Amazon Echo Auto (newest model), Add Alexa to your car

Easy setup, music sound is incredible. Fast response. Works well with my Bluetooth in my Infiniti Q60

*** if you are attempting to connect with a newer phone, see my update below***I recently used a rental for a week that had Android Auto. I loved the voice commands. I felt far less distracted. Alas, I can't afford a new car, and, well, frankly love mine. I drive a 2015 Honda Pilot. I was curious if there were after market ways to add the voice commands and stumbled across the Echo Auto.We have been big Alexa and Amazon devices for a long, long time (we're talking owners of the 1st gen Kindle). I remembered my husband had participated in the Echo Auto when it first released. He wasn't sure where he'd placed it - his truck has Android Auto, so he doesn't use the Echo Auto. He suggested I try the 2nd gen because it had a lot of upgrades.Now, first of all, I should note I wanted voice commands for my music. I'm pretty protective about my music, and want it to play smoothly. I mostly use Spotify, but also use Amazon Music. I also figured it'd be handy to have texts read to me, and maybe to answer them, as my family with newer cars forget I don't have Android Auto. My car does have Bluetooth and does handle hands-free calls.I found the Echo Auto easy to install. I'm not sure why the instructions have you mount it first before setup, but I ignored that and set it up first. It walks you through setup as most their devices do, and it was easy. I particularly liked that I had the option to not have it handle phone calls, but could have it handle text messages. It has you select your default apps for music and entertainment, as well as maps. You can also opt out of having the Echo Auto control these.As for day to day use, it controls my music just as well as any of the devices in my house. There is occasionally some confusion as I have Spotify set as my default music app, so if I want a Playlist on Amazon Music, I have to specify Amazon Music. It reads texts messages well. My only complaint is you can't specify a contact to read the text from, so you have to allow it to read all unread texts in order they were received. It's been inconsistent on sending texts. Sometimes it works like a charm, sometimes not. It doesn't bother me as I'd rather be focused on the road and my music. Having it read the text so I can find out if it is urgent is enough. I haven't used it to navigate, but it opened Maps fine when I tested it.***UPDATE - I upgraded my phone from Samsung Galaxy S21+ to Samsung Galaxy S24+. I had to reset the Echo Auto. After many attempts, and resets and other tweaks, I finally got it to work. It would go through the setup process fine, but when I asked Alexa something, the blue ring would light, but no sound whatsoever. So, to save someone else the headache, here's how I fixed it. I un-installed the Alexa app from my phone, rebooted my phone (mostly cause that's what I do) and reinstalled the Alexa app. Setup was seamless after and I haven't had any issues.

I replaced a 1st Generation Echo Auto with this as I had it mounted in my CD player with a CD mount. This mount blocked a few control on my F-150 Ford Sync screen. Additionally, the case was coming apart. The Gen 2 is much more convient to mount as it much smaller. I was able to mount it on the Sync 3 bezel. Two issues prevented me from giving a 5 star rating. First, contrary to what Amazon says I beleive this version does not pick up my voice as well when palying music at a intermediate volume. This version has five microphones versus eight in the 1st generation. Additionally, the speaker is very close to the end of the USB plug. Therefore you must place it close " ~6 inches" to a usb plug. In my F-150 this means it is much lower then the 1st generation. Luckily, I run the sound through Apple play and my car speakers most of the time. A simple fix would be to lengthen the usb cord a foot or so. This would allow the user more options to mount the speaker. I guess I could use a USB extenstion, but for $50 I shouldn't have too!

Bought this on Prime Day for 15 dollars. I muted alexa as I have no use for that feature and mainly purchased this to be able to connect via Bluetooth to my older car. Works perfectly and that connects immediately when I start my car and allows me to be more hands off.

I feel in love with Alexa Auto first generation!So cool until you shut your car off, then it cannot find your phone & you have to forget it on the app & reinstall. Usually in the parking lot of were you've been. Almost every time.So I thought the 2022 version would be better.Same thing! Stressing out like a bad date!Alexa! Are you connected? Unplugging while driveing! Plugging back in. Why ame I doing this with my hands on a "Hands Free" device?I wanted to show it off to a friend. Cannot connect, try later. Later? I'm already home!I suggest buy one when Amazon gets it right!Great when it works! Witch makes it worse when it doesn't!UPDATEAfter Amazon read my review, they called me on the day I was going to return the Echo Auto.The Amazon tech was very nice but talked to me as if I didn't know how to set it up.I was asked keep using it & keep a log of when it malfunctioned & to report it back to them.I agreed not to return it & work with them.I reported back through email.I heard nothing back.Then last week I received an email from "James" at Amazon staying that they want to give me a replacement but they don't have my phone number. They have my number.I followed the link he sent.Left a message & my #.Nothing.I've contacted Amazon several times & was told a technician would contact me within 6 hours.Nothing.So I've kept this defective device for no reason.I think the return window is still open.This purchase has been the worst experience I've ever had with Amazon!The hour's I've spent with so called techs that have never used an Echo Auto & only know the script in front of them.Any issues that have been fixed, came from me.I have the old Echo Auto. I want to give it to friend but I wanna keep that friend.Just plugg you're phone into an aux cable & set your phone to Alexa hands free & save some money & your precious time.Man, have they waisted my time!UPDATEAmazon contacted me again.The tech was very cool & she gave me suggestions as she also owns the Echo Auto 2022.Unplug this, unplug that.Rest this, rest that.This tells me that she has the same problems that I have with this device.3 songs & it disconnects from the phone.The only way I get it to reconnect is to reboot my phone.Not convenient while driving.So, they sent me a replacement.Something I could have done on my own.The new one is worse!It's played 3 songs while parked in my driveway, then lost connection to my New phone.Got it going after an hour & a half, only to disconnect the moment I left the house.Do not buy this!Having spent hours on the phone with the techs, I realized they know it doesn't work right.I would have returned it weeks ago if Amazon hadn't contacted me.They tried but failed.Maybe in ten years they'll figure it out!