Why is the NAV screen of such crappy quality?

[32kcolors]

The 6th generation NAV screen in the 2010 Prius is shockingly bad compared to 5th gen NAV (and resembles the 4th gen NAV) in the Lexus. Obviously it's not 32,000 colors (as my screenname indicates) found in the Lexus 5th gen NAV. Someone also mentioned the screen is even worse than the previous gen Prius? It's probably about the only thing I don't like about the 2010 Prius.

I guess the answer is it's not a Lexus, but I'm surprised that even a 2010 Toyota can't compare to a 2007 Lexus when it comes to the NAV system.

Edit: The latest NAV system in the new Lexus is 6th generation, FYI.

[rcarsonk]

Originally Posted by 32kcolors

The 6th generation NAV screen in the 2010 Prius is shockingly bad compared to 5th gen NAV (and resembles the 4th gen NAV) in the Lexus. Obviously it's not 32,000 colors (as my screenname indicates) found in the Lexus 5th gen NAV. Someone also mentioned the screen is even worse than the previous gen Prius? It's probably about the only thing I don't like about the 2010 Prius.

I guess the answer is it's not a Lexus, but I'm surprised that even a 2010 Toyota can't compare to a 2007 Lexus when it comes to the NAV system.

That's strange. I just traded-in a 2007 TCamryHybrid which had Nav. and I loved that system. It was a good high quality screen and was fairly fast. I had heard complaints about the Prius III and nav.

However, I bought one about 10 days ago and I find that the screen quality is about the same (maybe slightly lower definition). My complaint is that when using, it calculates directions slower....so I don't know if that's the computer itself or the satellites and antenna.

Carson

[32kcolors]

Originally Posted by rcarsonk

I had heard complaints about the Prius III and nav.

However, I bought one about 10 days ago and I find that the screen quality is about the same (maybe slightly lower definition). My complaint is that when using, it calculates directions slower....so I don't know if that's the computer itself or the satellites and antenna.

That's another thing that bothers me. Why did they downgrade the quality in Gen III Prius?

Of course, I don't expect those of you who haven't seen the 5th gen or later NAV in the Lexus to know what I'm talking about. Lexus owners with 4th gen NAV didn't know how poor their screen was until they saw the 5th gen NAV.

[Jon S]

it's all about cost... toyota's cost for building the prius was getting too expensive. A IV with nav and solar roof is $30,000. that's a lot for a small car. in the meanwhile, they had to contend with the new honda insight. they did not know how much it would compete with the prius. they knew it would a few thousand cheaper so they had to reduce costs to compete.

we now know that the insight is really no match for the prius.. it's slower, cramped and uses more gas. still, the base insight is about $3,000-$4,000 less expensive. if you were the only driver and maybe had a passenger, you'd still think about the insight.

the prius also has to compete with other midsized cars. for the prius of a prius IV, i could have bought a fully loaded camry se with a v-6 with less money. it's all in what the customer perceives in the value.

[Felt]

You folks are so busy telling how bad the G3 is ....

I took delivery 4 days ago of a G3 IV, and I think it is fantastic. I find absolutely no fault with the Nav. screen. (Maybe they improved the most recent built?) I find the ride is supurb; quiet and comfortable; the interior is beautiful; no rattles; stability is great; fit and finish is perfect; and I am getting 54.1 mpg on my first tank. These were my priorities .... and I am not feeling denied.

What else could I ask for?

[nola_Prius]

Originally Posted by Felt

What else could I ask for?

An iPod interface!!! (that isn't butt-ugly and labeled as "DVD"!!)
That's my only real gripe... from what I know so far, since I don't have my car yet.

[hill]

oh for crying out loud ... that's HARDLY a fair comparison ... after all the high tech brand new Lexus screen is (OLED) organic light emitting diode technology ... and isn't the contrast on 'em something like 10x higher or more? That's like comparing HD NAV's to DVD nav's. no comparison. you can't gripe when new technology gets introduced, because at SOME point, the last model has to get phased out. This just happens to fall at an inconvenient time.

[nola_Prius]

Originally Posted by hill

That's like comparing HD NAV's to DVD nav's. no comparison. you can't gripe when new technology gets introduced, because at SOME point, the last model has to get phased out. This just happens to fall at an inconvenient time.

It seems to me that 2010 would have been the perfect time to switch to a HD nav system, since the rest of the car has been so "revamped" compared to previous years.

[32kcolors]

Originally Posted by hill

oh for crying out loud ... that's HARDLY a fair comparison ... after all the high tech brand new Lexus screen is (OLED) organic light emitting diode technology ... and isn't the contrast on 'em something like 10x higher or more? That's like comparing HD NAV's to DVD nav's. no comparison. you can't gripe when new technology gets introduced, because at SOME point, the last model has to get phased out. This just happens to fall at an inconvenient time.

I'm not even talking about the 6th gen NAV in the brand new Lexus. The 5th gen NAV in the 2007 Lexus wasn't OLED nor HD-based but had 32,000 colors and higher resolution that put the current NAV system in the Prius to shame. The so-called 6th gen NAV in the 2010 Prius is on par with the 4th gen NAV in the 2006 and earlier Lexus. In fact, they look exactly the same in terms of color and resolution.

[32kcolors]

Originally Posted by Felt

I took delivery 4 days ago of a G3 IV, and I think it is fantastic. I find absolutely no fault with the Nav. screen. (Maybe they improved the most recent built?) I find the ride is supurb; quiet and comfortable; the interior is beautiful; no rattles; stability is great; fit and finish is perfect; and I am getting 54.1 mpg on my first tank. These were my priorities .... and I am not feeling denied.

What else could I ask for?

Don't get me wrong. As a Lexus owner, I think the G3 V is perfect in every aspect except the NAV system and perhaps the lack of Auto-on headlights (as I don't live in Canada). I guess I'm just spoiled from the much superior screen in the 5th gen Lexus NAV. However, it's extremely disappointing that the 6th gen Toyota NAV is equivalent to the one used in 2004-2006 Lexus.