Nuvi/Tom Tom, etc. vs. Prius Nav

[PriusRos]

Okay, since all discussions regarding the Prius nav seem to eventually end up comparing it (usually not favorably) with Garmin and other stand-alone systems, and people are objecting to the off topics, let's start a thread dedicated to these comparisons. There probably is one somewhere already. Sorry if this is redundant.

I'll start -- I own a Garmin Nuvi 760 as well as the Gen III nav (8.1).

What I like about the Garmin:

-Clearer, simpler graphics
-Choice of voices, accents, and even languages
-More naturalistic pronunciation of directions and street names
-Simpler interface
-No lockout
-Cheaper to begin with and cheaper updates
-Portability
-Speed limit display
-"where Am I" display with current position and elevation
-Ability to download routes and POIs
-Simple detour capability

What I like about the Prius nav:
-Voice recognition
-Dual map display with a number of variations of what is displayed (I would NEVER mount my Nuvi over part of the screen)
-Convenience of the built-in screen
- Fast satellite reception (I often have to wait a long time for the Nuvi to acquire satellites)
-Ability to turn off the continuous voice guidance, but still hear the next direction by pressing the Map/Voic button
-MUCH better bluetooth reception
-3 alternative routes

There are probably other capabilities that I just haven't learned about yet. There seem to be a lot, but the user manual is an absolute bear to read. For example, I'm sure there is a way of avoiding traffic, but I can't figure it out.

[jayvee]

I, too, have a Garmin ( a 660) and the Prius 8.1 (Gen 6) Nav. I also had a Lowrance iWay500c - which was really great - but bulky, hot, and not portable...

I agree with all your "pros" above (or at least the ones my Garmin model has.) I'll also add Free Traffic on my 660 (and other models too).

Now for the con's:
Garmin:
- numerous bluetooth problems, including false incoming calls, loss of pairing, and loss of device programming, no matter how many bluetooth updates I've applied
- insufficient volume (yes, i know there are programming methods around this)
- no contacts transfer for any of my phones
- slow satellite acquisition (mentioned above)

Prius:
- POIs difficult to search - too darn many keypresses, and many fewer POIs.
- Voice recognition is really quite bad - mistakes many commands
- lockout (but I've fixed that)
- cost of update DVD

[Tideland Prius]

I will compare my TomTom ONE New Edition (2006 model) to my Prius


TomTom:
Pros:

• Smaller. Can carry in pocket
• Moveable from car-to-car
• Modded with games, photo, MP3 and video capability (runs on Linux)
• Easy-to-use interface. Anyone can pick it up within minutes
• Great graphics
• Easily customisable nav options
• Passenger can use it
• Can mount it directly in front because we have no IP cluster behind the steering wheel
• 3D bird's-eye view
• Clear spoken voices with multiple languages and options to create your own voice guidance or d/l others
• Entire map of Canada, US (incl. Alaska/Hawaii) searchable
• Ability to add more POIs manually
• Traffic option
• Zooms in automatically at junctions
• Fast route calculation times (esp. for longer distance like WA to CA)
• Quick satellite lock
• Can plan trips in advance at home
• Ability to have the compass to point towards the destination instead of just north
• Ability to customise map colours (both built-in and add-ons)
• Ability to add map overlays (e.g. of an exhibition hall. Just save the map from the event website and load it up to the TomTom)
• Good for offroad and hiking trips. Used it with additional software to find fossil locations
• Can create POI categories in case the "Favourites" is full. Store additional save points into POI categories (e.g. favourite restaurants)

Cons:

• Screen a little small when you want everything displayed (speed, ETA, DTA/TOA, clock etc)
• Suction cup and charge wires
• Dest. input must start with city then street then house number
• Limited factory POI database (Compared to larger TomTom models or even DVD-based systems)
• No TTS
• Limited map detail (there's only so much you can squeeze into 1G. Although mostly eye-candy like lakes and extra side streets

Prius:
Pros:

• Larger screen
• Dual map mode capability
• Bluetooth integration
• Much larger POI database
• Much more detailed map (it has the parking lot of the airport mapped! Heck, it even has the layout of the runway and taxiway of the airport!)
• TTS
• Integrated (so no messing around with suction cups and wires)
• Ability to input dest. via voice recognition
• Traffic capability
• Footprint view (although I haven't seen it yet)
• Itinerary is easier to use (you can choose where to slot additional destinations)
• Cookie-crumb is a neat feature
• Ability to store maintenance data
• Quick access to emergency POIs
• Areas to Avoid feature

Cons:

• No option of multiple voices
• Larger learning curve
• No abilility to tilt screen to reduce glare
• DVD-based instead of HDD
• Large cost for map updates
• Can't take it from car-to-car

[Grateful11]

We bought a Garmin 255W back in the summer and seldom leave home without it. I've heard
too many complaints about the cost of upgrading a built-in Navi so we never even considered
it when we bought '10 series III.

