26Sep
Volvo Sensus Connect is an advanced infotainment system designed to bring convenience, connectivity, and entertainment to Volvo automobile owners.
The system presents users with cloud-based services and a feature suite that includes apps, navigation with 3D maps, Wi-Fi hotspot, and many more – designed, as the automaker says, to "connect your Volvo to the outside world and provide you with information, entertainment, and functions to help simplify your ownership."
Sensus Connect comes with three different displays to support bringing you “the right information at the right time and the right place" while minimizing distractions. Without further ado, let’s explore the key features and functionalities of the Volvo Sensus Connect and how this innovative technology can fit into the everyday life of Volvo owners.
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1. Intuitive Touchscreen Display
The heart of Volvo Sensus Connect is its intuitive, user-friendly touchscreen display typically located in the center console. This high-resolution screen provides access to various functions with just a tap or swipe.
It typically ranges from 7 to 9 inches, depending on the Volvo model. The touchscreen is highly responsive, and you can use its familiar pinch-to-zoom gestures to zoom in on maps and details. Users can swipe and scroll through menus, lists, and options with a natural touch gesture.
2. Smartphone Integration
Volvo Sensus Connect lets you seamlessly integrate your smartphone and access apps, music, and navigation directly on the Sensus screen. It typically comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.
With these features, you can mirror your smartphone's interface on the touchscreen and access your favorite apps, including maps, music, and messaging apps, while keeping your hands on the wheel.
Some models offer wireless smartphone integration, eliminating the need for cables while still providing the same functionality.
3. Voice Control
Volvo's voice control system enables hands-free operation of various functions, from making calls to adjusting the climate control. Simply say the command, and Sensus responds. Volvo's voice control system is a powerful tool for hands-free operation.
Sensus Connect's voice control understands natural language commands, which means you can speak naturally without memorizing specific phrases. You can use voice commands to make calls, send texts, adjust climate settings, change music, and even control navigation. It's a convenient and safer way to interact with your vehicle.
4. Navigation System
Sensus Connect's navigation system provides real-time traffic information to help you plan routes more efficiently. It comes bundled with voice-guided direction capability, allowing for step-by-step voice-guided directions to your destination.
In other words, Sensus Connect's navigation system is more than just maps. With its real-time traffic information, you can avoid traffic jams and find the fastest route to your destination.
Perhaps, the best part is that you can download maps for offline use, ensuring you have access to navigation even in areas with poor or no cellular coverage.
5. Entertainment
Volvo Sensus Connect allows you to enjoy your favorite music with access to streaming services like Spotify and Pandora. It offers crystal-clear audio with access to HD radio stations, as well as USB and Bluetooth connectivity so you can connect your devices for music playback and hands-free calling.
6. Internet Connectivity
Sensus Connect turns your Volvo into a Wi-Fi-enabled vehicle with its, albeit optional, built-in hotspot to keep everyone connected on the go. All you need is an active data plan, and your Volvo can become a Wi-Fi hotspot, and every passenger gets to connect their devices and enjoy internet access while traveling from point A to point B.
What this ultimately means is that Sensus Connect can get you online without the need for you to connect your phone. You just have to insert a SIM card in the Volvo On Call modem bundled with the system and select the car modem (Volvo On Call) on the menu.
7. Safety and Driver Assistance
Volvo's commitment to safety is evident in the driver-assist features. Sensus Connect works in tandem with Volvo's safety systems, warning and assisting in avoiding potential collisions. The driver receives alerts for lane departure, blind-spot monitoring, and other safety-related information directly on the touchscreen.
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8. Remote Control
Use the Volvo On Call app to remotely start your engine, lock/unlock doors, and check vehicle status from your smartphone. The app lets you precondition the cabin by heating or cooling it before you enter the vehicle.
The app can also help you locate your vehicle in such instances where you've forgotten where you parked it or if your car has been moved without your knowledge. You can also check various vehicle parameters, such as fuel level, battery status, and maintenance alerts through the app.
While the specific features and functionalities of the Volvo On Call app may vary depending on the model year and region, there’s so much more it can help you do remotely, including sending destinations from the app to your car's navigation system, automatically notifying emergency services and provide them with your vehicle's location in case of an accident, running diagnostics and offering you information about your vehicle's health, and tracking your vehicle’s location if it got stolen.
9. In-Car Apps
You can access a range of in-car apps through Sensus Connect. It comes with an app store where you can browse and download compatible apps. These apps can include navigation, music streaming, weather updates, parking information, and more.
10. Personalization
Since Sensus Connect supports multiple user profiles, it allows individual driver customizations to meet driving preferences. In other words, Sensus Connect lets you create user profiles for different drivers, with each profile capable of storing personalized settings such as seat positions, climate control preferences, and audio settings.
When you enter the vehicle and select your profile, it automatically adjusts these settings to your preferences. For example, you can customize the home screen with widgets for features you use most frequently, like navigation, music, or phone functions. This way, you can have quick access to the information and controls that matter to you.
Notably, Sensus Connect may support third-party apps that enable further personalization. For example, you can integrate music streaming services or other apps for seamless access to your favorite content.
This level of customization, where you can adjust a wide range of vehicle settings, from lighting preferences to safety features, via the system's settings menu, promotes a personalized Volvo ownership experience.
11. Over-the-Air Updates
Volvo periodically releases software updates for Sensus Connect, ensuring your system stays up to date with the latest features and improvements.
12. Voice Assistant
The built-in voice assistant can answer questions, provide recommendations, and perform various tasks to enhance your Volvo ownership experience. It’s a hands-free and convenient way to interact with your vehicle's infotainment and control systems using voice commands.
You can typically activate the voice assistant in your Volvo by pressing a dedicated button on the steering wheel or using a wake word or phrase, such as "Hey Volvo." The specific activation method may vary depending on the model and Sensus Connect version.
Once activated, the voice assistant awaits your voice commands. You can then speak naturally to give instructions or ask questions. The system uses advanced voice recognition technology to understand your commands. It analyzes your speech patterns and processes the information to determine the appropriate action.
After understanding your command, the voice assistant can perform a wide range of tasks, including navigation, media control, phone functions, vehicle functions (such as adjusting climate control settings, opening or closing windows, or activating certain vehicle features), and information retrieval (you can ask for weather updates, news, and other information).
The system typically confirms your request or provides feedback to ensure it understands you correctly. This could come in the form of visual confirmation on the infotainment screen or through voice responses. Additionally, Sensus Connect voice assistants often support multiple languages to enhance accessibility to a broader range of users.
Summarily,
Volvo Sensus Connect is a versatile and comprehensive infotainment system that combines entertainment, connectivity, and safety features. It enhances the driving experience in Volvo vehicles with its intuitive interface and integration with modern technology.
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