Echo Auto Review

The Amazon Echo can be a wonderful addition to your home – but what about your car? Have you ever considered using this hands-free, voice-operated virtual assistant on the road?

While that handy device won’t transfer to automobiles easily, Amazon has created a unique, stand-alone solution: the Echo Auto.

Is it right for you? We’ve evaluated all the good, the bad, and the alright, so you can make an informed decision.

According to our observations, the Echo Auto requires almost no set-up, lets you enjoy Alexa’s many features on the road, and is compact enough to save precious car space.

Even still, not everyone will be after the same thing when it comes to smart devices. Some will want a large range of compatibility with other devices, while the design may not be suited to every car and passenger.

Is this the right smart device for you? Let’s take a closer look at the Echo Auto, so you can decide for yourself.

Echo Auto: The Details

Specs

• Product Dimensions: 3.3 x 1.5 x 0.5 inches.
• Product Weight: 1.6 ounces.
• Product Type: Smart personal assistant.
• Compatible with Amazon Alexa? Yes.

How Does It Work

Setting up and using the Echo Auto is simple. First, just plug the device into the USB port or cigarette lighter in your car. Next, find the vent closest to the driver’s side and use the clip to fix the Auto in place. Make sure it’s properly secured, so it won’t move while driving.

Then, download the Alexa app onto your phone and work through the prompts to accurately connect the device. From there, just pair it with your car’s stereo system, and you’re ready to go!

Once it’s set up, you can operate it like any Amazon Echo. Simply press the microphone “on” button, so the device knows to listen to you. If for any reason, you would prefer Alexa to stop listening in, you can press the “off” button.

When activated, you can ask Alexa for certain music or your favorite playlist, information from the web, remind you to pick up milk at the grocery store, or direct you to a certain store or restaurant.

It currently works with Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, NPR News, Sirius XM, Pandora, Apple Music, and more. Since it’s hands-free, you can still drive while using it.

Amazon: The Brand

Founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos in Seattle, Washington, Amazon began its venture selling books, CDs, computer software and hardware, and videos. Now, Amazon is one of the biggest companies on the planet, selling nearly any product you can think of.

They currently own a range of different businesses and websites, as well as produce music streaming services, personal assistant products, publishing houses, and several lines of their own products.

Echo Auto Review

The Positives

Super Easy to Set Up

The Amazon Echo has made it easy to manage your personal life, digital products, and gain information with a simple voice command. Now, the Echo Auto brings all of these features to your car.

While operating such a complex device may seem daunting, especially when moving it to your vehicle, testers were happy to report this device as easy to set up.

You can have it fully operational in just minutes, and this is even if you’re not tech-savvy. The app on your phone delivers guiding prompts to walk you through the process. The device also provides helpful tips to update you along the way.

Unlike some other accessories in your car, you won’t have to fumble and fuss to upgrade your entire vehicle. You’ll have Alexa in your ride to assist you before you know it.

Incredibly Compact

While all versions of the Echo are small, with cars growing more compact every day, even a device of that size can be troublesome. Luckily, the Echo Auto is even smaller.

You can clip it onto your dashboard without danger of it cluttering your vent, steering area, or view of the road. It’s just larger than a deck of cards – at 3.3 x 1.9 x 0.5 inches. That’s far smaller than most smartphones.

In practice, you’ll hardly notice it’s there until you need it. This is important for a car device or accessory since you don’t want to be distracted while out on the road. And, if you tend to keep your car crystal clear, you won’t have to worry about it being an eyesore.

Whether you have a family van or a sleek sports car, the Echo Auto will easily adapt without hogging up all the space on the dash.

Awesome Microphone

We’re happy to report that the Echo Auto has a great microphone. The device will hear you over loud noises, music, air conditioning, the heater, wind, or just the ambient sound of traffic.

You won’t be forced to tap the device for each command, and the microphone will register your voice without issue. This allows you to control the device, change your music, or ask for locations without taking your hands off the wheel.

