A Dutchman, Jaap Haartsen, working for the Swedish company, Ericsson, brought Bluetooth to the world. It is fair to say it could be considered one of the most important creations of the 20th Century. Before that, we did have infra-red technology for transferring files. It was, though, terribly slow, and a 3Mb file could take at least five minutes to transfer.
Since then, Bluetooth has come a long way…
The first Bluetooth functioning device was an Ericsson mobile phone in 1999. But it took until 2001 for the Ericsson T39 phone to finally make it to the shelves in the shops. Now things have advanced so far that we can have Bluetooth everywhere, and we can review the Best Bluetooth Car Kits.
It was named after a Scandinavian king who ruled Norway and Denmark in the 10th century. Harald Gormsson was a Viking king. His nickname was Blatand, which literally translated as Bluetooth. I wonder what he would make of it today? Probably burn us all as witches. Never mind, let’s take at the best of ‘Blatand’ for the chariot, as well as the perfect Bluetooth Kit for your car…
Contents
- 1 Top 8 Best Bluetooth Car Kits Product On The Market Reviews
- 1.1 1 TaoTronics Bluetooth Car Kit – Best Car Bluetooth Kit
- 1.2 2 Nulaxy Bluetooth Car FM Transmitter – Best Hands Free Bluetooth Car Kit
- 1.3 3 TaoTronics Bluetooth Receiver/Car Kit – Best Bluetooth Kit for Cars
- 1.4 4 GOgroove FlexSMART X2 Bluetooth FM Transmitter for Car Radio – Best Value for the Money Bluetooth Car Kits
- 1.5 5 Roav Viva by Anker – Best Alexa Car Device
- 1.6 6 SoundBot SB360 Bluetooth 4.0 Car Kit – Best Mid-Range Bluetooth Car Kits
- 1.7 7 Motorola Mobile Sonic Rider Bluetooth Wireless In-Car Speakerphone – Best Premium Bluetooth Car Kits
- 1.8 8 TIANSHILI handsfree Bluetooth receiver Car Kit – Best Budget Bluetooth Car Kits
- 2 Best Bluetooth Car Kits Buying Guide
- 3 Love Car Gadgets and Unique Car Accessories?
- 4 So, what are the Best Bluetooth Car Kits?
Top 8 Best Bluetooth Car Kits Product On The Market Reviews
1
TaoTronics Bluetooth Car Kit – Best Car Bluetooth Kit
We have reviewed TaoTronics products before. They are quite impressive at their given price point. They are a company based in Shenzhen, China, which was founded in 2007 and are part of the SunValley group. Their products are of decent quality and at a very attractive price.
This Bluetooth car kit gives you what most people need while driving. A safe way of taking calls while still having both hands on the wheel. It has built-in cVc 6.0 noise cancellation systems, which makes your calls a clearer and cleaner experience, as well as reducing static when playing music.
Multitasking?
It operates with Bluetooth 4.2 and is compatible with A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, and HSP. You can set it up to use two compatible Bluetooth devices with this receiver. That gives you a good level of what is known as “multitasking.”
We dislike that expression as it gives the impression you can work two jobs at the same time. When one is listening to music to music and the other speaking on the phone, we hardly call that work. Better to say it gives you a couple of contact opportunities.
Nevertheless…
It does do that. Calls can be taken on one device while another device might be playing your music. It will hold the music while you talk and then recommence it when you hang up. So, not two tasks but three. Controls are easy to use, even when driving. They are backlit and are nicely and conveniently spaced.
They will, of course, handle all call situations but also will allow you control over your music. The multifunction button controlling Play and pause, track skipping, and volume. Some of the same button controls also answer your calls. It has a built-in microphone, but the mic quality is not so good.
Two options…
Fitting in the car has been taken care of with two options. Firstly there is the clip on to the air vent, which is a common fitting. This though, is not always convenient or practical in all vehicles. TaoTronics have given you the option to use a magnetic base secured by magnetic tape that can be placed on any flat surface.
A USB charger is included. This can give power at the same time to two different devices and charge them as you drive along. A simple but effective system that has a very attractive price point.
Pros
- Some nice built-in features.
- Easy to use and manage controls for calls and music.
Cons
- The mic could be better.
2
Nulaxy Bluetooth Car FM Transmitter – Best Hands Free Bluetooth Car Kit
Nulaxy is a company that was founded as recently as 2015 in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Like many similar companies there rise to fame has been quick, and they have very quickly built a respected reputation. That reputation extends not only to their products but to the innovative way things are designed.
They are especially recognized as an important player in all things Bluetooth compatible, and this car kit is a good example. This hands-free car kit provides an easy and effective way to safely take calls and listen to music as you drive. It has a larger than average LCD color display screen.
Great at night…
The screen also illuminates what is going on very brightly and clearly. Especially useful at night. Unfortunately, there are no options for changing the screen colors. Maybe that is asking too much. The controls include an off and on switch so you can manually turn it off to save your vehicle battery usage.
On the screen is a voltmeter to show you the state of your battery condition. It will operate with most devices that are Bluetooth enabled, and the sync to your phone or other device is easy and quick to use. It has a built-in mic.
Everything you could ask for…
Calls and sound management options are all included, and it has two USB ports. One is for reading files, the other for charging devices. The sound quality is quite good though you might need the mic placed quite close to you. It is a neat and tidy system at a very good price point. And the addition of a color screen makes it an attractive option.
If we are to look for downsides, there is only a maximum of 32GB flash drive. And as we mentioned before, you cannot change the screen colors, so we hope you like blue. It plugs into the cigar lighter and has a flexible goose arm for convenient positioning.
Pros
- Nicely designed with a very effective operational screen.
- Controls are easy and effective.
Cons
- Could drain your battery if you are not careful.
3
TaoTronics Bluetooth Receiver/Car Kit – Best Bluetooth Kit for Cars
Back again to TaoTronics for another Bluetooth Car kit. This is a great little Bluetooth kit that must be considered as one of the Best Car Bluetooth Kits. This is a portable little unit that just plugs straight into the aux jack socket of your car or vehicle. It is so portable when you leave your vehicle; just put it in your pocket and take it with you.
How small is it?
It is smaller than two inches and weighs just three and a half ounces. All you have to do is remember it’s in your pocket. It has Bluetooth 5.0 for an excellent connection with EDR and A2DP and is compatible with most phones and devices. It offers ten hours of use time for either calls or music and has a standby of 200 hours.
Hands-free calls can be operated easily and safely. There is a built-in mic that is a decent standard, and so your voice is reproduced to a caller quite clearly. You can connect up to two compatible devices at the same time. You can, therefore, leave one to use for music and keep the other for calls, or GPS.
Back to basics…
Controls are basic but quite easy and functional. Besides call management, there are music controls for play and pause, skipping tracks, and volume. An added extra is the use of Siri if you need it, and you have an Apple device. It comes with a micro USB charging cable.
You should not try to pair this with compatible Bluetooth speakers or headphones. We have to say that this is an impressive little unit and placed at a staggeringly cheap price point. “Blatand” would have liked one of these on his Longship.
Pros
- Very good sound and call management features that are easy to use.
- Small and compact at a great price point.
Cons
- Nothing at all.
4
GOgroove FlexSMART X2 Bluetooth FM Transmitter for Car Radio – Best Value for the Money Bluetooth Car Kits
This is another Bluetooth kit for the car with creative styling. They have made the operation as painless as possible. It is as simple as plugging the unit in and syncing it up to your device. From there, you will be able to make and receive calls hands-free and safely while still driving.
Connecting up your phone, you can access your playlists or tune in to your favorite streaming service. If you should receive a call while listening, you can answer the call at the touch of a button. The music will fade out until you’ve finished. The built-in mic has a voice detection system ensuring every call you make is clear.
Super simple…
The controls are well-placed and easy to use. Answering calls and playing your music is easy, and included are all the basics you will need. You can pair two devices at the same time and can take calls on either at any time. There is a USB charging port, which means you can charge up your device while you are using it.
It runs Bluetooth 2.1, which is not the latest version available, and is compatible with A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, and HFP. It plugs into your cigar lighter in your vehicle and has an adjustable and flexible gooseneck. This gives you a lot of options in terms of the best positioning for the X2.
Great value for the money…
There is a small colored display screen. The price point is set a little higher than some, but it is still good value in our opinion.
This is a neat unit and is made to be easy to use. Once again, an innovative design and styling make an attractive but functional unit. One of the real positives about this unit is the control buttons. They are solid and firm to the touch and don’t feel at all vulnerable, which is not always the case. Another strong contender for the Best Value Car Bluetooth Kits around.
Pros
- Well made with plenty of control functions.
- Easy to use and set up.
Cons
- A little more expensive than some.
5
Roav Viva by Anker – Best Alexa Car Device
If you are looking for a different approach to communications in your car using Bluetooth, this might be of interest. It certainly is a step in another direction.
This is a product from Anker they describe as being “semi-Bluetooth.” It is an interesting concept that uses Alexa voice control from Amazon. It gives you both hands-free calling and also provides your music.
How does it work?
It plugs into the cigar lighter in your car and is absolutely full of new ideas and features. We would say at the point that it is advisable to check the amount of space around the input. It will take up a bit of room and certainly won’t fit all cars dashboard layouts.
As we said, handsfree calling and your music selections are both available, but there is a bit more to this unit than that. A great innovation is the voice-activated access to navigation that it provides. It also provides a private calling experience. And all at the touch of a button.
What else did we love?
There is a dual-microphone idea for improving the sounds in voice calls and in all Alexa-based communications. Two USB ports are provided for charging your device. Either you or a passenger or both may, therefore, keep devices at maximum power.
You are a little limited with some operations, and it doesn’t provide what some may see as the full Bluetooth experience. As we already mentioned, there is also the potential problem of having enough space around your cigar lighter. It isn’t a particularly small unit.
However…
It does offer some options that some others don’t, and if you want another option, it might be worth looking at. Set at a decent price point.
Pros
- Some new and interesting designs.
- Has some good built-in features.
Cons
- It won’t fit in some vehicles.
6
SoundBot SB360 Bluetooth 4.0 Car Kit – Best Mid-Range Bluetooth Car Kits
Quite often, with Bluetooth car kits, there isn’t a problem with pairing or connections. Those are the areas you might consider could cause you problems. The real problem is sometimes the most basic of things. And something some manufacturers don’t appear to take very seriously.
That problem is space…
You can make a wonderful piece of equipment, but if it won’t fit or you can’t find a usable space, it won’t be successful. There are the usual options, clipping on air vents for an example, or using a cigar lighter if there is room. But there should be something better. Welcome to the SoundBot SB360.
This unit has features we will talk about in a minute but first the fitting. It has a docking station that is magnetic. That means you can place it virtually anywhere. You can even clip it on yourself or your passenger. That is one potential problem given an answer.
Just how small is it?
As a unit, it is compact, measuring just 1.54 by 1.54 by 0.51 inches and weighing 1.2 ounces. You can make and receive calls and listen to your music, and all with a convenient little system, you can carry around with you. It has Bluetooth 4.0, and A2DP profiles are supported.
The control elements are easily operated and revolve around three buttons. These control the call functions of answering and ending the call. But also volume, skip track, and other music management requirements. There is an LED indicator to provide information on the status.
How can you use it?
It will pair up with all compatible phones, devices, and laptops, etc. It is also fitted with a USB charger. There is a microphone with built-in noise reduction to help you make clear and concise calls. There is also a 3.5 aux socket through which it connects.
A nice little unit at a very attractive price point.
Pros
- Small and compact unit with some good basic features at a very good price point.
- Magnetized fitting plate for easy placement.
Cons
- There can be a problem with the volume on some voice calls.
7
Motorola Mobile Sonic Rider Bluetooth Wireless In-Car Speakerphone – Best Premium Bluetooth Car Kits
This is a name that needs little introduction to anyone who has audio in their car. For years they have been one of the recognized brands. This is a different type of Bluetooth kit and utilizes a speakerphone system.
The fitting is also quite a novel idea as it clips over anything with a large enough edge. This could be a sun visor at eye level or an in-car compartment. It has an adequate 2-watt speaker that allows you to have clarity in your phone conversations. It also features noise and echo reduction technology.
Multipoint technology?
