Echo Auto

I was worried how well the Echo Auto would work since a lot of reviewers make it seem like a total POS. So when it went on sale recently for $20 I pulled the trigger and bought one on 8.17.25 - wouldn't have taken a chance for $55 based on the bad reviews. For those whose Echo Auto doesn't work consistently or properly I feel bad for you because mine does exactly what it says it does and it works perfectly every time and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!! The setup was super easy for me in my 2014 Camry SE using a S25+ that I got it to connect to my cars Bluetooth on the first try and I was good to go and I haven't had to reconnect it since. And I have zero problems whenever I get into my car because my Echo Auto always connects within 30-40 seconds every single time. The Echo Auto makes it so easy and convenient to access all my music whether it's from Amazon Music Unlimited, Spotify, IHeartRadio, etc. with just voice commands exactly like how I do when I'm at home through my three Echo devices. And I'm pleasantly surprised that the music sounds AMAZING even though it's connected through Bluetooth - maybe because I have Amazon Music Unlimited with HD/UHD and spatial audio? I tried connecting through the AUX cable and the music sounded horrible - no bass, very tinny and some crackling. I thought it would sound better since it's a wired connection. But hey, less wires in my car. I absolutely love the simplicity of the Echo Auto because my car came with a USB port that I use with a 64GB flash drive that has over 10,000 songs or roughly 1,000 albums on it so you can imagine how long it would take to scroll through my music list to find what I wanted to listen to. Now I can just use my voice and listen to whatever I want in seconds. For me, the Echo Auto is absolutely magical and worth every penny. UPDATE 8.31.25 - 👀 Check Out My New Video 👀 I tried to upload another video but you can only upload one video per review. So I just combined the two videos with the first video showing how easy it is to control and use and the second video showing how to switch between inputs (starts at 2:05) on your car stereo so you can switch between Bluetooth (Echo Auto) a USB stick or the radio. UPDATE 10.25.25 I've had my Echo Auto now for over 2 months and I've NEVER had to reconnect it. And I have NEVER lost connection while using it whether I'm listening to music or making phone calls. Awesome way to spend $20!

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about this device at first. My major concern was that I needed wifi or an additional service for it to work. That was not the case however, I did not need to anything other then my phone. It connects through my phone using my already existing cellular service. It mounts to your vehicle with a magnetic mount that makes it easy to transfer the device between vehicles with additional mounts in them. The mount sticks very well to my vehicle using the included double sided tape and the magnet holds the device very securely. It has not yet slipped or fell since I installed it. Connecting device is very easy though the Alexa app on your phone. It actually walks you through the set up, step by step. So fr (knock on wood), I have not had any connectivity issues. The device fires right up as soon as I turn my vehicle on. It is an extension of my home Alexa devices and works in the same manner and does the same things, bit through my phone. It is hands free and I do not need to have my phone open to use it. You will find a mute button on the device that stops it from actively listening to you. As for sound quality, it has ore do do with the sound system in your car then with the device itself. The device does not have a problem hearing or understanding my voice, even when I am driving with my window down. When I am listening to Amazon Music through it, get out of my car, return and start my car back up, Amazon Music will pick up where it left off but sometimes the song breaks up and I end up having to stop the song and ask Alexa to either play that song again or play a new one. This is minor to me. As I mentioned, I can do everything you can do with your standard Echo devices that you can do with this, minus video calls. I can make hand free calls, ask. questions, listen to Amazon Music, get sports scores, hear news by using the standard Alexa voice commands. I really like this device. My only other issue, which is minor as well, is that it takes up one of your vehicles USB ports, which may be a problem with a vehicle with just one or even two. Anyway,, I am glad that I purchased this device and I highly recommend it.

This Echo Auto has surpassed my expectations. I have an older Toyota Sienna that does not have bluetooth calling or anything like that. This Echo has really improved the driving experience. I connected it to my Aux In on the radio and now I can make calls with it and play music from either my Amazon Prime account or just tell it to play certain radio stations, podcast, etc. The people I have called say that it works and sounds very good despite my older van not being overly quiet in its old age. I recently used it during a 2,000 mile trip and it worked very well. There were a few occasions where it did not initially connect but that was minor. I just reached over and unplugged it then plugged it back in. The only negative is that I don't believe it can be connected to two different phones. For clarity, I do not mean at the same time. I mean, I have been unable to get it to work properly when I pair to my phone and separately pair it to my wife's phone. Then when either of us takes the vehicle out without the other person it will not connect. If I unpair one of the phones, then it works fine. Oh well, she primarily drives the vehicle so I only pair her phone with it. If you have an older vehicle and want to convert it to a sort of smart environment, I recommend this device!

