[genopv]

We took the delivery of a Polo GT Tsi on 1st Sep 2017. This came with a brand new head unit - R340G (PQ). This is a media console with 6.5inch color display with several source options except CD/DVD. Though the media processing is still basic, its a very convenient device to setup and use. Only Reverse Camera is given a miss.

Pros:

• The head unit is a good looking device

• Ease of use

• All options except Navigation included

• Works good with Phone

• Mic pics up voice good

• Speakers supplied is nice for Easy Listening

Cons:

• No Reverse Camera option from the Showroom at this point in time and after market is not clear

• No In-built Navigation

• No CD / DVD player

• No Preset Equalizer

• Only a three band equlizer to adjust Bass / Mid / Treble

• Didn't find any option for SubWoofer

• No tweeters in the car

The manual which came along mentions this system to be R340G (PQ).
Note: there are two R340G models - MQB and PQ. What we received with Polo GT TSI is R340G PQ



Unit looks like this:



It can take SD Card, USB (connect phone as well) and a 3.5mm jack as input. Mike seems to be integrated in the unit itself (Seems to be button below the Medio button)

Steering Controls are easy to locate and fairly ergonomic:



New feature compared to the older one is Phone connectivity. Apart from MirrorLink, now it supports both Android Auto and Apple Car Play. Both of these come with limited apps as of today. You can find all the list of supported apps at http://www.volkswagen.com/apps.

[genopv]

I tried LG G6 (uses USB C, Android 7) and Nexus 6 (Uses Micro USB, Lieage OS 14 based on Android 7). On LG G6, as soon as I connected following screen is seen:



Touching "androidauto" starts the setup. Licenses have to be agreed for and Several permissions have to be granted. Some of the permissions might not have been correctly granted and when you disconnect, you might see notification to grant them.

In case of Nexus 6, the setup failed. Once I installed the Android Auto app from play store on the phone, the connection went through fine.

Its a good idea to get Android Auto installed ahead if it isn't. Else when the connection is made it is installed and it might take time depending on Network connectivity.

Phone would show only the following:



And when connection is established, following Notification screen is shown:



Notifications include all in the phone notification. The messages like WhatsApp, SMS are read out by Google voice. The read is quite good. It also asks to reply using voice if required.

Icons in the bottom are the apps currently available (Navigation, Phone, Home Screen, Music and back to VW Auto screen).

Clicking on one of the icons takes you to the respective apps.

For example, when clicked on Phone, by default it takes you to the call list. Phone menu has few options like Call History, Recent Calls and Dial a number. The screens also have a mic icon which can be clicked to invoke Google Assistant and voice command is correctly picked up - both for phone and maps. Tried this when car was parked.





Navigation: Nexus had two map app - Google Maps and Waze. And both were showed when I clicked on Navigation. Chose Google Maps and tried a few option.

Attachment 1674760

Map Default day view:



Route Picked up using Google Voice:



Route On the move:



Audio Options for Map:




Music: by default opens Google Music. Possibly Android Auto doesn't support iTunes now. It supports Spotify, but Spotify doesn't work in India and I don't find the app too in Play Store. Would be good to have Saavn / Gaana available.



Radio continues to play till Music is selected. Navigation interrupts for announcements.

Audio can be controlled as usual in Navigation (Unmute, Traffic Alerts only, Mute)

I had Skype installed, but it didn't show up on the Menu. Not sure if there would be pages when there are more apps.

More info on Android Auto: https://www.android.com/auto/

I tried installing apps like Skype, Kik etc. But none of them show up in the Android screen by default.

If the phone is connected and the key is removed, it gives the following message:


Also tried Moto X Force (Android 7.1.1) and Redmi Note 4 2017 edition. Everything works good.

[genopv]

Tried Connecting an iPhone 6 plus. Clicking the Apple Air Play on the screen would start the setup. Once appropriate permissions are granted as asked in the phone, Apple Car play is ready.

