM) → preconditions only when the built-in nav has a charger on route; CarPlay does not trigger it. (Reddit)
  • Ford Mustang Mach-E (SYNC 4) → “En-Route Preconditioning” works when you use built-in Connected Navigation, and also if Android Auto plans a route that includes a DCFC stop; CarPlay does not trigger it. (https://www.ford.com/)
  • Hyundai IONIQ 5 / Kia EV6 → preconditioning tied to the built-in nav with a DC fast charger set as the destination (some trims/updates add limited manual options). (electrive.com)

What about CarPlay / Android Auto apps?

  • Apple Maps via CarPlay: excellent EV routing (SoC on arrival, charger availability), but it does not precondition batteries on supported cars today. You’d need the in-car nav for that. (https://www.ford.com/)
  • Google Maps via CarPlay/AA: generally won’t trigger battery preheat unless the OEM explicitly supports it (e.g., Ford says Android Auto can trigger preconditioning on routes that require a DC fast-charge stop; CarPlay cannot). (https://www.ford.com/)
  • A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) via CarPlay/AA: fantastic planner and SoC integration, but can’t directly precondition on most cars. Common workaround: run ABRP/CarPlay on screen and keep a parallel route to the charger active in the built-in nav to make the car preheat. (abetterrouteplanner.com)

Quick picks (Sweden/EU context)

  • Volvo/Polestar (Google built-in) → Use in-car Google Maps for charger stops (best experience). (Volvo Cars)
  • Tesla → Use Tesla’s native nav to the Supercharger (preheat happens automatically). (Tesla Motors Club)
  • Porsche Taycan/Macan ElectricPCM with a DC charger set as a stop; don’t rely on CarPlay for preheat. (Reddit)
  • Ford Mach-E → Prefer SYNC 4 (or an Android Auto route that includes a DCFC). CarPlay won’t preheat. (https://www.ford.com/)
  • Hyundai/Kia (EGMP: IONIQ 5/6, EV6/EV9) → Set the charger in the OEM nav (CarPlay/AA alone won’t trigger it). (electrive.com)

Bottom line

  • If battery pre-conditioning is a must, the best navigation system is the one built into the car (Google built-in or the OEM’s own nav), not CarPlay.
  • You can still run CarPlay for UI/voice/music while keeping a silent route to the charger active in the native nav to ensure preheat kicks in. (ioniqforum.com)