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Entune is terrible...what are the other options?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Thinkfire, Sep 29, 2017.

  1. Thinkfire

    Thinkfire Junior Member

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    Entune system is terrible. I got suckered into spending extra money on a technology package.

    I have been calling Toyota every single day on my boring drives (I drive a lot for work) and trying to get them to address my issues only to be told, that's how it is, that's how it's designed, it's not broken, we can't do anything.

    The service department at the dealership basically acknowledged they know how bad it is and that there was nothing I can do about it.

    The average driver doesn't really notice it because they don't use the system that much. I use it every day all day. You can't mute the GPS system while you are on a phone call (I take a lot of conference calls while I am driving). You can't just navigate to a city. It doesn't recognize half the addresses I put in. I can't push the pound key while in a conference call because it's disabled. The list goes on and on.

    I've been looking around for other options. There is a head unit from Pioneer that will fit that will provide much better usage but then you can't access the car's setup feautres. beeps, light dimming times, door unlocking, etc etc with a new head unit along with all the engine diagnostic/information/gas mileage/usage/history/etc.

    So I decided, I'm returning the car, after putting 3K miles on it in 4 weeks and have been assigned a case manager to start the "arbitration" process. I have yet to hear from that case manager.

    Some people may laugh that I am returning an entire car based on the infotainment system, but my car is my office and I travel. A lot. So it's importing that I am not getting pissed off at my car for not being to do the simplest things that ruin my productivity.

    If there are other ideas out there, I am all for it. I would like to keep the car, but I need a solution. A new compatible head unit without losing the features or a way to get Android Auto onto it or even retrofitting a tablet over it or something.

    So far, I haven't found any real solutions, just a lot of talk and a lot of others very angry with the Entune system.

    I have the 800 number on speed dial, option 1 then 3 for Entune so I call and complain several times a day while en-route and bored. Maybe if enough people called they would take note? I have yet to run into anyone that uses their system with any frequency that actually likes it.

    I've been a long time stalker, had a 2007 prius with 250K miles before this and kind of wish I kept it at this point but I already sold it.

    Hoping to keep the car...but...need to keep my sanity and productivity as well.
     
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  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Many people find Toyota’s navigation useless. My son tried it briefly with his 2015 Prius v. He quickly went back to using his Garmin GPS.
     
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  3. Thinkfire

    Thinkfire Junior Member

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    Yeah. The Toyota folks, when you call them, insist it is the latest and greatest techology and the best there is.

    Then I say, oh really? "OK, tell me how to mute this GPS while I am on the phone with you" and they can't. They spend a lot of time trying to figure it out. I just laugh and say "I have a 3 hour drive, take your time" and they fumble. That's when I say "Don't you think that is a basic feature? Is it outlandish to not want my GPS talking over my conference calls while driving?"

    Then I move on with something like "OK, tell me how to navigate to a city" they can't do that either. you have to know a specific address or location. I often travel to a city while others are figuring out a plan on where to meet in that city while I am on my 3 hour drive to get to that city. So I may need to just head to Chicago but you can't do that. You have to know WHERE in Chicago you are heading.

    It's just...horrible and somehow they have their customer service thinking its one of the best. Even all the reviews online say it's terrible with the exception of PC Mag which is an obviously paid article (read the comments). Toyota is not listening to it's consumers.

    I don't want to use a Garmin. I paid extra money for a technology package.
     
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  4. 'LectroFuel

    'LectroFuel Senior Member

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    I agree Entune is terrible, but so are many other infotainment systems. You should have tested it before buying. Many automotive journalists and reviews say they don't like Entune, so owners should expect that before buying. Maybe the new Camry Hybrid is for you with the new Entune. Hyundai/Kia has a good infotainment system.
     
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  5. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    I have navigated to a city by inputing a fake address - 123 Main Street or something of that sort. It will get you into the general vicinity.
     
  6. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    It’s reasonable to ask for a way to change this behavior—indeed, I could do entirely without some of the system’s less useful utterances, like “slow traffic”—but such features may not have sufficiently broad appeal to justify the incremental costs to implement, test, and support them in a mass-market product.

    Indeed, Toyota may have found that most drivers prefer the navigation voice guidance to take precedence over other audio sources, since it relates to the primary driving task: if you’re coming up on a turn or an exit, that information may be more important, at that moment, than music or a telephone call.
    At least with the software in my car, you can navigate to a city center, if the city is in the navigation database, without manually finding it on the map or entering a specific address:
    • Press APPS, and then select Navigation, then Dest., then Point of Interest.
    • If necessary, select Select State/Province or Change State/Province.
    • Select Category, then Near a City Center in State/Province.
    • Enter and select the city name. The city center map screen will be displayed. (Do not select OK.)
    • Select ↩︎ five times to return to the Destination screen.
    • Select More ▶︎, then Map. When the map reappears, select Go to ⦿.
    This technique isn’t intuitive, and it’s also not described in the Navigation System Owner’s Manual (PDF), but I’m a bit surprised Toyota’s call center didn’t know about it.
    I can’t speak for Toyota, of course, but at this point, I wouldn’t expect any updates to already-delivered products, other than fixes for serious malfunctions or new editions of the navigation database. Information from customer calls might be considered when developing new products, though.
     
