1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Toyota Navigation or Garmin?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by priusmatty, Mar 27, 2021.

  1. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,872
    1,871
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    I noticed that no one here has mentioned Waze. We have always used a Garmin, but Waze does a better job of handling current traffic/disabled vehicle information. My 2016 Prius had GPS, but my wife always fired up her Gamin on trips as the map was more recent in the Garmin (Free updates).

    JeffD
     
  2. PaulDM

    PaulDM Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2016
    616
    318
    2
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    Excel
    Toyota Navigation with built in traffic from internet ( data supplied by Tom Tom in the uk) works fine whilst listening to Bluetooth music on phone.
     
  3. priusmatty

    priusmatty Active Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2016
    304
    108
    0
    Location:
    Louisiana USA
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    L Eco
    Doesn't Garmin update all the time?
     
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,324
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The last I heard, Waze was owned by Google. By now it and Google ought to be just different user interfaces for the same underlying data. Pick whichever interface works best for you.
     
  5. dbstoo

    dbstoo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2012
    1,365
    732
    0
    Location:
    Near Silicon Valley
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE Premium
    Garmin map updates are manually downloaded and installed. You log into the garmin site/app, download the maps and transfer them to the GPS unit.

    The traffic data is broadcast as a sideband of local digital radio stations.
     
    Mendel Leisk and priusmatty like this.
  6. MPGboss

    MPGboss Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2021
    90
    59
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    I'd go for Google Maps / Carplay primarily and then in a deadzone I'd use a Garmin or other handheld.
     
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,557
    10,324
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Google maps can be downloaded ahead of time, for offline use in dead zones. Or for use without paying mobile data charges.
     
    MIkeDr and MPGboss like this.
  8. Pulse07

    Pulse07 Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2020
    273
    139
    0
    Location:
    East Bay, California
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    XLE AWD-e
    It reroutes if you take a wrong turn etc... but the map data need to be manually updated connected with a computer . Although thats might have changed, I havent used one since 2012.

    I havent used a Garmin unit for years . The last time I had one was college and I had a Yaris and I had a Garmin plugged it to get around town. Yes, Correct, the directions are as useful as the map data stored there. One time I was driving back to my apartment (which was a year old at the time i believe me and my roommates, along with all the other students who lived there where to first tenets) . It couldn't find the way to the apartment.
     
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,790
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    The stored map data is just that......stored IN the unit.......and must be updated manually.
    They typically issue updates several times a year.
     
    priusmatty likes this.
  10. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,985
    8,886
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    In our last three cars that came with an in-dash NAV system, we still used Garmin Nuvi for our trips. Far better direction and better voice command responses. Besides, I have all the key destinations in the Garmin already and map updates are free. I am not going to be robbed by Toyota for the map data.
     
    priusmatty and jerrymildred like this.
  11. privilege

    privilege Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2021
    659
    169
    0
    Location:
    Birmingham
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    the stand alone units like your Garmin/Tom Tom/in dash are only updated when you update them...ie, you have to take them inside and look for mapping updates, install, verify it still works (lol I'm poking you, Garmin!) and then go back out to the car to drive.

    the Google map /waze /apps update about every minute, from what I've seen.

    the reason Google/apps are so good at predicting traffic patterns and problems is:

    millions of people are using them all day every day, and constantly uploading vehicle travel dates to the Google servers. the Google geniuses then crunch all the data and compare traffic patterns vs this day last week, this day last month, this day last holiday, weather conditions, all that stuff.... and collisions are constantly submitted by users... Google just takes that info and gives back the best route... unless you're going around Atlanta. if you're trying to bypass Atl, Google will recommend routes through Atlanta no matter what time if day or night, crashes, or eclipses. that's really the only place I've seen that doesn't make sense.

    I do all my routing for driving in Google so I can about traffic screw ups. I gave up on the stand alone unitsa decade ago
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    45,024
    16,242
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm a TomTom user myself. I still have my TomTom ONE New Edition from 2006.

    Currently, the TM1525 or the Go Comfort is probably good enough. It's $180-$230 CAD. Go with the Go Comfort if you're retiring soon and wanna plan road trips - there's a few nicer features such as pre-planning on your computer then sending it to the nav.


    I prefer the built-in only because I don't like mounting anything on the windshield (just a pain to remove and mount every time. I did that with the Gen 2 and the TomTom but got used to the built-in once I got my Gen 3).

    I usually just find the address on my phone then type it in to the nav before setting off.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  13. PriusPeep

    PriusPeep Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2016
    102
    69
    0
    Location:
    New Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I love my Prius and I am a fan of Toyota. There is no excuse, however, for their very poor navigation effort.

    Granted that New Jersey roads resemble a bowl of al-dente spaghetti with potholes the size of nana's meatballs. Nevertheless, the inaccuracy and insistence on avoiding the fastest routs is ridiculous. Furthermore, my 2017 nav has not received a single update. There's an exit that was moved from the left to the right side of the road more than three years ago. The Prius navigation has not made the adjustment.

    In 2021 this is unacceptable. A relatively new company like Tesla makes regular over-the-air software updates.

    I like the convenience of the built-in and integrated system. About five years ago, Honda started using Garmin navigation. Maybe Toyota needs a partnership. They certainly need to hire more staff to work on navigation, and release a major update and upgrade.

    I have no objection to paying a reasonable fee for updates, say, five years after purchasing a new model.
     
    Chad's Dad likes this.
  14. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,790
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Well yes, your owners manual will tell you that is the way it (doesn't) work.
    Complaining about it will not make it work any differently.
    There are other options.
     
  15. MPGboss

    MPGboss Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2021
    90
    59
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    I'm sure the Gen 5 Prius will have the fancy new type navi systems that link up to Google (ala Porsche etc.) for direction / data.

    Definitely a reason I didn't bother making it a requirement to get the Gen 4 Prius trim with Toyota Navigation, most in car navi is well behind the usability of Carplay options...same case with any luxury cars I've driven.
     
    MIkeDr likes this.
  16. MIkeDr

    MIkeDr Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2020
    252
    137
    0
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    XLE AWD-e
    All I want out of a car is wireless CarPlay and wireless charging. Don’t want any factory navigation, or voice recognition, or whatever. And put all the climate control on physical controls, not on the screen.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,670
    39,221
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    And if it’s not too much trouble: physical controls that you can easily find and operate without having to take your eyes off the road. Like manufacturers used to do.

    Traditional dash controls vs touch screens | PriusChat
     
    MIkeDr and Tideland Prius like this.
  18. PaulDM

    PaulDM Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2016
    616
    318
    2
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    Excel
    Not the case in the UK. Sat nav data is ok and traffic data over the internet is supplied by Tom Tom.
     
  19. priusmatty

    priusmatty Active Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2016
    304
    108
    0
    Location:
    Louisiana USA
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    L Eco
    So I ended up buying a Garmin DriveSmart 65 and Traffic. I have to say that it is phenomenal. Much better than even using my phone with Google maps. Also, since it uses satellites, it still works when my phone does not, and it has the feature of telling you about upcoming traffic. It was a little pricey, but definitely worth it already, as I had to use it today to take a shortcut and get home!
     
  20. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,790
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    The GPS function of a phone also uses the same satellites.
    You only need a "phone" connection to download a new section of map if you travel far enough.