2014 Toyota Nav, who is it made by? Any updates?

The map database is NAVTEQ (section 2, pg 68 in manual) and the software is Harman-Kardon. The mapping data is used by Garmin, Yahoo, Bing, M$ Flight Simulator X, etc.

We're going on a road trip to Yellowstone, Glacier, Minneapolis and Green Bay the end of the month and I will be using my Garmin Nuvi 2555 alongside the Prius Navigation system to see what differences crop up. I've already worked out my route using Google maps and entered destinations and waypoints in both systems. I just finished working out our fuel stops and I'm getting ready to add them to both systems. Yes, I over-plan, but there are places along my route where service stations are few, so I decided to take the time to figure out where I could stop and easily make it to the next stop using Gas Buddy. My Garmin acted up on our last trip, so I'm hoping the latest map update fixed things. If it still acts up, I'll use Maps on my phone to validate key sections of the route.

 

This thread has some information on the structure and contents of the Entune filesystem, which I posted when the update was first available on a USB stick:
Got my entune flash drive today!! | PriusChat

 

On a road trip, the Toy nav didn't show a highway I was looking for, so I got the Garmin out to get me the rest of the way.

 

Have you checked your route settings; fastest, shortest, economy? Do you have any avoidances set, like tolls, traffic, etc.? Are you using standard size wheels/tires? How did you set your route to make it take 980 instead of continuing on 880? Does it accurately show your beginning location, etc.? Is this the only place it suggested an early exit?

I didn't plan to have 2 GPS units. I've had 2 Garmin units over the years, the 2555 is only 2 years old. I didn't plan on buying a Prius until next year and then I wasn't sure which model. I figured I'd get a nav unit, but I like being able to take my Nuvi in restaurants when I need to plan some rerouting and I like to use if for walking tours. I think the 2558 is the latest in the 2500 series and that's a good price. I also miss the speed limit display even though I usually just follow the traffic flow.

One thing I've found over the years is that they all take different routes depending on their logarithms. They also take you somewhere one way and back another, mostly due to time of day, traffic patterns, etc. It once took me through some very narrow side streets in Newport RI and I later found it was because of all the traffic lights and pedestrians on the main street. I've learned to just go with it unless I know for sure it's wrong, like in your case. I assume it said Exit 42 or Broadway and you didn't just misunderstand. Still I don't know how you forced the route, so I can't think of a reason. I played with Google Maps and I can see the interchange and exits you are talking about.

As far as counting on it, I think that applies to every GPS device out there. None of them are flawless and having driven all over the country for years and over 200,000 miles with one, I can vouch for that. Still, I trust them to get me there one way or another and they have never failed doing that.

As far as sticking on the little window, that will work and the power cable reaches the outlet under the dash/console. I think it's a little easier to get to on the windshield though and still out of the way, but I didn't really fiddle with the location much, just wanted to see if it would fit there. My mount is a little different, but close enough to know that will work too. I guess my only nit using the window is it's that much further to glance over. But I've gotten used to the speedometer locations, I could get used the Nuvi being a little further to the side.

Since I have my Nuvi set to a male voice and the Prius to a female voice, I expect them to argue a lot about directions. Maybe I'll just flip a coin when that happens.

I was just entering some fuel stops and what a PIA that was. I used POI/Name. I "defined" the search location (Missoula MT), category (Gas Stations) and name (Costco). It displayed a list with only mileage from my current location and no address. I had to check the info for each one to see if the one I was looking for was there. If the Costco is new, like it was, then I had to go through all of them only to find it wasn't in the database. Now, to be fair, the Garmin does the same thing only in reverse order, mileage FROM the destination, not my current location. Who did Harman Kardon consult? I will say it's not as difficult as it sounds once you get used to the quirks. And I'm determined to do just that on this trip. My Nuvi will be used just for comparison purposes.

One final thing is that my newer Nuvi 2555 is not as quick as my old Nuvi 350 was. I assume that is because it's capable of doing much more and is working with more data, so I don't know yet how quick, or slow, the Prius nav is.

 

Assuming you have the Display Audio system, check the version at Setup > General > System Information (scroll down). Current is 3.2.0, which applies to all model years.

 

I don't use the nav for direction simply because it only shows 1 of the many many ways of getting from point A to point B. It won't show the way YOU want to take. I think that's the problem with the nav system. You expect it to return a route that you prefer but it doesn't.

For example, If I would to create a route from Valencia to Santa Ana, It would plot a route going from I5 to 170 to 101 and back to I5 again. Why not just stay on I5 the whole way? It's about the same distance for both ways. 170 and 101 jams more often and longer than I5.

I do use it to show my location on the map and the surrounding streets in case I need to get around a red light or traffic jam.

 

If I'm going somewhere, I check on a map to find the best route and just use nav as a back-up for traffic reports and/or detours.

 

so, the toyota nav was actually following your directions.

