I use my SmartPhone - GoogleMaps is always up to date, and advises in real-time about traffic on the route I've chosen! I used to have a Garmin 276 as a backup, but found that in the past couple of years I never really needed it, so on eBay it goes (along with all accessories & gizmos)
I did get the navigation and I did not discuss this with the dealership. They didn't offer any information either about future updates. I didn't care about the navigation much so I didn't put it on my list of questions to ask.
Traditionally it has been $150 to $200 dollars and updates are released in October each year. Don't know how this will be different than the DVD-based updates.
That's why I opted from the Prius 2, non-Eco. I have so many other ways to access navigation, phone and Garmin Nuvi. No point in paying for something I already have, but to also have to pay for the updates? No way!
I have the base model Prius with no Nav. My Google maps works better than those built in factory Navs. If I want to save on my data then I use offline Here We Go Nav app. I can just drop a big nice person 10 tablet near the center dash like a boss that would replace most of the features on a stock dated infotainment system with the exception of climate controls etc... Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Our 2010 Canadian Touring dash looks like this: I'm completely fine with the lack of Multi Function Display, nav, and so on. Have a separate GPS. From 2012 on they all have the MFD.
Just a thought: maybe if all you're going to do is tell us how you DON'T have the Nav system and that you DON'T update your maps, then maybe you might consider NOT posting since OP didn't ask for your thoughts on the Nav system. For myself, I didn't want the Nav, but it came with everything else that I did want. I was interested in knowing how much it would cost, too. But only one reply actually answered the OPs question. Honestly, I think it's rude. In 2016, do you really think you're giving someone valuable information by telling them they can get navigation on their phone or tablet? It's like telling them they're dumb for asking the question and even dumber for having the Nav in the first place. iPhone ?
One good thing about having the OEM Nav system is that you don't need to take your glasses off to see it. In my part of the country, updates every 10 years or so would seem frequent enough -- the Big Dig is done and well signed and seeing your car travel over the Merrimack River on the way to the Manchester Boston Regional Airport is good entertainment. Now if they would update the voice recognition program-- that I would pay for.
It is nice to have in the car. When you need it, you really need it. I've never updated maps on any GPS I had. Not to many roads moving around from year to year. My GPS have been put away years ago. I use google maps on the I phone. The issue with this is you need to have an internet connection. Which is not always available. Last week I was navigating around the mountains of Oregon in a rental. Maybe someone here knows the answer to this. I started the navigation where I had internet. So it plotted the route. I'm sure we lost the internet, but the phone kept showing us moving on the map. So, question are the maps loaded for the route? I know when you don't have a connection you can't open and view a detailed map.
With phone maps you need a good data plan too. We'll occasionally use the phone, but regular use we'd be over the limit real fast.
That's what offline map apps are for. I use both Google Maps and for offline, HERE WeGo. Google Maps does how ever let you save your own routes and maps to your device but they expire with in 30 days. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
I will worry about it in some 5 years or Sometime discussion has it's own live. You ask one question, but all of the sudden people talk about something else, which may or may not be related to the original question. It does not make the conversation less valuable or interesting. I once wanted to learn how people listen to their MP3s in Gen 4 and started a thread "How do you listen to your music". But people started discussing all possible sources of audio, not only MP3. Even it was not my initial intention, based on some comments, I got interested in satellite radio, and almost signed for it Talking of the price of update. I don't know about the new one, but I did pay $180 to update my Gen 2 after some 5 years. It was pretty much waste of money as the disk was still outdated, and half of the places were missing. But to contribute to the side track of this discussion, I am also finding voice navigation far from perfect, but I found a way to cheat it. When I say: Navigate to X, and Prius does not have a clue, then I say: Call Cortana. It dials my Windows Phone Cortana, and after a beep I just say the same thing to Cortana, and voila! It navigates me to the destination connecting to the voice system. Of course it is kind of a hybrid navigation - I listen to the phone but look at the Pruis' navigation screen. I am not sure how it is done in iPhone or Android world. But it may be similar.
Dude, stop talking about Google maps or other nav apps or devices. No body cares about updating Google maps or your handheld GPS device. We're talking about OEM nav. If you don't have one or don't care for it or haven't updated yours, your opinion means nothing unless it directly relates to updating the OEM nav map data. STOP WASTING OUR TIME. That's like when a guy has a question about his iPhone 7 Plus and I try to convince him to ditch his phone for an V20 because it's so much better.
LOL...Same here. In my case though I wear my tri-focals all the time... For the vast majority of the time the built-in navigation system is perfectly fine for my use getting from Point A to Point B. Simply put addresses/streets do not change drastically that often if ever. I have both Google maps and Here maps on my iPhone just in case the built-in nav can not find an address, which in my case is very rare. I figure if I update the built-in nav maps every 3 or 4 years will be more than sufficient.
I seem to recall that the Prius gets its data over HD radio for the life of the car. I wonder if this is just weather or includes map data as well.