Should I even bother with Entune/Nav system?????

The car's navigation system is self-contained, (just like your Garmin), except that map updates are very expensive. If you have a smart phone and run the Entune app on it, the only benefit for navigation is that you can get live traffic.
Try the car navigation, but be prepared to go back to the Garmin.

 

Garmin or Tom Tom.

 

I have a 2014 Avalon Hybrid XLE Touring. I am not going to buy a smart phone in order to access ENTUNE. I use the navigation just because I paid for it but it is lousy. I have a portable Garmin that cost about $120.00 that is much better. The reason I bought the Touring is because I had to go to that trim level to get the blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert and I am glad I did it. Well worth it for me.

 

Now for the dissenting opinion:
Yes the built in navigation system is fine.

First it is always with you in the car.
Second, you can learn to use it with voice commands that DO work. Either by accessing stored Favorites or by telling it the Destination to find.
Third, it has decent voice turn instructions where you don't absolutely have to watch it.

Yes, the map may not have new roads on it, just like a 2012 Garmin. Some will say you or the passenger can't set it while moving, which is true for "keyboard" entry but not true for voice entry. Some will say the voice recognition is bad, it's not, but it does require correct command sequences.

So in conclusion I say use it since it's there.

 

I agree with rjparker, the voice commands for the GPS works well. Also you will have a better sound with your factory navigation in that it comes through your car speakers. I just think it is more complicated to use than the Garmin.

 

This past weekend I used both the Toyota navigation and Entune (fuel prices and Bing search) on a 550 trip.
Its my preferred first choice because of the screen size / placement and the voice commands.
I don't bother with my stand alone GPS any more but on occasion I do use my Verizon Galaxy S4 to fill the voids.

 

I don't dislike the one in my 2012 Prius c, and I use it regularly, but it's missing some features that my six year old TomTom has. Plus there's no way I'll ever pay the exorbitant price for Toyota map updates. Fortunately around metro NYC there aren't too many changes in road layouts these days.

 

Looks like a few Prius owners are satisfied with the navigation system. I've used the navigation system on a number of 1,000 mile or more trips ( PA to FL, etc). It seems to work pretty well until you realize it only routes you on the roads in the database. If new roads/bypasses have been added, you could be driving miles out of the way or wasting time driving through the middle of a city.
Yes, the nav will get you where you want to go but you are probably wasting fuel and time because it doesn't "know" the roads are there.
Unfortunately, the cost to get the maps updated is unreasonable and even if you do pay for the update, you will still be years behind Google maps or Garmin.

 

Consider this:
Find a car on the lot that you like but probably has "features" that you don't want or need.
Negotiate the best price in it that you can.
Then ask to order one with ONLY the things that you want.

If they can't do that, say you are sorry and will look elsewhere......or suggest that they further discount the price for the things on the lot car that you don't really want. If they don't come down by at least 50% of the listed price of the unwanted options........then DO walk.
The dealer's markup on the expensive options, like GPS, usually is 50% or more.

 

My TomTom is at least 8 years old. I get updates 4 times a year for $50. I get user added updates any time I want so before a trip I can be super up to date. If I bought a new one, the cost with free lifetime map updates would be less than the cost of a single Toyota update.

While 40 miles from home yesterday after a trip there by Toyota GPS which was uneventful by shortest route, I choose fastest route for the way back and nearly got myself killed when the GPS came upon a 2 year old intersection with no signage and a choice I had to make at speed. I slowed somewhat to puzzle the right move when someone who must have been a local came wizzing by and nearly clipped me.

I find the TomTom gives earlier and better repeated warnings of needed actions. I have no problems hearing the TomTom, my ears are 72 years old and I have been diagnosed with hearing problems and I can hear the GPS over the radio and background noise.

It isn't just a matter of convenience, updated maps can be a matter of safety.

 

The navigation system in our 2012 Prius v Five with ATP seems quite nice as OEM navigation systems go. I'm a fan of Pandora so I particularly like the way Entune allows me to leave my smartphone in my pocket and control Pandora through the navigation screen and even see the album covers. Bing search is also nice - allows you to search for and find a business that is not in or too new to be the navigation system POI database and then send the location of the business to the navigation system.

We have two fairly new 5" Garmins with ad-free traffic but don't use them anymore except in rental cars. The navigation systems in our 2012 Prius v and 2014 Sienna Limited work well enough but it took a while to learn how to exploit their features since they are not as intuitive as our Garmins.

I used to think that I didn't need a smartphone until I finally got one in 2012. Entune provides no value if you don't have a smartphone.

 

i have a 2015 with navi/etune. i don't think i am fully utilizing them. i just hate that i can't do anything while the car is in motion. even with a passenger...

 

There is a wiring kit to fix that available from Priuschat. However the install requires a audio system level of expertise to remove panels, find and hook up wires, etc. I use voice commands to set a destination or make a phone call while moving, it works for me but like most things you have to know how to use it. See my comments in the second link.

Navigation Speed Lock Override for Toyota Prius (All Models) - PriusChat Shop

Is a voice command list available? | PriusChat

 

Nice! I was looking for something, but I was only able to find "lockpick" which doesn't have one for 2015... I am also searching for video playback with little luck. You wouldn't happen to know how to make that work would you?

 

If you go to the speed lock faqs they have an option for dvds. By the way, your 2015 has a different display I believe and may have different requirements so I would contact the speed lock manufacturer before buying anything.