With We Connect, Volkswagen has prepared a large part of its fleet for mobile services for the 2021 model year. Starting in this model year, an eSim is integrated in the vehicles to ensure connectivity.
We Connect Functions
The manufacturer divides the functions associated with We Connect into 5 categories:
- Navigation
Using We Connect, traffic and route information is transmitted to the vehicle in real time. With the help of this data, the car can suggest smart routes and avoid traffic jams, for example. - Entertainment
Everyone knows streaming from the couch at home when you’re hosting your Netflix & Chill night. 😉 You can experience almost the same on the go with We Connect, whether podcast, radio or Spotify. All no problem with We Connect and the integrated eSim. - Security
If you are reading this article in your Volkswagen – not while driving, of course – and take a look in the direction of the headliner, you will find a button with an i (information symbol) and one with a wrench, in addition to a mostly red SOS button.
This means that in the event of a breakdown, a connection to Volkswagen can be established via the wrench and appropriate assistance can be requested. Behind the information icon hides a hotline, which you can ask, for example, for the best restaurant in your area. So this is a kind of concierge service. The third button, the one labeled SOS, does just that: in an emergency, you can press a button to get help, whether it’s because you’re involved in a car accident or you feel threatened.
However, the SOS function should not be confused with the eCall system prescribed by the EU. - Comfort
The comfort section is interesting, this term hides really practical functions. In this way, driver profiles can be linked to keys.
A driver profile can be thought of as a user account on a computer. If you get into your Volkswagen and set the heating to 20 degrees and the radio station 1Live, this is saved in your driver profile. If a second person now uses the same vehicle, with the other key, the driver profile of this person is activated and thus his settings are loaded, i.e. the heating is set to 22 degrees and the radio station WDR2. Just as the person used it the last time.
If the vehicle has electrically adjustable mirrors, the mirror setting is also stored in the profile and manual adjustment before driving is no longer necessary.
In addition to driver profiles, targeted comfort consumers can also be activated remotely using the We Connect smartphone app. If a parking heater is installed in the vehicle, it can be started. - Vehicle in view
Big Brother is watching you. The smartphone app We Connect, mentioned briefly above, forms the basis for the functions in the “Vehicle at a glance” section. The app can be used to view the vehicle’s location, whether the doors or windows are closed, and when the next inspection or oil change is due.
Now we have a rough overview of We Connect. Now we go into a little detail, because there are differences, not every vehicle offers every function. Furthermore, we need to distinguish between We Connect and We Connect Plus.
We Connect or We Connect Plus?
We Connect is available at no extra charge for vehicles purchased in MY2021 or later. We Connect costs no money and does not have a contract period, whereas We Connect Plus has a fee, but also offers significantly more functions. To use the basic and Plus functions, a free We Connect account is required, which can be conveniently created via the Volkswagen homepage.
After creating the account, you can use the basic and Plus features online or via the free We Connect app.
We Connect basic functions
| Service | techn. Requirements |
|---|---|
| Mobile key | Discover Pro (for Passat, Arteon, or Golf) or Discover Media (Golf only) |
| The Mobile Key only works with the above mentioned vehicles | |
| Breakdown call | Series |
| Vehicle status | Series |
| Vehicle information | Series |
| Vehicle Condition Report | Series |
| Driving data | Series |
| Parking position | Series |
| Service scheduling | Series |
- Mobile key
If a mobile key is installed on a smartphone, the vehicle can be locked, unlocked and started using this mobile key. The advantage: You only need your smartphone to open and start the vehicle. You can create up to 15 keys per vehicle at the same time. You can use these keys yourself or conveniently send them to fellow users and guest users via app. Data is transferred between the smartphone and the vehicle via Near Field Communication (NFC).
Source Volkswagen
- Breakdown call
Should you have a breakdown, the “wrench” button in the headliner can be used to call the breakdown service. - Vehicle status
This gives an insight into how full the tank is, for example, or whether a door or window is open. - Fahrzeuginformationen
Unter dem Reiter Fahrzeuginformationen erhaltet ihr allgemeine Informationen zum Fahrzeug.
- Doors closed
- Flaps closed
- Window closed
- Light off
- Mileage
- Kilometers to the next service
- Kilometers until next oil change
- Adblue range (of course only for diesel vehicles)
- Average consumption of the last trip
- Distance of the last trip
- Vehicle Condition Report
The vehicle condition report provides a quick overview of the most important vehicle data. For example, the Drive item indicates if there is an error in the engine control unit or if the oil level is too low.
The entire Vehicle Condition Report item is analogous to the data that can be accessed in the vehicle through the entertainment system. - Parking position
As the name suggests, the current parking position of the vehicle can be viewed here via a map. - Service scheduling
The last basic function we will take a look at is the service scheduling. The main user can store a fixed Volkswagen service partner. This is automatically informed by the vehicle when a fault occurs or an inspection is due soon. The dealership will then contact you directly to set up an appointment.
We were able to experience this function ourselves “live”, shortly before the Nordkapp our Grand California asked for oil, not five minutes later the dealership called us to tell us that there was a fault with the vehicle and that we should please check the oil level. We like the this service. 👍
The feature set of the free version of We Connect is already quite large and we definitely use it frequently to take a look at driving data.
