The Automatic Labs Automatic promised to bring the simplicity of fitness trackers to vehicle monitoring. Imagine effortlessly tracking your car’s health and driving habits just like you monitor your steps or sleep. This “smart driving assistant,” as it was called, aimed to make vehicle data accessible to everyone, even those who aren’t car enthusiasts. Let’s delve into an Automatic Obd2 Review to see if this device still holds up and whether it’s the right choice for modern drivers looking for an easy way to understand their car’s performance.
Decoding Your Drive: Understanding Automatic OBD2
The core idea behind the Automatic OBD2 device is straightforward: plug it into your car’s OBD-II port, pair it with your smartphone, and gain insights into your driving. It’s designed to be user-friendly, unlike some complex OBD readers that require technical knowledge. Automatic monitors crucial aspects of your vehicle’s operation, including fuel economy, acceleration patterns, braking habits, and speed. This data is then compiled into an easy-to-understand format within its companion app.
For each journey, Automatic calculates a driving score, giving you a quick visual representation of your driving efficiency. It also provides a direct comparison of your fuel consumption against EPA estimates for your specific car model. By using real-time fuel prices, the app even calculates the estimated cost of each trip, offering a tangible view of your driving expenses.
Beyond fuel efficiency, the Automatic OBD2 device leverages your smartphone’s GPS to track and log your routes. You can review past trips on a map, which can be beneficial for analyzing driving patterns and planning more efficient routes in the future. A handy feature also automatically saves your car’s parked location, making it easier to find your vehicle, especially in unfamiliar areas.
More Than Just Fuel Economy: Diagnostic and Safety Features
Automatic extends its functionality beyond just tracking driving habits. If your car’s check engine light illuminates, the Automatic OBD2 scanner can retrieve the diagnostic trouble code. The app then performs an online database search to provide a plain-English explanation of the code’s meaning and suggest whether professional mechanic attention is needed. In cases of minor issues, such as a loose gas cap, Automatic even allows users to clear the code and turn off the check engine light directly from the app.
One of the most compelling features, though listed as “coming soon” in early versions, is crash detection. Utilizing a built-in accelerometer, Automatic is designed to detect significant impacts. In the event of a crash, the system can automatically contact emergency services (911) providing your name, location, and vehicle details. Crucially, it also includes a cancel option in case of false alarms, like hitting a large pothole, preventing unnecessary emergency calls.
Automatic OBD2: Simplicity in a Saturated Market
What sets Automatic apart from the multitude of OBD-II readers available? The key differentiator is its focus on simplicity and ease of use. Many traditional OBD readers and fuel economy monitors demand a degree of technical expertise and manual configuration. Even something as seemingly basic as engine displacement can be obscure to the average driver. Automatic aims to remove this complexity, offering a truly plug-and-play experience.
Setting up Automatic is remarkably straightforward. The device pairs with iPhones (initially iPhone 4S and 5 via Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy) through a simple process. After installing the Automatic app and entering a unique PIN found on the device, you simply plug the Automatic into your car’s OBD-II port. The app handles the Bluetooth pairing automatically. Upon turning the ignition on, Automatic communicates with its online database to identify your car’s make, model, and year, along with engine specifications. This automated identification ensures accurate fuel economy readings without requiring any manual input of vehicle details. It also gathers EPA fuel economy estimates for comparison.
Driving Insights Without Distractions
Another advantage of Automatic is its passive operation during driving. Unlike some real-time monitoring devices that can be distracting, Automatic works silently in the background. Once paired, it automatically begins logging your location, driving behavior, and fuel consumption as soon as you start driving. Your phone can remain in your pocket, allowing you to use it for navigation, calls, or music without interrupting data logging. The app itself doesn’t display live driving data, minimizing driver distraction. Information is readily available for review after your trip is complete.
While some OBD-II scanner apps provide a wealth of real-time data like fuel economy, speed, and sensor readings, Automatic takes a more streamlined approach. It focuses on delivering the most relevant metrics for the average driver, avoiding information overload. However, for drivers who desire more immediate feedback, Automatic offers customizable audible alerts for speeding and sudden acceleration or braking. These alerts, emitted from the device itself, provide coaching without requiring visual attention to a screen. Even with alerts disabled, these events are still logged for later review within the app.
Weighing the Value: Is Automatic OBD2 Worth the Cost?
At its original price point of around $100, Automatic was positioned at the higher end of the OBD reader market. Today, while potentially available at lower prices due to its age, the question of value remains. Numerous OBD-II readers are now available online for significantly less, offering Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone app integration. Tech-savvy car owners can certainly find more feature-rich apps and scanners, often for a fraction of the cost.
However, Automatic’s appeal lies in its simplicity and seamless user experience. It’s not aimed at car tech enthusiasts but rather at everyday drivers who want an effortless way to monitor their fuel efficiency and gain basic vehicle insights. The “convenience tax” paid for Automatic is for its automated setup, ease of use, and integrated features like crash detection without subscription fees.
Ultimately, the value of Automatic OBD2 depends on individual driving habits and needs. If you’re seeking a straightforward, no-fuss solution to understand your driving better and potentially improve fuel economy, Automatic offers a user-friendly option. The potential fuel savings and added safety features could justify the cost for drivers looking for an accessible entry point into vehicle data and smart driving assistance. If you are already a very efficient driver or desire deep-dive real-time data, other OBD2 solutions might be a better fit. As with any vehicle efficiency tool, your mileage, literally and figuratively, may vary.
