nav is pretty out of date on 2014
- Thread starter THEDK
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Donkey
New member
Yes.
chmura
New member
Yes it is.
That's why I never get navigation included in a new vehicle. Your typical $300 garmin is much better.
Last few years I find myself using the GPS in googlemaps on my cell phone so it even makes it less sense to buy a navi equipped vehicle.
yarden
New member
I think it also depends on where you are at. In Texas, my GPS has been great and includes roads that were completed as recently as 2013! On top of this every Texas State Park I have been too has had all it's roads (paved and not) mapped as well as the national parks I have visited.
T4R2014
Elite Member
A navigation built into a car IS outdated technology. It was something to behold in 2003, but now it is useless and clunky.
I must be the only person actually impressed by the whole Entune setup. Just today I was headed to the Casino to play poker and I knew the way but I wanted to have my ETA handy. I press the button on the steering wheel and say "navigate to Pocono Downs". It brings up a list of phrases close to what I said, I select "Poconos Down" and up pops a Bing POI search. Two results, both for the correct casino.
Here's where I was really impressed. It told me my ETA was an hour and 25 minutes when I knew it should only be about 45 minutes. As I was driving, I got a pop-up that said something about traffic info being updated and asking if I want to reroute.
So I checked traffic on Google Maps and sure enough, there were major delays on my usual route. Not only did Entune get my ETA correct, it took the initiative to offer me a faster route avoiding traffic.
Here's where I was really impressed. It told me my ETA was an hour and 25 minutes when I knew it should only be about 45 minutes. As I was driving, I got a pop-up that said something about traffic info being updated and asking if I want to reroute.
So I checked traffic on Google Maps and sure enough, there were major delays on my usual route. Not only did Entune get my ETA correct, it took the initiative to offer me a faster route avoiding traffic.
yarden
New member
I have had similar experiences. Compared to other vehicles navs/computers I have driven, including many luxury models, my Entune experience has been great. Entune beats out all of them. The Nav is helpful, I don't have to use a stupid dial to enter my destination, the voice recognition kicks butt and is 99% accurate all the time, it displays and read my texts to me, and the weather map is definitely handy living in a place with severe weather as well as traveling. The nav maps are detailed and extensive (at least for my most traveled areas). I am thankful to have had zero issues that I hear others complain about.
Granted, I am in a 2014 as well... not sure about older models.
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I don't think the Entune systems are "bad" per se. I just think they are an overpriced option that is significantly inferior to aftermarket choices. In my case, my 4Runner came with the non-nav unit, so I'm using an external Garmin (2597LMT model) instead that is mounted in the front cup holder. My wife's Rav4, however, has the Entune Nav system.
In my FJ Cruiser, I removed the factory CD/Radio and replaced it with a Kenwood head unit with integrated Garmin nav system. It's half the price of the factory system, and is far superior (in my opinion) to the factory system.
I don't think too many people will argue that Garmin is the top dog in the nav pack right now. The downside, however, to the setup I'm using is that it's an external unit (read: Please break my window and steal me....), and you can only have your phone connected via Bluetooth to either the factory Entune head unit or the Garmin nav unit. It sucks because Entune won't let garmin units connect via Bluetooth, so you have to choose one or the other. In reality, you need to be connected to both.
As I mentioned in another thread, I wish I could've "opted out" of a factory head unit altogether and dropped the price by $500.00 on my 4Runner. I'd have gladly spent $1200 on a Kenwood unit with all the needed bells and whistles, and would have a superior unit to the Entune system.
Now with all that said, I have no intention of swapping out my Entune head unit any time soon. It plays music (via radio, iPod, or usb), Gives me a weather and traffic map, and lets me safely talk on the speakerphone while driving....so it gets the job done. The Garmin unit is a far better nav system than the Entune, and is constantly updated with current map info. PLUS, I can plan trips on my computer via "Basecamp", and then load them into the nav unit in advance. If I could just integrate the Entune and Garmin units via Bluetooth, I think it would be perfect.
In my FJ Cruiser, I removed the factory CD/Radio and replaced it with a Kenwood head unit with integrated Garmin nav system. It's half the price of the factory system, and is far superior (in my opinion) to the factory system.
