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How to install Alexa in your car

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Talking to your oven, your air conditioning system, and your fridge is easy with Amazon’s A.I.-powered Alexa virtual assistant, so putting this technology in a car is a no-brainer. The list of new cars that come equipped with Amazon Alexa compatibility grows annually, and several aftermarket companies make devices that let you add this feature to your vehicle regardless of when it was built. Here are the best ones available in 2020.

Muse

Speak Music’s Muse was one of the first Alexa car accessories to hit the market, and it’s now in its second generation. All you do is connect the small device to your iPhone or Android-powered phone using Bluetooth. From there, you can use all of Alexa’s regular functions. You can also control your car’s audio functions, like skipping songs and boosting volume, by connecting to the car’s display through Bluetooth, USB, or auxiliary inputs.

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Roav Viva Pro

The Roav Viva Pro gives you Alexa, remote calling, and a charging station for your phone, all in one. It also has a convenient mute button that turns off the device’s mic. To get started, you plug Viva Pro into your car’s cigarette lighter, then connect it to your phone using Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple Carplay, AUX-Out, or FM transmission.

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Echo Auto

Amazon has come out with its own answer to Alexa auto accessories with the Echo Auto. The boxy device plugs into your car’s USB port or lighter, then you use the Alexa app to set it up. The device allows you to use all of Alexa’s regular functions, including hands-free calling, and it has a mute button for the mic. It has eight microphones to hear commands over road noise, so you won’t need to shout “play Blink 182!” four times before “Aliens Exist” comes on.

Garmin Speak

Garmin Speak stands out among other Alexa car devices for two reasons. First, it has a display that shows turn-by-turn navigation directions, which is super handy for the directionally stunted. Second, it mounts to your car’s windshield, so it doesn’t clutter up your air vents and it won’t leave glue marks on your dashboard. It connects to your phone through Bluetooth and its own app, and gives you access to all of Alexa’s features.

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Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
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