The Things You Can Do ”Hands Free” in Your Subaru
Let’s get this out of the way: The biggest reason that people get into automobile accidents is when they are distracted. Even trying to press a button to turn down the fan of your climate control may distract you from driving. The website Torque News found five things you can do in a Subaru ” hands-free.” Luckily, these items can be done using voice commands—the key to driving without distraction or taking your hands off the wheel.
It all starts with the infotainment system in your Subaru. On newer models, the 11.6-inch Starlink infotainment touchscreen serves as a hub for a host of functions. From audio and navigation to climate controls and key vehicle settings, it is the one screen that truly does it all.
We sometimes have a tendency to take our hands off the wheel and touch the screen – or any buttons on the center stack or out of sight. If you do that for a prolonged period, you might sense a loss of control of your vehicle. The solution is right on your steering wheel itself. The voice command button will handle simple requests through the infotainment touchscreen. Here are a few examples that Torque News found:
If you need to adjust the climate inside your Subaru, you can say a few commands to turn it on or off, adjust the temperature, and speed the fan. The same goes for your heated or ventilated seats. Since these controls could be part of your climate control screen, you can tell your vehicle to turn them on or off or to let it know at which level you want these functions set—low, medium, or high.
Voice commands can also be used to operate the Auto Stop/Start feature. Simply ask the voice command to turn it on or off. There is no need to reach for the settings screen to do that.
One of the things we often use in modern vehicles is the navigation screen. Whether through your smartphone app or the Subaru system, we’re always searching for the best way to get where we need to go. Again, by going to the voice command button, just tell the system where you want to go. If you know the complete address, just give it the street name and number – don’t forget the city.
Navigation systems also recognize points of interest, including restaurants, stores, hotels, and landmarks. Press the voice recognition button and say the name of the place—for example, “Whataburger” or “DFW Long Term Parking.” Once your smartphone is tethered to the system, it will use either Siri or Google Assistant to retrieve the point of interest for you.
Speaking of phones, calling and texting can also be accomplished without reaching for the device or touching the screen. Bluetooth is one way to make a call through voice recognition as well as through Siri or Google Assistant. If you know the person to call in your directory, just ask your Subaru to call them.
The biggest issue with driver distraction is texting. We are conditioned to grab our phones and type it all out. Not with the voice recognition system in your Subaru. Typically, the incoming text will be read back to you. If it asks you to reply, you can say yes or no. If you do reply, just say your response or create a new text. Don’t forget to add punctuation by saying which one to use. You can always ask the system not to send it or change your outgoing text completely.
Last but not least, the voice recognition system easily enhances your entertainment experience. By saying what you want, you can change the radio station, play a specific music file, or ask to turn the volume up or down. Can’t miss the Mavericks game? You could ask your Subaru to get it on your radio.
Older Subaru infotainment systems may not have the full functionality as today’s models. However, there are still some voice recognition functions you can use without having to reach for the phone or any of the buttons on the center stack or elsewhere in your vehicle.
Are you curious about how all of this works? Contact us at Ewing Subaru of Plano to get a demonstration of how to use voice recognition in your current or a soon-to-be-new-to-you vehicle.
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