UVO App very disappointing

[Hoonin]

I don’t understand why U.S. cars can’t use the UVO app to start their car or do things remotely. My GT2 has the remote start and despite what many say about KIA not wanting to pay for a wireless network, I’m pretty sure my car being a GT2 is constantly connected to a network because of some of the features it has.

 

[eflyguy]

I don’t understand why U.S. cars can’t use the UVO app to start their car or do things remotely. My GT2 has the remote start and despite what many say about KIA not wanting to pay for a wireless network, I’m pretty sure my car being a GT2 is constantly connected to a network because of some of the features it has.

It is not. There is no cellular connection. Some have reported the mobile radio is installed, but whether it is or not, it wouldn't matter as the firmware would not use it.

 

[scar_007]

Interesting, I have a Canadian GT2 and live in the US and am not anywhere near a Canadian Bell network. Sadly I'm not able to download the Canadian UVO app (at least not yet, I will figure that out). But I can log into the MYUVO.CA site and remote start, turn on heated steering wheel, set temp, etc. It does take about 15-30 seconds to confirm it, but I do not expect the car to be constantly synced via Cellular service. So it doing a "heartbeat" check every 15 seconds for directions\updates from the mother ship is acceptable.

The website does not have the "locator" service, but still love the remote start, especially on the colder mornings.

 

[SafetyPilotCal]

I don’t understand why U.S. cars can’t use the UVO app to start their car or do things remotely. My GT2 has the remote start and despite what many say about KIA not wanting to pay for a wireless network, I’m pretty sure my car being a GT2 is constantly connected to a network because of some of the features it has.

It isn't. There is an unused WiFi radio in the hardware, but it lacks cellular connectivity. There are even two different shark fin antenna used on the Stinger; one which has a "TMU" (Telematics Unit) wire and one that doesn't. The US model specifies the one without the TMU lead.

The TMU appears to utilize "Connector C" on the back of the headunit which is completely unused per the US Stinger service manual. But as pointed out earlier, without Kia supporting it, even if you put the TMU in the car, it would be useless.

 

[Hoonin]

Thanks for clearing that up guys, I guess I was under the wrong impression. Thank you.

 

[Gargamel]

I can’t even use my UVO app because it says my iPhone is “rooted”... it used to be jailbroken but I updated it weeks ago and lost it all.

For android, you can hide which apps sees the phone is rooted or not. Check if there are any similar för iphone.

My previous phone was rooted and mcdonalds app whined about phone being rooted and refused to work. Wounder what kind of safteys mcdonalds need for their coupon app, to work..

 

[Kimberly Lazarski]

While we're waiting for the Stinger refresh, we traded in our 2016 Forester Limited for a new 2020 Forester Sport (my partner prefers the styling of the Sport over the Limited), and the Starlink Security Plus is just fantastic. I won't buy another new vehicle without that vehicle location, remote lock/unlock and remote start functionality. With the 2016 Forester, we were constantly running into range issues with the remote starter, and it's really great that we can adjust the climate control from the smartphone app. These are features I would expect to come standard in a 53K vehicle. On top of all that, we got a lifetime powertrain warranty (dealer-backed, and yes, they do follow through on it. However it's a contract-based warranty which precludes tuning and the like).

Also, the dealer has treated us VERY well every time we've taken the Forester Limited in for service. I have never once had them try to cheat us on service, and they are always friendly and helpful, and they even replaced a wheel bearing and applied software updates a little bit past warranty, at no charge.

 

[jdis73]

UVO is worthless compared to my GMC app. My salesman swore that it had starting capabilities until I proved him wrong. Still love my car though.

 

[Yeti]

I purchased a gts in early December. Finally got around to loading the UVO App on my phone. Am I missing something? Cannot see any use for this App.

 

[MrSmoofy]

I purchased a gts in early December. Finally got around to loading the UVO App on my phone. Am I missing something? Cannot see any use for this App.

In the US it has no use

 

[Blingen]

I use the app to easily upload addresses to use with the navigation. That is the only thing I use on the app.

 

[MrSmoofy]

I use the app to easily upload addresses to use with the navigation. That is the only thing I use on the app.

For me, the built-in nav is useless too as it's got way too much missing information and/or wrong information. When I contacted the map makers for KIA they told me they had no plans on correcting the information event with the latest update. Google is far more accurate.

 

[RIck-F]

Hey, I just bought a 2019 sorento and the uvo app is on there... it's slow, very slow, but I can lock/unlock, start the car from anywhere in the world with data access. Using it on my Note 10+... it is 100% slow though....

My Sonata did that 8 years ago-- I expected more from the Stinger - with respect to connectivity.

 

[Revvdmedia]

My Sonata did that 8 years ago-- I expected more from the Stinger - with respect to connectivity.

I'm sure this slowness has been fixed on the absolute newest model HKG vehicles. I saw a demo online of the new feature of the Sonata (I think) where you can inch the car backward or forward out of a parking spot, they were using the app IIRC. Could you imagine using the UVO app on the Stinger to do this? Press the backwards button, 1 minute later your car moves a couple inches...lol.

 

[D.J.]

New update for us Canadians.

Now can use fingerprint or iris or face or
Intelligent scan on my Samsung Galaxy S9+

Used to require a 4 digit PIN to start or unlock or any remote service.

 

[RedCal]

New update for us Canadians.

Now can use fingerprint or iris or face or
Intelligent scan on my Samsung Galaxy S9+

Used to require a 4 digit PIN to start or unlock or any remote service.

Came here to say this... Nice addition

 

[jazzdabb]

It isn't. There is an unused WiFi radio in the hardware, but it lacks cellular connectivity. There are even two different shark fin antenna used on the Stinger; one which has a "TMU" (Telematics Unit) wire and one that doesn't. The US model specifies the one without the TMU lead.

The TMU appears to utilize "Connector C" on the back of the headunit which is completely unused per the US Stinger service manual. But as pointed out earlier, without Kia supporting it, even if you put the TMU in the car, it would be useless.

I wonder if something about Kia system doesn’t meet FCC requirements. Might explain why we lose out stateside.

 

[RedCal]

I wonder if something about Kia system doesn’t meet FCC requirements. Might explain why we lose out stateside.

Doubtful, FCC and CRTC follow each other VERY closely (think of the problems that would arise in board towns like Windsor/Detroit if our systems when at odds) - But I don't know why it isn't offered in the USA - my only guess is because you have so many cell providers that negotiations where too challenging, or a cost trade off... you got a 10 year warranty instead of UVO

 

[Revvdmedia]

As an FYI, I have BMW Connected Drive on my new BMW, basically the same as the UVO app but without remote start because #Germancarproblems. I believe the head unit I have came out originally in 2018 or 2019, but the chassis of my car started in ~2014. The app, while a bit better, is slow to send commands to/from the vehicle. I'm not sure about all the other brands, but maybe it's just the tech not being up to snuff yet for this to be speedy. Maybe for next gen cars it'll be better. Also, keep in mind that head units are pretty lackluster for specs (I usually find), like all manufacturers don't want to spend a penny more than they need to on them.

 

[eflyguy]

The reason we in the US don't get the same features as even our neighbors to our North is "regulations".. it's also why diesel in passenger and smaller vehicles was never a "thing" here compared to other countries (and likely played a major role in the whole "dieselgate" scandal). The US regulatory system makes things so difficult for manufacturers, many just choose to not bother.