Echo auto is a very niche product for those who've bought into the Amazon ecosystem. Unlike Echo Dots, Pops, or Shows, or any other standalone smart device, Echo Auto is dependent on the Alexa app on my phone. This is both good and bad. It's bad because if you do not have the app on your phone, Echo auto will not work. It is good because of all the Echo devices inside my home, this one does not spew ads at me trying to get me to buy more items on Amazon. Echo Auto is fully dependent on my car stereo system. I only have the factory stereo in my car, but it is more than adequate to give me a solid sound experience. Echo Auto is very easy to install and set up. Simply power it through the car power port (aka cigarette lighter for all the baby boomers out there), and it's ready to connect to your phone. Connection is as fast as it takes for your car to recognize your phone. Once operating I can ask Alexa to play particular music or to give me a playlist to match my mood. I can ask Alexa all the dumb questions I can think of (68 times 3456, or the capitol of some African country, or the recipe for bbq ribs, etc.) and I get my answers. Echo Auto at full price (@$55USD) may not be a great value, but these often are on sale for up to 75% off. At this point it becomes a no brainer. You can have the convenience of Alexa as you are driving. Ask her to plan a route, play a song, or with the new plus version, have a conversation about a book or a movie.

I just acquired a 4WD 2010 Ford Escape as my inclement weather vehicle. It is an XLS, the base model, and mine is really base. No Sirius, no Bluetooth, no navigation, not even USB. I have Sirius XM in my other vehicles and listen to it the majority of the time. I also wanted hands free for safety and convenience reasons and navigation would be a handy feature. As I was looking for hands free devices, I came across the Alexa Auto. As I read more about it, this small reasonably priced device was the answer to all of the features I was looking for. Set-up was a breeze and, fortunately, the one "option" my entertainment system had was an auxiliary input. I had it up and running in no time. By utilizing the Sirius app on my Galaxy S25+ I immediately added satellite radio functionality. I've also been able to make and receive calls and navigate using the phones map functions. Connectivity has been rock solid using the aux cable and I have the added bonus of the car's speakers being utilized as the speaker for the device. Two small nits to pick: I wish the included power adapter was smaller...it is huge. I'm also surprised the device doesn't have an on/off switch. Despite those 2 issues, I love this device. It has taken care of my entertainment needs for this vehicle and modernized/upgraded the car's technology all with one small, relatively inexpensive gadget.

I feel in love with Alexa Auto first generation! So cool until you shut your car off, then it cannot find your phone & you have to forget it on the app & reinstall. Usually in the parking lot of were you've been. Almost every time. So I thought the 2022 version would be better. Same thing! Stressing out like a bad date! Alexa! Are you connected? Unplugging while driveing! Plugging back in. Why ame I doing this with my hands on a "Hands Free" device? I wanted to show it off to a friend. Cannot connect, try later. Later? I'm already home! I suggest buy one when Amazon gets it right! Great when it works! Witch makes it worse when it doesn't! UPDATE After Amazon read my review, they called me on the day I was going to return the Echo Auto. The Amazon tech was very nice but talked to me as if I didn't know how to set it up. I was asked keep using it & keep a log of when it malfunctioned & to report it back to them. I agreed not to return it & work with them. I reported back through email. I heard nothing back. Then last week I received an email from "James" at Amazon staying that they want to give me a replacement but they don't have my phone number. They have my number. I followed the link he sent. Left a message & my #. Nothing. I've contacted Amazon several times & was told a technician would contact me within 6 hours. Nothing. So I've kept this defective device for no reason. I think the return window is still open. This purchase has been the worst experience I've ever had with Amazon! The hour's I've spent with so called techs that have never used an Echo Auto & only know the script in front of them. Any issues that have been fixed, came from me. I have the old Echo Auto. I want to give it to friend but I wanna keep that friend. Just plugg you're phone into an aux cable & set your phone to Alexa hands free & save some money & your precious time. Man, have they waisted my time! UPDATE Amazon contacted me again. The tech was very cool & she gave me suggestions as she also owns the Echo Auto 2022. Unplug this, unplug that. Rest this, rest that. This tells me that she has the same problems that I have with this device. 3 songs & it disconnects from the phone. The only way I get it to reconnect is to reboot my phone. Not convenient while driving. So, they sent me a replacement. Something I could have done on my own. The new one is worse! It's played 3 songs while parked in my driveway, then lost connection to my New phone. Got it going after an hour & a half, only to disconnect the moment I left the house. Do not buy this! Having spent hours on the phone with the techs, I realized they know it doesn't work right. I would have returned it weeks ago if Amazon hadn't contacted me. They tried but failed. Maybe in ten years they'll figure it out!

Purchased this in December, and it was great at first! Super easy to set up, worked fantastic for a while. However, lately, it has been absolutely horrible. It stays connected to the network fine, but the device dings like you’ve said “Alexa,” even when no one is talking at all. The sound will go in and out, music will pause randomly, it will play stuff completely unrelated to what you requested, and artists and song titles won’t be anything close to what you asked for. Seriously, please fix these bugs…

The Amazon Echo Auto with Alexa+ Early Access is convenient if your main goal is hands-free voice control while driving. Voice commands work well for music, calls, navigation requests, and basic Alexa functions. That said, the experience is fairly limited beyond voice use. App behavior and integrations can feel inconsistent, and Alexa+ Early Access still feels unfinished at times. It works best when kept simple—voice commands only. Overall, it’s useful if you want basic Alexa functionality in your car, but don’t expect a fully polished or advanced smart experience yet. Good for voice use, but not a must-have.