We Connect Plus
The Volkswagen marketing department is really clever in this case, if you buy a new vehicle, you get one year of We Connect Plus for free. You get used to the large range of functions and after 365 days you are asked to pay.
| Service | Category | techn. Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Horn & Blink | Vehicle functions | |
| Online anti-theft alarm system | Vehicle functions | Anti-theft alarm system |
| Online voice control | Vehicle functions | Discover Media, voice control |
| Online parking heater | Vehicle functions | Parking heater |
| Locking & Unlocking | Vehicle functions | Not available for MJ 2021 |
| Web radio | Streaming & Internet | Ready 2 Discover, Discover Media, or Discover Pro; Streaming & Internet package |
| Media streaming | Streaming & Internet | Ready 2 Discover, Discover Media, or Discover Pro; Streaming & Internet package |
| WLAN hotspot | Streaming & Internet | Ready 2 Discover, Discover Media or Discover Pro |
| Online traffic information | Navigation | Discover Media, Discover Pro or Ready 2 Discover after successful activation of the “Navigation” upgrade |
| Online route calculation | Navigation | Discover Media, Discover Pro or Ready 2 Discover after successful activation of the “Navigation” upgrade |
| Gas stations and charging stations | Navigation | Discover Media, Discover Pro or Ready 2 Discover after successful activation of the “Navigation” upgrade |
| Online map update | Navigation | Discover Media, Discover Pro or Ready 2 Discover after successful activation of the “Navigation” upgrade |
| Parking spaces | Navigation | Discover Media, Discover Pro or Ready 2 Discover after successful activation of the “Navigation” upgrade |
| Online target import | Navigation | Discover Media, Discover Pro or Ready 2 Discover after successful activation of the “Navigation” upgrade |
- Horn & Blink
You might think that this can’t mean that you can honk and blink via the We Connect app, but that’s exactly what it does. What this function is good for is still beyond me, but it works. - Online anti-theft alarm system
If your Grand California has an anti-theft alarm system, it will alert you in the event of an attempted break-in. The GC will sound the horn for 30 seconds and turn on the hazard lights for up to five minutes. Of course, these warnings won’t do you any good personally if you’re not near the vehicle. The online anti-theft alarm feature sends you an email and a push message via the We Connect app as soon as the warning system on the vehicle is triggered. - Online voice control
The online voice control promises – quote Volkswagen:
With online voice control, you can control certain services with simple voice commands, such as navigation or the radio. Natural language recognition enables intuitive interaction with significantly improved voice control of infotainment and telephony.
- Online parking heater
In the configuration did not save and ordered a parking heater with? Great, then you can start or program them via We Connect. - Locking & Unlocking
A function that has saved us before. Yes, you can lock yourself out of modern cars, and even faster than you think: the vehicle is locked and then the sliding door is pulled shut, but the key is still on the countertop in the kitchen…. stupid, isn’t it? Because now you are standing in front of the door and cannot get into the vehicle. Now the Lock & Unlock feature can really save your butt, because you can open the Grand California again via the We Connect app.
But ATTENTION! In addition to the We Connect Plus subscription, you must first register with Volkswagen via Video Ident, which requires, among other things, the ID card, otherwise the function is not available. You should therefore start the whole procedure as soon as you have signed up for We Connect Plus, so that there are no delays or you cannot authenticate yourself because the ID card may still be in the vehicle. 😅 - Web radio
Enables streaming of web radio. You are in Spain and still want to listen to your favorite station, with the Webradio function no problem. - Media & Streaming
Via Media & Streaming, you can access Amazon Music, Audible, or Apple Music, among others. - WLAN hotspot
A WLAN hotspot is provided via the radio, allowing up to eight terminal devices to connect and surf.
A big limitation of the webradio, media & streaming and WLAN hotspot feature are, for all of this, an extra data volume package is needed. The service is provided by Cubic Telecom and let’s just say it, it is outrageously expensive and not up to date at all.
- 2 GB for 30 days: 6,95€
- 5 GB for 90 days; 14,95€
- 25 GB for 365 days; 72,00€
To classify the available data volume: Apple Music consumes about 120 MB of data per hour. Thus, you cannot even stream 17 hours of music for 6.95€. So keep your hands off it, it’s not worth it at all.
- Navigation
We group the navigation items all together in one section, the names are pretty self-explanatory. The biggest advantage is certainly the online route guidance and map updates, so the navigation device is always up to date in terms of map material and traffic jams can be effectively avoided.
Costs We Connect Plus
Volkswagen offers two packages for the We Connect Plus subscription, with two different terms.
- We Connect Plus ohne Navigation
- 1 year term for 75 €
- 2 years term for 119 €
- We Connect Plus mit Navigation
- 1 year term for 145 €
- 2 years term for 239 €
Prices are as of April 2023.
Is WeConnect Plus worth it?
You have now received an overview of the functions of We Connect and We Connect Plus. Now the question arises, is We Connect Plus worth it?
In our opinion, definitely not and there are good reasons for that:
The added value is not really given, especially in the VW Grand California. Those who connect their smartphone to the vehicle via Apple Car Play or Android Car do not need any of Volkswagen’s navigation functions. These can cover various smartphone apps for free, the best example here being Google Maps.
Volkswagen’s streaming offer simply cannot be taken seriously. If the data volume were included, things would certainly look different.
That leaves the Lock & Unlock function, which is really handy and, as mentioned above, can really help in an emergency, and the online anti-theft alarm.
In the free year we used said locking & unlocking once and since then we are extremely careful that at least one key is always “out”.
The notification about the alarm being triggered is nice, but doesn’t really help in an emergency. So you get the warning that the system has tripped, but not the reason for it. If a thief is really interested in the vehicle or its contents, he will not be prevented by this function either.
In the end, the price-performance ratio is simply not right here.
