Frustrated By Multimedia System

welcome to the wonderful world of toyota infotainment!

fortunately, they make their cars much better. idk anything about prime, but if it is anything like past generations, you're pretty much out of luck.

all the best!

p.s. if you don't get enough help here, read the 700 page manual

 

After a 7,000+ drive in my 6 month old Prius Prime Advanced (after 2007 and 2010 PRIUS), I have a few clear impressions of the NAV and Audio setup.



Recognizing that much of this has been posted by others, I will make it fairly brief.


The 11 inch display has resolution not as clear as was the 2006 or 2010. The actual mapping information seems pure out about 1980. Scant information showing most main highways but missing minor streets shown in 2010. The map and search data is apparently at least 10 years old and data available is of very mixed age.


I Installed a JAPANESE module device that allowed the map and search data to be available when moving - that helped a lot.


With much effort I was able to add over 30 SIRIUS Chanel’s to my display and easily access them. That helped a lot. No other TOYOTA apps have any apparent value.


The lack of CarPlay is clearly odd considering all competing vehicles contain CarPlay.

Toyota seems to have a love/hate relationship with the Prime model. Increasingly hate seems to be winning - from posts here, 2020 has CarPlay but other often useful apps are gone. Easy to feel Toyota is using up already manufactured unique Prime parts in preparation to simply kill the model.

Sort of odd.

 

I don't think you are wrong. There isn't a CD player, the car won't talk to your phone on USB, the Bluetooth is slow. I don't think any Prime owner is highly impressed with the infotainment system. I run an Apple phone and it works well on both USB (but won't charge it at a sufficient rate on the weak USB power) and Bluetooth, so I don't have the frustration on the phone side.

You have some other options - plug the phone headphone output into the aux input and listen that way. You can run any of a number of music apps on the phone, or listen to music stored on the phone.

Or, put some music on a USB stick and listen that way.

Pick up a cheap external CD player powered from USB and plug that into the aux in jack.

Yes, the voice commands are hopeless. My wife and I get a good laugh when I ask the voice command for something and it comes back with something completely unrelated (and that's after I gave it the voice training).

 

I was spoiled with android auto on my Hyundai from 2015. Yes, 4 years ago. I knew this would be a problem on the prime.

What I do is I mount my phone next to the Nav, and run android auto on my phone (not needed, but it's a good interface). Connected via bluetooth, I can play whatever I want, just have to select it on the phone. The infotainment source is set to "bluetooth" and it doesn't change. I mostly listen to podcasts via pocketcasts and stream music via pandora. Also use maps and waze for navigation.

 

prius sells better in cali than elsewhere, but i don't think it's that popular compared to some other models.

still, most cali sales are based on green love or hov stickers

 

they're only half way through the federal credit: Federal EV Tax Credit Phase Out Tracker By Automaker – EVAdoption

I don't know what's the deal with the state rebate or my favorite, my local air district rebate, which is bigger than the state.

 

model 3 sales are slowly gaining, but there isn't much other competition from one particular mfg.

there are a ton of other hybrids and plugs ins available only in cali though

 

Toyota is not close to using up their tax credits. Unless the laws change, these will be available for at least 3 more years, and probably longer based on current sales numbers.

 

to the contrary, our local prius expert thinks prime sales are going to the off, with CarPlay, 5 seats and increased supply

 

We'll see. Those are minor changes and may not attract buyers in droves. 27.5K units sold in US last year, and every month so far in 2019 down from corresponding 2018 month.

 

One reason why sales are falling is Toyota went all in on making other cars hybrid. The corolla hybrid is basically a prius that looks like a normal car. So that will definitely cannibalize sales. I briefly looked at the corolla hybrid (not enough features, only LE available), and the Rav4 hybrid (too expensive compared to Prime with about $8800 back, corolla money). I looked at model 3, that promise of a $35k car with bigger rebates, but besides that car never existing, I realized it's reliability is apparently below average now. But I don't think most people look at car purchasing the same way I do.

 

I was at the dealer today pricing transmission fluid. Parts guy told me the CVT in the Corolla hybrid Is different than the Prius and uses different fluid. If that is true I wonder what else is different in the Corolla hybrid.

 

I am skeptical that the drivetrain is different. Online toyota says it's a 1.8L, eCVT, 120hp, just like the Prius. Is there somewhere we could look this up?

 

Some—but not all—of the changes in features, relative to older models, are because Toyota has chosen to follow NHTSA’s Visual-Manual Driver Distraction Guidelines for In-Vehicle Electronic Devices. See the Guidelines (PDF, 78 FR 24817), guidance (PDF, 79 FR 55530), and Toyota’s explanation in Course TIN517B, Fall 2017 New Technology Update (available by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com).

The Owner’s Manual (PDF) for the 2020 Corolla Hybrid states, on page 500, that it uses 3.6 L of Toyota Genuine ATF WS, as on fourth-generation Prius cars.

I’d suggest the relevant New Car Features book, available by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com.

 

Toyota infotainment is widely criticized here on the forum, which is part of the reason I went with the Plus model that gives you the ability to install an aftermarket stereo.

My suggestion... load up your music library on a small USB stick.

SiriusXM works pretty well, as does HD Radio. FWIW, my iPhone streams Bluetooth with no problems, and connected easily.

 

I have the plus model as well. I never use the CD but it is there. Bluetooth + Spotify, HD Radio no issues at all.

The main reason I chose the plus model because of the physical buttons

 

agreed. his premise is that 2019's were limited in supply during the transition. hard to know demand though.
we did have some comments here regarding difficulty in finding inventory over the last few months