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The most convenient locations to place your mobile phone in your car

27th July 2023, 13:28 by Dev Shah

In the Etios, I have placed an anti slip mat & keep the phone over it. In the Duster there is a small storage place on the top of the dashboard.

BHPian sidsden recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi All, a newbie here!

I recently 'upgraded' from a 3rd Gen 2010 Honda City iVTEC to a facelifted 2023 Hyundai Venue SX(O) DCT. One of the things I was over annoyed with my Honda City (among others) was the placement of the cup holders, which was so close to the center console, that it was impossible to keep even a 1 litre bottle there. On the flip side, the placement of the cup holders ensured that the usual place for cup holders, between the gear knob and the hand brake was free, and I bought a seat gap filler that allowed me the space to keep my mobile phone down while driving.

Fast forward to the Venue. I retained the seat gap filler while selling my City and have been using it in my Venue. However, the placement of the cup holders in my Venue ensures that whenever I put the gap filler, it occupies a large chunk of space above the cup holders, thus again making it impossible to keep a water bottle there.

So, my simple question here is, what is your most preferred position to keep your phone while driving? I do assume that a lot of folks use a mobile mount, but with the advent of Android Auto and Apple Car Play, and most recent cars featuring that, I suppose the use for a phone mount is going down (and I for sure don't want to clog either my windscreen or dashboard with one), but what about the rest? And, where do you keep your phone when you are connected to your entertainment system with a wire for AA or CarPlay?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Cupholders in the BMW 530d, with the charging cable plugged in. I don't like the smartphone clips & holders at all. Period. Interestingly, the BMW's cupholder holds my Samsung Flip perfectly fine, including when I "flip" it for Google Maps display:
Compartment at the base of the center fascia in the Thar, with the charging cable plugged in. I have a quirk with phone charging and always plug-in when driving. You'll never hear "my battery was dead" with me:

Here's what BHPian Samba had to say on the matter:

Luckily both my cars have a nice place on the dashboard.
In the Etios, I have placed an anti slip mat & keep the phone over it.
In the Duster there is a small storage place on the top of the dashboard. I have kept a small dark color microfibre cloth (dark to avoid reflection) & I keep the phone on it.
In the both the cars the phone is quite secured in these places. They do not fall or move out in case of a harsh manoeuvre.
Plus the charging cable reaches the 12v socket easily incase I need to charge the phone:

Here's what BHPian danlalan had to say on the matter:

There is never really a perfect place. Ive always fumbled with this. Usually i just keep it on my lap, thats always a preferred location so its easy to pick up whilst at a signal or slow moving traffic.
For my current daily drive its either the lap or just above the ac vents on the ledge that houses the screen:

Here's what BHPian anandhsub had to say on the matter:

I have wireless Android Auto, so for most city drives the phone is just in my pant pocket.
On longer solo drives or if I need to charge I put it in the cup holder. If not solo I just give it to my wife or kid to control music or play games.

Here's what BHPian robincsamuel had to say on the matter:

Never an issue on a Kia Sonet; you can easily keep three phones. There's a wireless charger, a similar space below it, and another space between the cupholders.
Photos from the Team-BHP official review: