Staying connected is a facet of life we can’t let go of–it’s ingrained in our daily lives. More recently, vehicles have become something of a companion piece to our need for connectivity. An example of this is Nissan Connect, which is a suite of features designed around entertainment, security, and communication. Although it’s not exactly a “new” feature, good luck finding a decade-old vehicle with this much capability. However, it is a feature you can expect to find when you visit your Certified Pre-Owned Nissan dealer.
This is because Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles from Nissan won’t be models released more than six years ago, and this greatly increases the likelihood of purchasing a CPO Nissan vehicle with support for Nissan Connect. For the most part, Nissan Connect began appearing consistently around 2016, and it slowly but surely rolled out to other models. Today, Nissan Connect is found on nearly every model and trim that Nissan sells, so the newer the CPO vehicle, the more likely it is to have this important feature.
We’re going to break down Nissan Connect into a few sections. First, we’re going to discuss the entertainment benefits your Nissan Connect system will give you. After that, we’ll give some insight into features you should look out for. Doing your research, such as you’re doing right now, will be the determining factor on whether you purchase a vehicle with the features you either want, need, or both.
Are You Not Entertained?
As Russel Crowe once said, “Are you not entertained?” Music, internet memes, video games, and movies all give billions of people a sense of enjoyment. Sure, entertainment is subjective–for example, some people prefer talking a mile a minute while you’re trying to concentrate on driving, others prefer to listen to the radio. We prefer the latter, and Nissan Connect will satisfy everyone in the vehicle with its treasure trove of entertainment features. Purchasing a CPO Nissan vehicle will more than likely include an infotainment center positioned in the center of your console. Remember radios? Well, here you go. This is the future of radio/CDs/cassette players, and one screen will rule them all. Okay, sorry for all of the movie quotes; we can’t help it.
With this in mind, the entire Nissan Connect experience is achieved through the included infotainment center. You’d be hard-pressed to find a CPO Nissan vehicle without one installed, and the sizes vary between five, seven, and eight inches diagonally. These touchscreens are highly intuitive; anybody with a sense of how to use a smartphone will have absolutely no trouble navigating the menus. The experience is quite reminiscent of a smartphone altogether, with apps laid out on the home screen and easy access to everything you need at a moment’s notice, such as phone calls, navigation, or media controls.
Let’s start with some pre-installed apps which require no external connection, including SiriusXM, navigation software, and Bluetooth. Many vehicles have supported Bluetooth right out of the gate for years now, the main appeal always being wireless media streaming from your phone to your media system. Couple this with an available premium audio system, which you can find plenty of on the CPO market, and you’ll have yourself a concert in your cabin.
SiriusXM is a subscription-based satellite radio service, and there are many stations to select from. All of us here have found at least one station we enjoy, and we feel you’ll find the same. Rock, metal, pop, country, classic, and many more are all represented, and there are many stations exclusive to the service. Grandpa can listen to the oldies station, Dad can have his classic rock, and the kids can have modern-day pop. Everyone wins, and by favoriting your most listened to stations, you can select between them with ease. And of course, Navigation software is a must but is usually a subscription service. However, there are alternatives such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Get These Features
Some of the features you can get with your Nissan Connect system are to be expected, especially since each vehicle won’t be from more than six years ago, making them perfect for CPO customers. Two of these features are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and they will give your infotainment center an entirely new method of streaming media and staying connected while on the road. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will launch upon connecting a compatible smartphone, and this will transform your infotainment center into an Apple device or Android device–it’ll be indistinguishable from the experience you’re used to with your smartphone. No matter how you listen to your music with your phone, whether it’s stored locally or streaming via Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, etc…Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have support for it.
Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto give you access to your friends and family; whether for emergencies or general chit-chat, you can safely contact anybody in your phone book. Voice activation works on both, so all you’ll have to do is say who you’d like to call or text, and the virtual assistant will do the rest. Lastly, referring back to navigation, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have support for a variety of map apps, including one built-in for each. Speaking of apps, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have app stores linked to your Apple or Google account, and you can extend the versatility of your infotainment center ten-fold. Nissan Connect and these two features are nothing without the other, and it’s certainly something you should look out for when shopping for a CPO Nissan.
Another feature you should look for when shopping for a CPO Nissan vehicle is a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. What is connectivity without an internet connection? Yes, phones and some tablets have data plans, but what about the devices which rely on Wi-Fi? A 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot will make your vehicle into what essentially is a router, and you’ll have fast internet wherever you go. More importantly, it’s a safe connection, and you can guard it with a password, which you should do anyway.
The State of CPO
We love CPO vehicles for many reasons, but relevancy is near the top of the list. Obtaining a newer used model isn’t something to scoff at–it can make a world of difference. The automotive industry moves faster than many others, and a large shift in technology, such as what we’ve seen with Nissan Connect, has occurred within the past decade. CPO vehicles are more valuable than ever before because of it, and if you purchase a vehicle from even five years ago, it may feel primitive in a few key areas.
In a world increasingly built on computers, millions of other drivers have already taken the plunge by purchasing a vehicle with a bustling media center. Cars are more computer-like than ever before, and CPO Nissan vehicles are no exception. Manufacturers are on a mission to one-up each other with the next big thing, and in our eyes, Nissan Connect is this company’s answer to this mission, and it’s been a wildly successful venture thus far. Luckily, you’re in for a treat if you’re purchasing a CPO Nissan vehicle, as this great system will have you listening to your favorite tunes and chatting with your friends and family wherever the road takes you.
