2012 prius pkg3 nav makes me ANGRY!!!

My old Prius was a 2005. It had an awesomely functional and usable Nav system, with voice commands that I dearly miss, like "gas," "I'm hungry," "POI off, "suspend guidance," and "resume guidance."

Yes, my 2012 premium system has that functionality, but only if I'm willing to take my eyes off the the road and push buttons. That's not only stupid, but in many states it's illegal.

I have not found a way to deactivate the freeway exit list. While I'm driving down the freeway I'm a little too busy to look for it.

 

It's rather distressing to hear that the two nav systems in '12 Priuses is/might be a step backwards. I felt that one on my 06 (a generation earlier than the ones on the '10-11 Priuses) was fine.

However, both gens of nav systems didn't do so hot at http://priuschat.com/forums/other-cars/73366-j-d-power-2009-navigation-usage-satisfaction-study.html and http://priuschat.com/forums/other-c...on-system-j-d-power-says-youre-not-alone.html. It'd be sad if things got worse.

I wonder if it's a case of functionality being worse/missing or user error/not knowing how to do it on the newer systems.

FWIW, I like Garmin PNDs. I know some folks wish Garmin implemented the nav systems in Toyotas. Perhaps it's time to push Toyota to do so? They've partnered w/other automakers before: http://priuschat.com/forums/other-c...mpanys-first-in-dash-infotainment-system.html.

 

The nav in our 2012 Prius v five model leaves a great deal to be desired, in fact you could say it sucks. Maps are outdated and when you try to enter a destination using the Coordinates it blanks out the seconds like they can't be possible. I got the coordinates from Google Earth and I know the building is there and has been for at least two years. Toyota should put a good quality system like Garmin or Magellan in a car that lists for over 30 grand.

 

As I mentioned I had an 05 and an 08 Prius, and now a 2012 Prius 3. I can say without a doubt that functionality is worse and/or missing, and I can also say that perhaps I do not know how to do things on the new nav system. However, there was not a steep learning curve with the system on the 05 and 08 models. With this car I have read the manual and even brought it to the dealer for a lesson, and the fact is that this system will not do what I want it to do, which is to be just like my systems in the older models.

 

I even called Toyota Customer Care about a couple of things that I couldn't find, only to be told that those function are indeed missing in the 2012. I have the "Premium" HDD system. It's even worse than the Display Audio.

 

It really is sad. I double checked what I posted earlier in the thread, and it does work with voice command. It takes longer but you don't have to ever touch the screen.

Also find a way to use the NEXT AND FAVORITE commands. They are at least functional.

Example. Find next seafood restaurant. Find next airport etc.


---
I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?iwwjwp

 

Thanks for trying to help anyway. I did find a "freeway exit info" button under the Map Mode, but it's grayed out and there's no way to either select it or deselect it. I must, apparently, just learn to live with it.

As I said above, I do like the way that the HDD Nav handles the audio and phone calls. That all works well. But the Nav part of it pretty much sucks. I don't even had addresses I can use, unless I type them in myself. There's no connection between my phone's contacts and the nav address book. Even "destination by phone number" looks for a POI with that number -- not a number in my contacts.

It makes Siri on my iPhone look really, really good.

 

Interesting. I have the same car you do, and I find the NAV very easy to use, especially when driving and using the voice commands. I bought this car for the gas milage after several luxury cars. My wife's 08 Lexus NAV sucks compared to the Prius. My 08 BMW NAV really sucked. Just hit the voice command button and several choices are displayed on the screen. Say one of them and the car usually gets it right.

I don't think it recognizes cuss words, though.

 

I'm glad you like it. I've never seen the 08 Lexus nav, so I can't comment on that.

There are several choices on the screen... actually four: "Go home," "Find nearby <POI category>," "Enter an address," and "Main menu --> Set a destination --> Destination by phone number." (note the last requires a phone number for a known POI)

All of the other commands are related to either phone, audio, or info (traffic, weather, fuel prices, etc.). Those commands I like, and I think they work just fine. I have no beef at all with this part of the system.

