2nd Gen Echo Auto Review: Great redesign with minor snags

With the Echo Auto, Alexa became mobile a few years ago and transformed many a dusty car into a smart cockpit with a hands-free system, music streaming and voice assistance. The little black box now has a 2nd generation (RRP $69.99) and has undergone a design revolution:

Where the first generation Echo Auto still housed the microphone, operating light and controls in the body of the Echo itself, these are now outsourced to a separate unit. This means that there is no longer a conspicuous black box enthroned on a bracket on the ventilation slot – the compact control unit with buttons and microphone can be placed very discreetly using a clever new fastening system.

The following test report will show in detail whether the upgrade from the old Echo Auto to the 2nd generation is worthwhile and what advantages and disadvantages result from the new design.

Echo Auto and the 2nd generation: what has changed?

The introduction of the Echo Auto was a revelation for owners of older motor vehicles: the retrofit brought various advantages for manageable money, enabled reliable hands-free calling for phone calls, wireless playback of music even on older car radio systems and also voice control for track selection, telephony and navigation .

The 2nd generation Echo Auto also has all these advantages. The main innovations in the compact cockpit companion actually consist of the functional design and the installation inside the car:

Amazon Echo Auto (2. Generation)

We noticed that in the test of the Echo Auto.

The old Echo Auto had to be clamped into an air vent via a rather protruding bracket, while the new variant only needs a tiny magnetic suspension. This suspension not only keeps the microphone and control unit, which is outsourced and therefore much smaller than its predecessor, in place, but can also be attached to magnetic surfaces inside the cockpit, if these are available.

If there are no usable surfaces in the cockpit, the integrated adhesive strip of the mount can be used. Whether the suspension can be easily detached from any surface with an adhesive connection after a long period of time is another question, which is why some might even want the old ventilation clip back, but with the Echo Auto of the 2nd generation is no longer there. It’s really a pity, because with a third option, every need would have been covered in the end.

In terms of functionality, not much has changed when you upgrade from the original Echo Auto to the 2nd generation. However, this can also be explained by the fact that the first variant of the square little echo was already a pretty round thing.

connection and setup

The connection of the Echo Auto 2 is the same as with the predecessor: Here too, it depends on which standard the respective vehicle is ranked, which connections and technology are already installed in the car. Essentially, the Echo Auto still needs two ports. On the one hand, the Alexa box needs to be connected to a power source, on the other hand, the Echo’s audio signal has to be transmitted to the car’s radio system.

In modern cars with Bluetooth and computers with a USB port, this can be done with just one cable, but it is more likely to be used in older cars. Here the USB power cable is connected to the cigarette lighter using the adapter provided and the audio signal is transmitted via the auxiliary jack. The small cable required for this is also part of the scope of delivery. Otherwise, FM radio and cassette adapters, which are sold separately, also work.

In contrast to the 1st generation Echo Auto, the micro-USB cable is permanently installed on the main body of the new device near the connection and therefore cannot be replaced, which is a clear disadvantage for the user. A replaceable cable would have multiplied the connection options and also made it possible to cheaply replace a defective cable.

Once the Echo Auto 2 is connected and the microphone unit is in place, setup can be completed in just a few minutes as usual via smartphone, Bluetooth and the Alexa app. Incidentally, the smartphone always has to go with you – because without an Internet connection, Alexa remains silent and a separate mobile data connection is not possible via the Echo Auto.

Who is the Echo Auto (2nd Gen) worth for?

Anyone who is satisfied with their 1st generation Echo Auto does not have to switch to the new hardware in terms of functionality: voice control, telephony and music streaming work with the old device in exactly the same way as with the new version. Switching to the Echo Auto 2 is still an option for anyone who is bothered by the expansive design of the old Echo Box and wants a discreet variant in their car cockpit.

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In the test, the new Echo Auto, like its predecessor, mastered all important tasks from hands-free phone calls to the precise operation of music requests with flying colours. When used in an older car with a lot of background noise, it is advisable to position the microphone unit as close as possible to the driver’s position so that Alexa or grandma on the phone can understand everything that is said.

The fact that the Echo Auto is still very limited in its range of functions without the active mobile data volume of a SIM card remains a medium-sized downer to the otherwise great technology in what is perhaps the most useful of all Echo devices on the market. Anyone who would like to have a smart cockpit and cannot rely on more modern built-in technology such as Apple Car Play gets a wonderful all-in-one solution with the 2nd generation of the Alexa box for the car. As with all Amazon devices, this requires a user account with the online retailer.

We liked this:

• Successful new design
• Handsfree kit for old cars
• Good voice control
• Almost invisible microphone unit
• Smart new bracket

What we didn’t like:

• USB power cord not interchangeable
• Requires mobile data connection
• Magnetic clip unusable in many cars
• Bracket for ventilation is missing
• Amazon account required

data sheet

• Dimensions: 2.3 x 5.0 cm (microphone unit)
• Weight: 60 grams
• Waterproof: No
• Color: Black
• Voice assistant: Amazon Alexa
• Screen: no
• Zigbee Hub: No
• Microphone: Yes
• Camera: no
• Sensors: no
• To: Ja
• Microphone input: no
• Wifi: NoStereo Pair: No
• Multi-room: no
• Lossless Audio: No
• Auto Calibration: No
• physical keys: yes
• App: Yes