Toyota Navigation or Garmin?

I noticed that no one here has mentioned Waze. We have always used a Garmin, but Waze does a better job of handling current traffic/disabled vehicle information. My 2016 Prius had GPS, but my wife always fired up her Gamin on trips as the map was more recent in the Garmin (Free updates).

JeffD

 

Toyota Navigation with built in traffic from internet ( data supplied by Tom Tom in the uk) works fine whilst listening to Bluetooth music on phone.

 

The last I heard, Waze was owned by Google. By now it and Google ought to be just different user interfaces for the same underlying data. Pick whichever interface works best for you.

 

Garmin map updates are manually downloaded and installed. You log into the garmin site/app, download the maps and transfer them to the GPS unit.

The traffic data is broadcast as a sideband of local digital radio stations.

 

I'd go for Google Maps / Carplay primarily and then in a deadzone I'd use a Garmin or other handheld.

 

Google maps can be downloaded ahead of time, for offline use in dead zones. Or for use without paying mobile data charges.

 

It reroutes if you take a wrong turn etc... but the map data need to be manually updated connected with a computer . Although thats might have changed, I havent used one since 2012.

I havent used a Garmin unit for years . The last time I had one was college and I had a Yaris and I had a Garmin plugged it to get around town. Yes, Correct, the directions are as useful as the map data stored there. One time I was driving back to my apartment (which was a year old at the time i believe me and my roommates, along with all the other students who lived there where to first tenets) . It couldn't find the way to the apartment.

 

The stored map data is just that......stored IN the unit.......and must be updated manually.
They typically issue updates several times a year.

 

In our last three cars that came with an in-dash NAV system, we still used Garmin Nuvi for our trips. Far better direction and better voice command responses. Besides, I have all the key destinations in the Garmin already and map updates are free. I am not going to be robbed by Toyota for the map data.

 

the stand alone units like your Garmin/Tom Tom/in dash are only updated when you update them...ie, you have to take them inside and look for mapping updates, install, verify it still works (lol I'm poking you, Garmin!) and then go back out to the car to drive.

the Google map /waze /apps update about every minute, from what I've seen.

the reason Google/apps are so good at predicting traffic patterns and problems is:

millions of people are using them all day every day, and constantly uploading vehicle travel dates to the Google servers. the Google geniuses then crunch all the data and compare traffic patterns vs this day last week, this day last month, this day last holiday, weather conditions, all that stuff.... and collisions are constantly submitted by users... Google just takes that info and gives back the best route... unless you're going around Atlanta. if you're trying to bypass Atl, Google will recommend routes through Atlanta no matter what time if day or night, crashes, or eclipses. that's really the only place I've seen that doesn't make sense.

I do all my routing for driving in Google so I can about traffic screw ups. I gave up on the stand alone unitsa decade ago

 

I love my Prius and I am a fan of Toyota. There is no excuse, however, for their very poor navigation effort.

Granted that New Jersey roads resemble a bowl of al-dente spaghetti with potholes the size of nana's meatballs. Nevertheless, the inaccuracy and insistence on avoiding the fastest routs is ridiculous. Furthermore, my 2017 nav has not received a single update. There's an exit that was moved from the left to the right side of the road more than three years ago. The Prius navigation has not made the adjustment.

In 2021 this is unacceptable. A relatively new company like Tesla makes regular over-the-air software updates.

I like the convenience of the built-in and integrated system. About five years ago, Honda started using Garmin navigation. Maybe Toyota needs a partnership. They certainly need to hire more staff to work on navigation, and release a major update and upgrade.

I have no objection to paying a reasonable fee for updates, say, five years after purchasing a new model.

 

Well yes, your owners manual will tell you that is the way it (doesn't) work.
Complaining about it will not make it work any differently.
There are other options.

 

I'm sure the Gen 5 Prius will have the fancy new type navi systems that link up to Google (ala Porsche etc.) for direction / data.

Definitely a reason I didn't bother making it a requirement to get the Gen 4 Prius trim with Toyota Navigation, most in car navi is well behind the usability of Carplay options...same case with any luxury cars I've driven.

 

All I want out of a car is wireless CarPlay and wireless charging. Don’t want any factory navigation, or voice recognition, or whatever. And put all the climate control on physical controls, not on the screen.

 

And if it’s not too much trouble: physical controls that you can easily find and operate without having to take your eyes off the road. Like manufacturers used to do.

Traditional dash controls vs touch screens | PriusChat

 

Not the case in the UK. Sat nav data is ok and traffic data over the internet is supplied by Tom Tom.

 

The GPS function of a phone also uses the same satellites.
You only need a "phone" connection to download a new section of map if you travel far enough.