[Indyking]

I have had Tomtoms and Garmins and I find the later to be better hands down, at least considering the models I have had in the past.

My Garmin 780 is way better than my Odyssey built-in NAV. It is just much simpler to use and more precise. Even the rerouting when a turn is missed is way better in my Garmin. I got a sale on Amazon a long time ago for Garmin maps lifetime updates available quarterly every year, I think I paid 50 bucks! My Odyssey has a DVD-based navigation, like the Prius I guess, so, because of that, accessing anything is too darn slow. Honda charges about $120 for each DVD update available yearly, so ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I’m going to ever update it! I do use my Odyssey NAV screen to play with the audio sources but otherwise it is a waste. I bought my Odyssey used, so I had no choice. Previous owner had the car almost brand new parked for 3 months, so I could not miss that opportunity.

Not all built-in NAVs are bad, but the good ones are usually available in luxury brands, although it appears that Lexus NAV is the same one in the Prius? I hope not. I travel a lot on business and rent many cars with factory NAV systems. I can tell you, from my experience, that Toyota NAVs are the worst by far compared to others, so buying a Prius without the lousy and expensive Prius NAV was a no-brainer.

[octavia]

I recently started using a garmin 265WT GPS ( got it free from the key bank promotion. It was the first GPS I owned. I used it up until I got my car and then switched over.

The blue tooth in the garmin did not work. I tried it once or twice then gave up on it completely. It not working, but teasing me with how safe and handy it could be to have hands free had a lot to do with my selection choices in my car, I would not even consider one without the bluetooth once I had tried it and confirmed that it did work.

My biggest issue with my car's built in Nav is that it does not find things. It almost leaves a bad taste in my mouth to admit out loud that the gps itself does not work that well. It was unable to find Dutch brothers coffee houses in Corvallis or Hanna Andersson outlet store in Lake Oswego. The Hanna store has been there for over 10 years.

While trying to get to my son's football game, TWICE it did not know how to get to the parks they were being held at. Both parks have been in existence for years. One of those times it did not even recognize the park name, the second time, it did not know the streets I would need to take to get there.... in the historic section of town!!!!

I feel like I bought a 2000 dollar hands free blue tooth. I need to keep my garmin in my car in case I "really" need to make sure and get directions some where.

[Indyking]

Originally Posted by octavia

I recently started using a garmin 265WT GPS ( got it free from the key bank promotion. It was the first GPS I owned. I used it up until I got my car and then switched over.

The blue tooth in the garmin did not work. I tried it once or twice then gave up on it completely. It not working, but teasing me with how safe and handy it could be to have hands free had a lot to do with my selection choices in my car, I would not even consider one without the bluetooth once I had tried it and confirmed that it did work.

My biggest issue with my car's built in Nav is that it does not find things. It almost leaves a bad taste in my mouth to admit out loud that the gps itself does not work that well. It was unable to find Dutch brothers coffee houses in Corvallis or Hanna Andersson outlet store in Lake Oswego. The Hanna store has been there for over 10 years.

While trying to get to my son's football game, TWICE it did not know how to get to the parks they were being held at. Both parks have been in existence for years. One of those times it did not even recognize the park name, the second time, it did not know the streets I would need to take to get there.... in the historic section of town!!!!

I feel like I bought a 2000 dollar hands free blue tooth. I need to keep my garmin in my car in case I "really" need to make sure and get directions some where.

Although I have never had any luck with hands free bluetooth with any portable, some Garmin models claim to have improved it a lot, but I agree with you. My Odyssey NAV doesn't even have a bluetooth, so I use it only to check out the satelitte radio and switch between different audio sources. As far as the NAV piece, it is hopeless... it never finds anything, it is too slow, the graphics are bad, and the list goes on and on...

[radioprius1]

I love portable units. I keep it hidden out of the way when not in use. When I do use it, which is rarely, I pull it out and use a friction mount.

I think the non-nav radio is so much easier to use than the nav radio.

If I ever wanted GPS in the vehicle I would get the Azentek Smartmirror which has backup cam/Nav built into the rear view mirror.

[mgb4tim]

[ceric]

Portable GPS very likely will be a flying projectile in case of a severe crash.
That is a big "con" in my book.