  7. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    I consider myself blessed in that I don't have Nav in my UK Business Edition Gen 4 and rejected their offer to add it for a mere £750(!), But like many others on here I use a navigation app on my phone. These are cheaper and more accurate and allow muting when necessary. You could try Google maps and Waze (free download and use), or buy a bespoke one you favour. I recommend you try out free version of each before making a purchase. Good luck with your choice and forget Entune..... it will only lead to ulcers! (y)
     
  8. Thinkfire

    Thinkfire Junior Member

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    I use Google Maps now. Which is what I used in my old Prius, on my phone. I was trying to get away from using my phone, that was the purpose of my upgrading to the Technology Package, but I spent extra money for no reason as I'm back to using my phone now.

    I'll turn the car and get one without the technology package unless they agree to refund the difference, which they haven't so far. So I'm returning it, now a used car which has lost a lot of its value and getting a cheaper version because Toyota is stubborn. I also shelled out extra money for the 8 year warranty extension, which I may not get on the next purchase either.

    We'll see what the case manager has to offer.
     
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  9. Thinkfire

    Thinkfire Junior Member

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    Is there a way to access the car's settings without the head unit?

    (I'm planning ahead for new car and putting in better infotainment system in)

    I'm going to go with a Prius Two Eco like I had originally wanted but they conviced me to go with the Three with the Technology Package.

    Prius 2 Econ gets better mileage plus has a little more cargo room. Being my office, every little bit counts. I didn't realize the cargo room would be LESS than my 2007 Prius in the Three.

    On the note of taking it for a test drive. I did do that, for about 4 hours. But you don't REALLY get the feel for everything until you've been driving it around for work for a few days and they wouldn't let me test drive it more than 4 hours.

    The car itself is fine. It's awesome. A few small quirks, but livable. But the Entune system just pisses me off constantly and makes for a bad work day and destroys my productivity. I'm not the type to waste my money. So if I pay for something and it doesn't do what I want/need it to do. I take it back. That simple. Why waste the money.
     
    #9 Thinkfire, Sep 30, 2017
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2017
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  10. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    I've seen this complaint on a few of these threads. It seems people don't know about Toyota's "Try Before You Buy" program. I rented a 2017 Prius 2 Eco for about $40 per day before settling on the 4 Touring. The dealer didn't have a 4 Touring to Try Before You Buy (a Prius 3 was part of the program, but someone else beat me to it), but at least I was able to test some of the TSS-P features on the 2 Eco before buying my car.
     
    #10 davecook89t, Sep 30, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 30, 2017
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  11. Thinkfire

    Thinkfire Junior Member

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    Well from what I understand, the capability for Android Auto or CarPlay or Waze. etc etc IS there because everything runs off Entune app on your smartphone, Toyota just chooses to keep them locked out. So with enough complaints, maybe they will bite the bullet and realize it's not worth causing customer frustrations to force people into their vision of a "good" navigation system. Easy fix IMO.
     
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  12. Thinkfire

    Thinkfire Junior Member

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    I've seen this complaint on a few of these threads. It seems people don't know about Toyota's "Try Before You Buy" program. I rented a 2017 Prius 2 Eco for about $40 per day before settling on the 4 Touring. The dealer didn't have a 4 Touring to Try Before You Buy (a Prius 3 was part of the program, but someone else beat me to it), but at least I was able to test some of the TSS-P features on the 2 Eco before buying my car.[/QUOTE]


    Good to know! Is this true with all Toyota models?
     
  13. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    Good to know! Is this true with all Toyota models?[/QUOTE]

    I believe you need to call around to the different dealers that are part of the program in your area to find one that offers the particular model you would like to rent. I'm guessing the higher end models are harder to find than the Model 2 and 2 Eco.
     
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  14. Thinkfire

    Thinkfire Junior Member

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    Is there any other way to access the car settings other than through the head unit? Special brake/gas pump combos, key fob combos, etc etc? I would think there would be a secondary way to access the settings. I'm referring to things like how long the lights stay on after car is off, unlock all doors or just 1, beeping volume, etc etc.
     
  15. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    I believe they all can be accessed by the dealer Techstream software.
    Check the "Customization" section of your owners manual to see what settings are accessible from where.
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    keep in mind, there's no spare tire in the eco.
     
  17. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    True. That is why I chose Trim Two. I felt there were not enough additional features important to me to justify the additional cost of Trim Three.
     
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  18. PriusPeep

    PriusPeep Member

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    After owning my 2017 Prius Three for almost a year, I love almost everything about it. 600-plus miles per tank (60-plus MPG) is twice what I used to get. It's also quieter than I expected.

    My biggest complaint is no Apple CarPlay. Like many others, I use my iPhone for everything for work and play. I'd like to integrate the experience when I drive.

    Unfortunately Toyota is going to change. Every automobile magazine I read reports that Toyota is committed to using their own system and there is no plan offer CarPlay integration. I was hoping for a surprise software update.

    I did a lot of research before making my purchase. I erroneously assumed CarPlay would be included in a 2017 vehicle. It may sound ridiculous but I would have actually reconsidered if I'd known. The Honda I was thinking about definitely has CarPlay and a very nice built-in Garmin UI for traffic.
     
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  19. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    This is exactly what happened with me. Like the OP, I hated the navigation system and actually thought it was defective because it struggled with the most tasks. Now I use my Garmin.

    Thinkfire, I hope you're successful because I feel your pain. Please keep this thread updated with whatever you end up doing.
     
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  20. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Using Waze's free navigator on Android phone can mute the nav during s phone call AFAIK.