 

I can't argue with your decision to order the Garmin and I hope it works the way you expect it to. Depending on time, I will try to offer some initial observations when we stop for our first night in Rifle CO on Tuesday, Aug 26. FWIW, I got in all my fuel stops entered and already have my Trip Log spreadsheet outline ready with lodging, food and fuel stops just waiting for the actual data.

I hope you'll indulge me just a bit more regarding the 880/980/580/80 thing. I want to make sure I understand what you did so I can try to observe any similar problems on our trip. My understanding is that you entered the Sonoma destination and started driving the route you wanted to take. Whenever you veered from the Prius route, you simply let the Prius nav recalculate. For some reason, when you got near the 880/980 intersection, the Prius wanted you to exit 880 at the Broadway exit instead of following the next exit to 980. I don't know what 880 did after the turnoff to 980, so I can only guess that the Prius nav (thought it) was taking you around some obstruction on 880 and would have eventually gotten you back up on 880.

I ran into a similar problem years ago with construction in Wausau WI. My Nuvi took me off the freeway even though the freeway appeared to continue on just fine. However, since I didn't know exactly where I was going or where the freeway might have been closed, I followed the Nuvi and got where I needed to go. Later, out of curiosity, we drove the freeway portion again only to find we could have gotten where we were going much quicker had I ignored the Nuvi through that section. All to often, problems that have been fixed don't make it through to the mapping agencies quickly and then routing doesn't always make sense.

Even with the Nuvi, I've had to set several waypoints to force both nav systems to follow my routes between destinations. Experience has taught me that I can't assume the Nuvi will calculate the same route as Google Maps and I've found many times where differences were caused by only 1 mile or 1 minute variances in the data being used. Believe it or not, but even my Nuvi will calculate different routes if it "thinks" I'm on the side of my house vs in my driveway. I've even found instances where it will take me a different way depending on which direction I'm facing on the street. Depending on settings, these things like to avoid U-turns, etc.

As for MapQuest, I believe they are owned by AOL and use OpenStreetMaps for map data and their own engine for routing, so I kind of doubt Harman based the Prius system on MapQuest. Until I bought a Prius, I didn't know Harman was in the GPS business, but I suppose it makes some sense with integrated audio/nav units these days.

 

The Toyota nav. unit is "iffy" at best. Just for smiles and giggles I used it to navigate to a friends new home across the city (Edmonton). ONE BLOCK from my house it directed me to turn right then left to get on 107 St. That has been impossible for more than 30 years. My Garmin units "know" that and direct me to 118 Ave before trying to turn left onto that road. Ain't technology wonderful. Toyota Canada thinks I will pay $150 to $250 to get an update. Not sure what they're smoking, but they are in B.C. - weed capital of Canada.
On the positive side, the screen IS nice and big and the unit IS integrated into the car. So I use it for entertainment and my Garmin to actually navigate.

 

Kind of interesting Dave since they supposedly both use the same NAVTEQ data.

 

Thank you for taking the time to explain further, I really do appreciate it. I enjoy trying to figure out why GPS units suggest the routes they do and I had forgotten that the Prius nav supposedly "learns".

FWIW, Google suggests 101/680 up through Walnut Creek and Napa for 287 miles in 4:58 hours. It suggests the same route for the return. The alternates it offers include 101 all the way for 289 miles in 5:05 hours and 101/880/580/101 for 284 miles in 5:04 hours. If I force it to go your way, 101/880/980/580/101, it shows it as 284 miles in 5:03 hours.

Now, I'm not trying to argue. I'd just like to point out that the units use some kind of algorithm that I believe includes speed limits, time, distance, the number of interchanges, traffic and probably a few other variables to calculate routes and alternatives. While you and I won't quibble about the mileage and time differences, the computer can only offer routes that the algorithm calculates, other than "learned" routes. It's been quite a few years (1978 to be exact) since I've driven the San Francisco area, but I believe I'd opt for either your route or Google's primary suggestion. I would definitely not take the 101 theses days, though I drove it many time back then.

Having said that, let me tell you how much I think you're going to like the Nuvi 2558 you ordered, assuming it is the upgrade to my 2555. At first I was going to say it suggests 101 all the way, but then I remembered I have mine set to avoid tolls. So, I turned that off and guess what? You'll be happy to hear it suggests 101/880/980/580/101 up and back. This tells me that I may end up referring to my Nuvi a little more often that I thought during our upcoming trip.

This is an example of why I like to keep discussions like this going when I'm sure more than a few folks have asked themselves, "Who cares?". I don't know about you, but learned something in this exercise and I think it will help me understand the Prius nav unit a little better on our trip. Now I'll definitely take the Nuvi with us.

One thing I've found useful over the years that I've been using a Nuvi is that it's helpful at times to re-enter the destination as I get closer to major cities. I don't know if it's updated traffic or what, but I've had it offer more efficient routes that weren't offered initially. If I don't do this, sometimes I'll get a notice that a better route is available, but I've gotten in the habit of periodically re-entering destinations along the way if I don't use waypoints for food/fuel stops, etc.

 

As far as I can tell, Toyota has a deal in place with "The Island Of Misfit Toys" to supply their Navigation System.