When browsing at your local Chevy dealer, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the different features available, from powertrains to safety systems to comfort and convenience extras. It can help to take a look at each of these elements one by one instead of trying to absorb everything at once. So today, we’re going to hone in on something that can have a significant impact on your driving experience: infotainment.
As the name suggests, an infotainment system provides both information and entertainment. This system includes navigation, smartphone connectivity, and audio entertainment—and for vehicles with a rear-seat entertainment system, you can stream video, as well. While many infotainment features are widely available across all of Chevy’s 2024 vehicles, others are standard on some and merely available on others or are available on some but completely unavailable on others.
We’re going to take a look at some popular features, what they do, and which 2024 models you can find them on.
Touchscreen Interface
While all Chevy vehicles—and pretty much all vehicles from all automakers—have a variety of ways to interact with the infotainment system, including physical buttons and knobs, the touchscreen is home base for the infotainment features. Here, you can control settings and see things like navigation directions, camera views, or album art for the song you’re currently listening to. Larger screens make all of this information easier to see at a glance, which is good because it means you don’t have to take your eyes off the road for long to check what your next exit is.
While every Chevy vehicle comes standard with a touchscreen, sizes vary across the lineup. The Equinox and Camaro both come standard with a 7.0-inch screen but are also available with an 8.0-inch screen. The Silverado’s base screen is also 7.0 inches, but upgrading gets you a much larger 13.4-inch version. The Malibu and Corvette Stingray feature 8.0-inch screens across all trims.
The Tahoe and Suburban come standard with 8.0-inch screens but are available with larger 10.2-inch screens on some trims. On the Trax, an 8.0-inch screen is standard, but the larger available version is a full 11.0 inches. The Blazer has a standard 10.2-inch screen, the Trailblazer has a standard 11.0-inch screen, and the Colorado has a standard 11.3-inch screen. If you’re looking for the largest available screen on a 2024 model, you can get a 17.7-inch touchscreen display standard by opting for the Traverse, Equinox EV, or Blazer EV.
Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are two features that are almost always mentioned in the same breath because they’re essentially the same thing but for different types of smartphones. With either one of these systems, you can hook a compatible phone up to the car and use apps on the phone directly through the vehicle’s interface. This includes not just the touchscreen in the dashboard but also physical buttons and knobs like the ones built into the steering wheel, as well as voice commands.
While typing text messages into your phone while you’re behind the wheel is extremely dangerous and illegal in almost every state, using a hands-free voice command system to send a quick text while on-the-go lets you keep your eyes on the road, where they belong. Aside from improving safety in situations like this, these features are also convenient for streaming audio since you can pick up your playlist, audiobook, or podcast right where you left off and use the steering wheel controls to quickly skip songs or ads.
When they first debuted, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both required a wired connection in order to work; this means you had to plug your phone into the car with a USB cable. But these days, both features have wireless versions that are more convenient since you don’t have to keep a cable on hand. When wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto first made their debut, they were generally available as an upgrade, but now they are standard fare across all 2024 Chevrolet vehicles, from the Camaro to the Traverse.
Connected Navigation
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow you to use compatible navigation apps on your phone to get where you’re going. But some Chevy models also have their own built-in navigation system. This means that you don’t have to rely on your phone for maps, which can come in handy if cell network coverage is spotty or you like to take a break from your smartphone now and then.
Unlike Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected navigation doesn’t come standard across the lineup, but it is available on several models, like the Equinox, Blazer, Traverse, Tahoe, Suburban, Malibu, and Camaro. On the Equinox EV, the system doesn’t just get you from Point A to Point B; it also keeps your battery level and the locations of charging stations in mind so you don’t run out of power in the middle of nowhere.
Google Built-In
Like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Built-In is a feature that was developed in partnership with an established tech company. But unlike those features, Google Built-In doesn’t require you to connect anything to your vehicle. As the name implies, it’s built-in; you can log into your Google account to sync everything across devices, but you don’t even have to do that in order to use many of its features.
Google Assistant employs voice recognition technology to let you do a variety of tasks hands-free; this includes making phone calls, setting reminders, or even controlling other systems like climate control. Google Maps gives you phone-free access to the popular app, which provides live traffic updates, information on what roads let you use Chevy’s Super Cruise system, and the locations of compatible charging stations for EVs, as well as step-by-step navigation. With Google Play, you can download audio entertainment directly into the vehicle’s media system, so you don’t have to rely on an internet connection or a connection to your phone in order to listen to music, audiobooks, and podcasts on the go.
Google Built-In is standard fare on the Corvette Stingray, part of its infotainment system all the way down to the base 1LT trim. On most other vehicles where it’s available, it’s an optional upgrade limited to certain trims. The feature can be had on both the Colorado and Silverado trucks as well as the Equinox EV SUV.
Rear Seat Media
Most of the entertainment features in Chevy’s infotainment system are created with the driver in mind—which makes a lot of sense—but if you have a full-size SUV filled with restless kids, then you might want a system that has something to keep them occupied, too. The Tahoe and Suburban both have a rear-seat media system available; this gives you two 12.6-inch HD touchscreens mounted to the backs of the front seats.
In addition to built-in apps, these screens also have HDMI ports that let you hook up other devices for a wider variety of content. The system is also compatible with Bluetooth headphones, so you and your backseat passengers can each enjoy your own separate audio. The two screens can either be completely independent, or can play the same content in sync with each other, so passengers can either watch something together or each go their own way.
Something for Everyone
Chevy’s infotainment systems have improved a lot over the years, and at this point, there really is something for everyone. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included across the board, so drivers can hook their smartphones up either with cables or over-the-air and use all kinds of apps through this system. But if you don’t want to rely on your phone for everything, you can get a model that has Google Built-In and/or connected navigation.
While all vehicles have infotainment up front, some have systems in the back as well for backseat passengers who get bored easily. Overall, it shouldn’t be hard to find a Chevy that has all the tech you’re looking for.
