Factory GPS

Humor yourself by doing a search here, lots of chatter about the garmin and the performance of the factory gps.

 

junk.

 

I've never heard good things about any factory GPS.

 

I have only used the factory GPS about 6 times in two years, but it has never failed me. I am apparently the exception however, based on other posts at this forum. At first I didn't think the "Destination" voice command was working at all. Then I realized it was just VERY slow to respond, and that it would confirm the address in reverse order, saying the State first, then street, and street number, often with long pauses in between each one.

I do think the map update charges are outrageous, and I did encounter a blocked road (probably permanently) that the GPS was not aware of, but it quickly recalculated my route to get me around it. So far I am very satisfied with the performance. I have learned never to ask for the "shortest" route. The one time I chose that instead of "fastest" it plotted a ridiculous path through so many neighborhoods and back roads and a bazillion twists and turns that it drove me nuts.

 

I've got a nice Garmin, but it's so freakin' difficult to use that I've migrated to using iPhone Maps. Garmin is in the glove box but rarely leaves it. iPhone is easy to use and attaches to Bluetooth in my Tacoma. Even mutes the audio I'm listening to to give me directions, then restores the volume. And I don't have to refresh the maps via my computer like the Garmin requires.

 

Believe it. The process is very different for developing an in-car GPS versus a mass-produced consumer item. I was told that updating my Prius nav was a $200 charge by the dealer. I have free updates for life on my $100 Garmin GPS, and it's better than the Prius nav by an order of magnitude.

 

My C does not have GPS, but i have 2 other cars with factory GPS and all i can say is that i dont ever use them, i always use my phone or a dedicated GPS. Any modern standalone GPS gets traffic updates and map updates. The factory units do not, in most cases.

 

I agree, and Google Nav is another order of magnitude better than the Garmin GPS.

 

I'm always use Waze from my iPhone 6 Plus because the factory GPS is a joke.

The only factory GPS I love is in the E class, saved me few hours to avoid traffic from Vegas home just last weekend.

 

I have a 2013 Prius v. Your experience is typical for the factory navigation system. My wife tried to use the navigation to find a friends house in a development that was about 4 years old. No luck with that. The maps we got when the vehicle was delivered were dated May 2011. Wife insisted that we get the maps updated. Went to the dealer in November 2014 and got the maps updated. It cost $230!!! The newest maps that were available were July 2013. Still seriously outdated. Lesson learned, forget about the factory navigation and use the Garmin.

BTW. I tried Here Maps on Android. You have to download it from your browser, not the Play Store. The great thing about Here maps is that you can download entire states or all of N. America and use the maps offline. I experimented with the Here maps on an old 7 inch tablet with only wifi capability. Installed the app and maps at home with the wifi, changed settings to offline only and was able to use it for navigation in the car with no problems. Even this free workaround worked better that the factory nav. I had problems with Google maps failing when I don't have a data connection in rural areas. Garmin, Here, Google maps: all better than the Toyota navigation.

 

All the good nav data is under lock and key by those companies who use it to sell own their nav equipment, namely Garmin and TomTom. Google is way ahead of either of them. Third-parties, like Toyota must go begging to buy this data, and they have to pay a lot for data which isn't A-class, and therefore doesn't pose a threat to the GPS companies' sales of their own products. Apple found this out in their little spat with Google; customers were accustomed to accurate data, but when Apple ditched Google Maps and released Apple Maps, (with data purchased from TomTom I believe) it left a lot to be desired.

 

I didn't want my Toyota GPS but not that I have it, I use it quite a bit.
They DO need to be updated every couple of years though.
Your '12 car probably has maps from '11 so it is time for an update.
Alas, that is expensive too.
Garmin or smart phone are better choices in almost all cases.

 

Glad you mentioned that. I have a 2014 Avalon Hybrid XLE Touring with factory GPS. I use it because I paid a lot of money for it. I also have a portable $100 Garmin. The Garmin is just better period. It is easier to use, gives directions better and you can find addresses, restaurants, etc. easier. The factory one is a clumsy klutz.

 

Strange... why would so many people think the factory Prius GPS is so bad? We have had a Prius since 1999. Bought the first one via the Internet back when that was the only way to pre-order. We have traveled thousands of miles over the years and never had a problem. With our new 2014c we thought we had a problem until the dealer gave use an update. Then, no more problems. They built several new major roads in central Texas in 2012 and 2013. They were not on the maps. We have a hand held Garmin for sailing off the coast. It also works great but the screen is so small it is difficult to follow. Sorry there is so much trouble. You guys should band together and try to figure it out. Something is wrong here and maybe it can be fixed.

 

The problem with buying someone else's product, is that the product they sell you is intended to make theirs look better by comparison.

 

Pardon?

 

I suppose I should explain. Toyota, like most automakers don't develop their own GPS navigation systems. In fact, few companies can afford the massive investment required, therefore they are forced to buy the technology from the few companies who are heavily invested in GPS technology. However, these companies are also direct competitors against the built-in nav systems in cars, selling their own GPS nav units, therefore it's in their self-interest to sell the second-rate technology to carmakers, while keeping the best technology for themselves.