I had a fully-loaded 2005 Prius and loved the GPS. It just worked, letting me easily choose a route (among the options) and then following it. I expected similar or better performance with the 2013 Plug-in hybrid base model. It seems, however, that while Toyota included the GPS in the base model, I guess to offset the $5K price differential for the plug-in option, Toyota provided an inferior GPS. Multiple times I've carefully selected a route and expected that the Prius would get me on it. Not so. I'm ready to start using my phone for navigation. Has anyone had a similar experience in using the low-end GPS? Thanks.
welcome! no, i would not echo your 2005 statement with my fully loaded 2004, but the 2012 base prius works, when you plug in a destination. just not intuitively or well. can't say if there are any differences in the advanced model, besides the screen.
G'day, You might do a search of PriusChat for "SatNav" as well as "GPS". There are many posts about the inferior performance of the Toyota-supplied SatNav/GPS unit. My only problem with my month-old Prius c (2016 model) is the long delay (minutes) in the SatNav finding enough satellites to know where it is. It seems also to often tell me 'GPS signal lost' more than I am/was used to. My previous car's stuck-on-the-windscreen $60 sat/nav was excellent in quickly finding satellites and plotting a route if required. Even my Android phone and tablet seem much quicker to 'log-on' and be better at holding a signal. Navigationally, my Toyota-supplied unit has been OK regarding its maps and choice of routes. At my Prius c's '1000km free service', my dealer said the GPS aerial for the SatNav looked OK but I think there could be a sensitivity in certain topographies (hilly or built-up locations or both)? David S.
I was an original owner of a 2012 PiP and the GPS was more than desirable, the maps route was not always right and a lot of missing info. I switched to Google maps on my smart phone and sound guidance through bluetooth.
Thanks DavidS and MrBigh for weighing in. It provides some solace knowing that I'm not the only dissatisfied owner of the PiP GPS. Is anyone familiar with an upgrade to improve performance? It seems it would take a firmware update, not just an update of the map database. Regarding the slow satellite synch that DavidS mentioned, I've noticed it, too, although not as bad as he mentioned. Phones and tablets probably synch faster because they already have location info from cell towers.
the only other alternative would be to replace the GPS sensor located under the plastic front dash. Are you in a marginal/fringe GPS reception area?
Yeah, totally agree, I went from an '06 Prius to the PiP Base, and the Nav system is a huge downgrade in terms of performance and usability. You'd think that there's no way for them to make it *slower* 6-8 years later, but they sure managed it. Lots of features and settings gone too. I use it, though only about half the time versus using my phone now. The system in the Advanced model is much more like the system in the Gen2 Prius. It might have been worth seeking out an Advanced PiP just for that! Side rant: losing the "Nav" button on the steering wheel was also really disappointing. So convenient in the Gen2!
It's pretty useless to me, just because it is so darn slow and tedious to find places and set a destination. I use hands free Siri exclusively.
G'day again, In my above whinge about the Toyota SatNav in my 2016 Prius c, I forgot to include the annoying delay in it starting because of the need to successfully press the "I Agree" button before anything useful displays. Why this button press every time? Were lawyers involved in its design?? Or a committee of some sort? Again, nothing like this repetitive irritation with my old stuck-on-the-windscreen SatNav unit or phone or tablet. David S.
I find if you leave it on the disclaimer screen long enough (30-60 seconds or so) it will automatically go to the map.
