XC60 T8 - MY21 or MY22?
 

We're close to pulling the trigger but I'm in a bit of a quandary.

Very tempted by a MY21 R-Design Pro with options that I want (and a couple I didn't consider), it has been pre-registered so I wouldn't be the first owner but that doesn't bother me. It would mean a bit of a journey to view the car and then again for pickup. I'd also be looking to try to get a good deal on a set of 20" wheels to replace the 22" that are on it now. Obviously, it would be available immediately.

Alternatively, my local dealer has done me a great quote on an Inscription Pro with the specific extras I'm after but would mean placing a factory order that wouldn't arrive until September or October.

The costs between the 2 are almost identical, so financially it's the toss of a coin.

What is the general consensus over the differences in the 2 model years? Am I better taking the MY21 with the fuel heater over the electric heater for example, or are the changes for 22 worth waiting for?

MY21 will have the discontinued sensus

MY21 will have Android Automotive

For me, purely for that reason I will choose MY22

NB It will also be the facelifted version (very minor changes though)

NB 2 Advantage of Android Automotive is way superior mapping (Google Maps) and voice recognition

Hmmm yes I can see Android Automotive being great in a few years time, once they iron it out, and certainly the maps would be as current as possible so should be great. Not sure that this would be a deal-breaker for either case for me though. Is Sensus Connect that bad?

The options I want are Driver Assist (for ACC) and Lounge (for HK - I can't justify B&W) and 360 camera. Should I be considering anything else as a "should have"?

But can't the Android Auto be updated whereas the current Sensus is going no further?

There's a difference between Android Auto and Android Automotive (great naming structure there Google :confused_smile:), yes Automotive will get regular updates throughout it's life.

Let's face it, most car manufacturer's don't update the systems all that much, yet your phone probably has 3 or 4 updates a year. I'd see AAOS being much more like a phone for update regularity.

Anyway, back on topic. The general consensus seems to be to order a MY22 and wait 3-4 months for delivery by the looks of it.

Ta

Don't know if you're an iPhone user, but last I heard Android Automotive didn't support Apple CarPlay, although (unsurprisingly) it does support Android Auto.

I use CarPlay a lot so this would likely be a deal breaker for me if I were in the market for a new car. Appreciate the point about it getting regular updates but the Polestar 2 has been out for around a year now, so it's clearly not top of the development backlog. Mind you, a cynical person might suggest that's intentional as they want to use this as a tool to encourage migration from iOS to Android.. ;)

I'm an Android user, so not an issue, however given the number of car manufacturers jumping onto AAOS, I can't believe that they would not incorporate some form of CarPlay or connectivity, it would alienate too many users.

Though having said that, I'm not sure that AAOS is designed as a means of connecting to a phone, but rather a complete system that replaces the need for the phone other than to take/make calls which could be handled over BLE. AAOS is there to control and manage the whole infotainment system so Google would want you to use their systems for as much as possible to increase integration and pull you further into their ecosystem.

I have checked the MY2022 Edition 2 and the XC60 comes with Wireless Smartphone Integration which includes Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
This is now included in the list price....at last!!
The V90 also has this as standard, but not the XC90 or XC40 as these are still running on the Sensus system.

Take a look at the other thread on the My22 cancelled order. If you've ordered BLIS or 360, you may want to ask when the MY22 will be delivered in light of the chip shortages....

Not good news. You must be gutted :traurig001:

Any closer to your decision? Sounds like delivery could slow, and used car prices could go up if a general slowdown across the global demand for chips.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57105368

Maybe the MY21 is now worth more consideration? The google android stuff is really what it comes down to. I'd probably be in a similar dilemma, but having just bought an MY21 XC90, Sensus is still a very useable system, albeit with a few drawbacks! However, none of us have seen or used the XC60 Android implementation, so it's a bit of a stab in the dark to see if it's actually hugely better....

I would say my biggest complaint on Sensus is the fact they decided to incorporate the heater controls into Sensus. I'd rather have them as physical dials as much easier to use while driving.

This won't change with Android. The temperature controls will still be in the display as far as I can tell.

Oh, and the MY22 has hidden tailpipes - that will either float your boat or not :)

As for electric v fuel heater.....I have a fuel one, and I'd rather have the longer electric range without the electric heating eating into electric range. Horses for courses. OK, it's not as green, but going further on electric only is perhaps more green anyway!

All our electricity in Scotland is from renewables most days, so there's limited CO2 from the electricity generation at source.

Yeah, MY21 is definitely back into consideration, as I can see long delays coming in for all brands. I don't want to be keeping my current car past the end of August as the MOT & servicing dates will be getting much closer (October).

The heater may actually be a non-issue for us, as it is likely to be plugged in overnight anyway, so if it the pre-conditioning is needed it shouldn't adversely affect the battery range.

Typically I sent an email to the dealer yesterday to say we're not going to take the MY21 any further. Time to give him a call and eat some humble pie, he must think I'm a right idiot! :_:

Not so sure about the heater. It kicks in sometimes during the journey with normal use of the aircon. Which means the electric will be used during the journey too.

As for the dealer, he just sees pound signs whatever you do :) No humble pie required! He's just a shopkeeper really (no offence to shopkeepers!).

I believe they are.

I don't mind the temperature control on the screen, but in the 2 weeks I've owned the car I now use voice control to set the interior temperature.

Press steering wheel button, say "Set temperature to 22 degrees" and bingo without the need to remove hands from the wheel.

I hear a lot of complaint re having to use sensus for all temp controls. And agree that can be very fiddly whilst driving.

But I do it all by voice command now. Heating, fan, heated seats and wheel etc. Works a treat.

Problem is if anyone else in the car is talking at the same time then you have no chance!!!

What's wrong with a good old fashioned knob :tongwink:

You can change temps/fan speed without looking. Voice control is a faff.... :tounge_smile:

Decision made, I'll pick up a MY21 R-Design Pro on Saturday :teeth_smile:.

Figured that even if I run it for a year and make sure it is the right car for us, we should be able to then swap it out if the MY22 (or maybe even MY23) is that much better for not a huge amount of money. Fingers crossed the chip shortage will also have passed by then.

C'mon Saturday, hurry up :regular_smile:

Congratulations. I think once you've been in the MY21, you'll probably think that getting an MY22 purely for android UI will probably not be worth it. You never know though.. :) Save your money for the MY23/24 when I'm sure the XC60 will be due a new model :)

Please see my earlier post, the XC90 isn’t getting the Android Automotive system in MY22 - presume this is because the new model is due next year.

Not a problem for me, I'm only looking at XC60 thanks