You may connect up to two devices using a multipoint technology. There are also voice prompts. These will tell you when you are connected and also give you updates on the battery status. And while we are on the subject of the battery, it offers a staggering 45 hours of talk time. On standby, it will last five months. It operates from a Lithium Polymer battery.
You can manage all your calls using voice commands, including an “ignore” option. If you are receiving a call from a known user, it will announce the name of the caller. Text messages can also be voice-controlled.
How else is it different?
As you may have guessed, it is not a particularly small speaker measuring 2.30 by 5.00 by 7.90 inches. As an alternative style of unit, it works very well. It will provide efficient service, providing you have a reasonable place to attach it. It has an attractive silver and black plastic build. The controls are sizable and placed on the top of the unit for easy use.
A little bit more expensive than most, but then there’s quite a bit more in the build.
Pros
- An interesting design alternative.
- Good features built-in.
Cons
- Might be a bit too big for practical use for some people.
8
TIANSHILI handsfree Bluetooth receiver Car Kit – Best Budget Bluetooth Car Kits
When we first saw this, it brought to mind the gun that John Malkovitch’s character built in the movie, In the Line of Fire. It is an interesting product that is designed to make calls and play your music as safely as possible. It is a Bluetooth unit as well as an FM transmitter and will support Micro SD card play.
What else?
It also has a 3,5 aux socket for non-Bluetooth devices. The FM frequency currently in use is displayed on the LCD screen. It utilizes Bluetooth v5.0 + EDR for a high level of connectivity. The connection will provide excellent call receiving quality. One big sound advantage is that you can put the phone call through the FM stereo system in your vehicle.
It has an automatic switching device that goes to hands-free status if you receive a call while you are playing music. It plugs in and takes its power from a cigar lighter. This is a very small and compact unit, so fitting is unlikely to be a problem. However, it wouldn’t hurt to just check initially.
You should know…
When you turn the vehicle off, the unit will appear to remain on. This though, is just the screen and does not drain the battery to any degree. The unit will start up again properly the next time you start the vehicle. The operating controls and card slots are placed on the sides of the unit and are easy to use.
There is voice control in the system, but unfortunately, it cannot be turned off. We can envisage that being something that might not please some people. The price point is set at a very competitive level.
Pros
- Very compact and practical design.
- Easy to use at a very attractive price point.
Cons
- Not possible to turn off the voice that is built-in.
Best Bluetooth Car Kits Buying Guide
There are some things to consider when buying a Bluetooth accessory for your car.
Versatility
It will need to be versatile. Technology is constantly changing, and it is a good idea to ensure your Bluetooth will connect to as many devices as possible. Versatility will also be important if more than one person is using the vehicle. Anyone else may also want to connect their device.
Connection
Not all Bluetooth products work in similar ways. Some will provide the opportunity to connect two devices, not just one. This could be important if you have two people in the vehicle who both need connection.
Or maybe to have one access your device while another is playing music. It will also be better if the kit you buy has the ability to remember and recognize previous connections. That way, it will automatically connect, which is better than a manual connection every time you use it.
Hands-Free
The operation and ease of hands-free calling will be one of the reasons you will be getting this product. It should, therefore, be easy to operate with good audio and connections.
Fitting
Finally, always check that your preferred system will fit in the vehicle. Some have dashboards that have the right connections. But a large Bluetooth device might not have enough space to fit in the available area.
Love Car Gadgets and Unique Car Accessories?
If so, check out our reviews of the Best Remote Start System, the Best Vehicle Lifts For Home Garages, the Best HUD For Car, the Best Car Alarm Systems, and the Best Bluetooth Headsets For Drivers you can buy.
You may also be interested in our in-depth reviews of the Best Portable Garage, the Best Car Compasses, and the Best Double Din Head Units currently on the market in 2022.
So, what are the Best Bluetooth Car Kits?
We want something simple, compact, and easy to use. But we like the idea of a small screen that is visible to see the information. We would also prefer a variety of fitting options. We have therefore chosen the…
TaoTronics Bluetooth Receiver/Car Kit
A great little Bluetooth kit at a very attractive price. Our choice as one of the Best Bluetooth Car Kits.
Happy driving.