Screen looks like follows:


Phone changes to following screen:


Playing songs using iTunes in the apps:



couldn't get Google Maps working on the screen. Based on google search, I could get only the Google Maps Audio in the Car Audio. Couldn't get Apple Maps also work. Would try sometime.

Otherwise Phones / Messages behave the same.

[genopv]

Pressing the Phone Button takes you to the phone options. The default screen is as follows:


Dial Nos, Contacts, Calls, Text SMS, Voice Ops, Setup are the options seen in the bottom of the screen.

Previous phone if around with BlueTooth enabled, gets connected by default. The phone can be changed by Select Phone in settings option.



Connecting the phone syncs contacts and SMS. SMS listing can be seen by touching Text

Contacts:



Text SMS:


Messages can be read:


Voice Ops: This basically invoked Google Assistant on my LG G6. Need to try Apple iPhone to see if Siri is invoked.

Phone Settings:


The Phone Settings option has a UserProfile screen which can be used to manage profiles. Didn't explore much.

[genopv]

Note: All connections from Phone are through Bluetooth if a wire is not used.

Sources: BlueTooth, SD Card, USB and Aux (3.5mm)

Bluetooth Settings:


Clicking on the Media button invokes the media screen. The phone connected by default starts playing music when connected.


An appropriate source can be selected by touching Sources


Media Settings:

[genopv]

Pressing the RADIO button brings up the Radio.


Options are Band, List of Stations, Tune and Settings.

Last tuned FM station was remembered and played. Tuning can be done by pressing on the < or > buttons and 5 stations can be memorized by long pressing them. The radio station name is displayed as well.


Station can be tuned using the touch screen Tune option as well. Touch the red circle and move it to a required Station frequency:


Touching the List of stations brings up the list of stations.


FM Settings:

[genopv]

System Settings:


System Info:


Didn't try updating the software, but looks like it can be done using a source (USB / SD Card?)

Screen Settings:


Sound Settings:
Very minimal options.


Only a three band equalizer.


Easy to use Fader:


Keyboard:
No Indian Languages:

[Aditya]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to In-Car Entertainment. Thanks for sharing!

[prabhuferrari]

Thank you so much for this thread. Very interesting move by VW to omit Reverse camera feature which was present in 330G. Can't understand the logic. What happens when you reverse the car? Do you get any optical parking display mentioning distance to object etc?

[genopv]

Originally Posted by prabhuferrari

Thank you so much for this thread. Very interesting move by VW to omit Reverse camera feature which was present in 330G. Can't understand the logic. What happens when you reverse the car? Do you get any optical parking display mentioning distance to object etc?

Nothing happens on screen. Reverse still uses a backup alarm. So the moment I put the Auto gear to R, it starts beeping while getting closer to objects behind.

[ethanhunt123]

Wow this looks very nice ! Now lets see whether this appears in Aliexpress - will upgrade my RCD330G to this for sure.

[sovenkat]

Can we buy it or upgrade to this from the volkswagen service center ?

[kutoos]

Originally Posted by genopv

Music: by default opens Google Music. Possibly Android Auto doesn't support iTunes now. It supports Spotify, but Spotify doesn't work in India and I don't find the app too in Play Store. Would be good to have Saavn / Gaana available.

Try Rocket Player. This one works while Android Auto is enabled and you can play from your phone as well. Works brilliantly and also picks up from where you stopped when you engage the bludtooth mode/ Android Auto mode or by simply plugiing in the head phone.

[mmridul]

Originally Posted by sovenkat

Can we buy it or upgrade to this from the volkswagen service center ?

I am not sure if we can but it from VW, but i have reached out to my local VW dealer and have asked them for a quote on the item. They said they would come back to me early next week with the price, and ill keep you all updated on the same.

This would actually be a great update for most of the owners here.

[genopv]

Originally Posted by kutoos

Try Rocket Player. This one works while Android Auto is enabled and you can play from your phone as well. Works brilliantly and also picks up from where you stopped when you engage the bludtooth mode/ Android Auto mode or by simply plugiing in the head phone.

Looks like another fantastic player. But I use iTunes / Saavn to stream and this too doesn't seem to support them?