I don't think too many people will argue that Garmin is the top dog in the nav pack right now. The downside, however, to the setup I'm using is that it's an external unit (read: Please break my window and steal me....), and you can only have your phone connected via Bluetooth to either the factory Entune head unit or the Garmin nav unit. It sucks because Entune won't let garmin units connect via Bluetooth, so you have to choose one or the other. In reality, you need to be connected to both.
As I mentioned in another thread, I wish I could've "opted out" of a factory head unit altogether and dropped the price by $500.00 on my 4Runner. I'd have gladly spent $1200 on a Kenwood unit with all the needed bells and whistles, and would have a superior unit to the Entune system.
Now with all that said, I have no intention of swapping out my Entune head unit any time soon. It plays music (via radio, iPod, or usb), Gives me a weather and traffic map, and lets me safely talk on the speakerphone while driving....so it gets the job done. The Garmin unit is a far better nav system than the Entune, and is constantly updated with current map info. PLUS, I can plan trips on my computer via "Basecamp", and then load them into the nav unit in advance. If I could just integrate the Entune and Garmin units via Bluetooth, I think it would be perfect.
Yeah i use a garmin as well since i already had one. I have been looking for an in-dash unit that has a built in nav but can have the maps updated like an external garmin unit.
The Kenwood head units use Garmin nav systems. Best of both worlds. I'm not sure if they're offering the lifetime updates for maps/traffic in the head units though. The one I had would cost about $70.00 per year for the update as I recall, and could only be done from a factory dvd that they (Garmin) sent you. IT was a 2008 model though, and things may have changed since then. My point is that if you like Garmin, then look at the Kenwood integrated units because the nav system is Garmin.
I find the nav unit in '14 to be OK. Barely. It's main advantage is that it's always there and I have to do nothing special to use it. On the other hand is a long list of minor deficiencies and annoyances that it suffers from.
Even in its primary function as a navigator it's so-so. It tends to lose the road occasionally -- I recently drove for a couple of hours on an interstate and the nav unit was convinced I was 300 feet to the side of the highway and was frantically trying to reroute me through the local roads all that time. After being on for 8-10 hours the nav slows down considerably and often becomes funky enough to be rebooted.
For most trips not far from civilization my phone is a better nav alternative. And when I am in the boonies I have a hand-held Garmin unit which goes forever on a couple of AA batteries and doesn't care if there's a cell signal anywhere around
Even in its primary function as a navigator it's so-so. It tends to lose the road occasionally -- I recently drove for a couple of hours on an interstate and the nav unit was convinced I was 300 feet to the side of the highway and was frantically trying to reroute me through the local roads all that time. After being on for 8-10 hours the nav slows down considerably and often becomes funky enough to be rebooted.
For most trips not far from civilization my phone is a better nav alternative. And when I am in the boonies I have a hand-held Garmin unit which goes forever on a couple of AA batteries and doesn't care if there's a cell signal anywhere around
Many navigation units get their data from a data company like Tele Atlas. My house was built 33 years ago and before that this was a wooded lot, yet every single nav program (except Google) thinks my house is someplace else on the road. Once bad data gets in there it's hard to correct. I've been trying to get the data corrected for 7 years, to no avail (these companies allegedly have a way to report errors).
Garmin may be the top dog, but personally I prefer Igo. Igo is what Pioneer uses. I had Garmin loaded into the head unit of my Dad's truck and got rid of it for Igo Primo.
Garmin may be the top dog, but personally I prefer Igo. Igo is what Pioneer uses. I had Garmin loaded into the head unit of my Dad's truck and got rid of it for Igo Primo.
LandCruiser
New member
Sluggish, unresponsive controls, can't be changed while the vehicle is moving--even by the passenger, outdated maps, smartphone apps are pretty much ubiquitous...
About the last time I used that crappy system was when I was out of cell range in Pikes National Forest.
About the last time I used that crappy system was when I was out of cell range in Pikes National Forest.
The 2014 setup voice control works very well. I was annoyed at not being able to set destinations while driving until I played with the voice control. You can enter an address or search Bing for a POI. When entering an address, if it misunderstands you it gives you a chance to only correct the part that is wrong, i.e. just the street name or just the city. I would go so far as to call it well done.