Since road safety heavily relies on drivers’ focus, this ensures you can enjoy the Echo features while still driving safely. There’ll be no need to take your hands off the wheel, limiting dangerous situations and accidents.

This makes the Echo Auto a great companion for your morning commute, road trips, or when running errands. It will be just like having a personal assistant come along with you, so you can keep your attention on the road.

Surprisingly Affordable Price

Smart devices can cost quite the penny, especially portable ones, and devices specifically made for your car are no different. If you’re aware of the regular Echo’s price tag, you may expect this car version to be far more expensive.

Luckily, that is not the case. The Echo Auto is currently being sold for under $50 on Amazon. This opens up the Echo Auto to a variety of people – especially those on a budget.

Overall, considering the number of features, the small size, and the convenience this device offers, the price is an impressive steal. You’ll be able to stack this along with your smart devices at home without putting too much strain on your wallet.

You’ll receive a 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty along with the purchase of the Echo Auto. This protects customers against any errors caused in the manufacturing process; Amazon promises to replace or repair your device should it not work as advertised.

This not only helps customers put their trust in a company, but it helps to stretch their dollar further too. If you’re really worried, you can also purchase extended warranties and protections through Amazon.

The Negatives

Location Problems

Unfortunately, the majority of testers did have issues with the location feature. As of now, it seems the Echo Auto has a sub-par ability to locate places, give directions, or maintain a solid opinion on where certain locations are.

Testers found it was inaccurate at best and refused to provide information at worst. Hopefully, Amazon updates and improves this feature as it becomes more popular and widely available.

While the Echo Auto is great to have on the road, it might be better to stick with your current GPS and use them together for the best results.

Limited to Amazon Services

If you’re interested in this device, you might dislike that, currently, the Echo Auto only works with Amazon services. So, accessing music from a service that Amazon doesn’t own (besides Apple Music) is not currently possible.

All the music is from Amazon’s streaming collection. That’s also true for navigation apps and web search engines. If you have an app or service you prefer, there’s a strong chance the Auto is not yet compatible with it.

If you’re new to smart devices and don’t use too many apps, this might not be an issue. However, if you rely on your apps for your day-to-day, you may want to wait until specific updates are made.

Faulty Vent Clip

There’s a chance you may also encounter problems with the vent clip. In some cases, it won’t fit correctly. As such, you’ll have to place it somewhere else in their car or improvise a different clip themselves.

When not attached to the dashboard, the microphone’s range is limited, as well as your ability to make quick adjustments to the settings. Furthermore, there’s a greater chance of it falling or bumping around the car, damaging the inner components.

This might play into the type of car you have and the kind of set-up you want, but it’s best to be sure this can fit before committing. If you do, your warranty will come in handy if it’s too annoying to have around in the end.

This video shows what the Echo Auto looks like out of the box and in action.

Overall Verdict

After looking over all the positives and negatives, we recommend the Echo Auto. It’s easy to set up and use, compact and includes a great microphone. Alexa can easily hear you over the noise of traffic, and music won’t be dulling her response times which is very important when out on the road.

However, the location features, as of now, leave something to be desired. Additionally, there may be services you’d like to use which aren’t available yet; you’ll have to wait and see if Amazon includes them with a subsequent update.

Once Amazon improves these features, this may be a must-have product for your car. It offers hands-free convenience on the go, with more reliable voice-command features to keep you informed, entertained, and on time.

Where to Buy the Echo Auto

Amazon is a brand most of us have heard of by now. They’ve dominated the online world with their website and services, known around the globe for providing quick shipping and affordable prices.

Featured in cinema, television and pop culture, this brand continues to stay on top of the market while growing into other ventures like furniture and smart devices. Thanks to this company’s success, items like the Amazon Echo Auto aren’t hard to find.

Fortunately, since the maker of this item also owns the Amazon website, that’s probably the best place to kick-start your search.

That’s the end of our Echo Auto review. Are you curious to give it a try?