The 2005 nav system had dozens of navigation-based voice commands. A voice command like "Chinese" would actually display POI icons for all Chinese restaurants on the map, rather than giving a list of the 5 or 6 closest ones that you have to then read and select one from in order to see that one (and that one only) on the map. And "suspend guidance" and "resume guidance" were voice commands, not buttons off of the map menu.

I could go on and on, but I won't because it would only be boring and repetitious. I'm disappointed and frustrated because functionality that I had used for seven year and grown to rely on is suddenly unavailable.

 

Yes! It worked! Thank you! I'm still not too happy having to push buttons on the screen while driving. But at least that annoyance is gone.

I took a spin down the Columbia Gorge today as it was the first really beautiful day we've had. All of a sudden, the nav told me, "20 miles ahead the right lane is closed." I guess that was the XM. I thought that was pretty cool.

I haven't had any problem with my iPod on the USB connector. It works very well. I can also use the voice command to play playlists, artists, albums, and songs. I do like the audio features.

 

Before anyone starts bashing 2012 Nav, they need to be very clear which unit they are speaking of! A given Prius trim level could have one of two units, so lets be clear.

The 2012 Display Audio w/ Nav is a great unit. Very Garmin like, allowing almost full functionality while moving, access to all stored destinations while moving via touch or voice. Great voice command features, great touch screen etc. Easy entry and very intuitive. It is so far superior to my 2007 Prius DENSO nav!

Too bad the OP hasn't been back to clarify exactly which one they are speaking of. I doubt it's the Display Audio w/ Nav.
I think the solution to his simple address entry frustrations would be to manually enter beginning with state first and work backwards. State>City>Street>number..... That allows any unit to narrow the possibilities down far more quickly.

 

So, perhaps a stupid question from a complete Prius novice (I have one on order but it's on a slow boat from Japan and probably not too late to change): If you are debating between a 2012 model IV (with DA w/Nav) and 2012 model IV with sunroof (and Premium HDD NAV), and if you really don't care much about the sunroof, but you do want to get the best audio and voice-controllable nav available -- which one would you choose? I know the HDD Nav/Sunroof cost is high, but I guess I can afford it if necessary.

If the HDD Nav would play mp3 files recorded on a DVD (rather than a CD), then that would probably cinch it for me. But I haven't found anything that suggests it plays DVD's other than real movie DVD's, and that only when you are stopped. But I do have an iPod, iPad, and an Android smartphone with 4GB data plan.

I'd appreciate your thoughts, since after reading several of these audio and nav threads, I confused and somewhat undecided.

Thanks in advance to any who are thoughtful enough to offer an opinion.

 

The owner's manual for the HDD nav says:
Audio: This DVD player can play liner PCM, Dolby Digital and MPEG audio format DVDs. Other decoded types cannot be played.

Further down it adds:
The following products may not be playable on your player:
• SACD
• dts CD
• Copy-protected CD
• DVD audio
• Video CD
• DVD+R
• DVD+RW
• DVD-RAM

I would take that to mean that MP3s burned to a DVD would not be playable.

 

I wonder if there is a DVD ripping utility in Linux to get around the NAV unit's ability to see if a DVD is homebrew or bought from the store? There has to be something written on a store bought DVD that signifies it as a store bought DVD rather than something created at home.

Question I know you guys will have an answer for: I ordered a Four Solar, will it come with the iPhone USB cable or do I use my Apple cable or what?

Thanks,
Mike

 

You use your own apple cable.

 

Excellent. Thank you

Mike

 

I also wonder if it would work if you set it up like a video DVD, but left the video channel blank and had the audio channel all MP3s. It says it will play the audio of a video DVD when the car is in motion.

Right now I don't have either the time or the inclination to try, as I have all of my music on my iPod. But it might be an interesting experiment.

You're going to love your 4 when it gets here.