2022 Radio Questions

I had a 2019 Tacoma, and just traded up to a 2022. I was initially excited about Apple CarPlay. Toyota by far has the worst technology in any line.

Does Entune mean anything anymore? No clue.

I know I lost some of the convenience apps, like weather and nav. I did figure out how to get nav back. Is there a basic app suite I can load into the system anymore? No clue, once again.

I'm not always going to use CarPlay, so it's nice to have some basic local apps installed. I liked the weather app but it doesn't appear to exist anymore. No idea how to get it back.

I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir here, but Toyota's technology is the worst. Hands down, outdated and horrible. Nothing but disappointment. The quality of the touch screen is lacking. Kind of low resolution, dull or flat, and old feeling. Even the resolution of the backup cam leaves you wanting. Just no features at all.

When you're spending $40k on a vehicle, you expect more.

My sales rep was horrible. I asked if Carplay connected wirelessly, and to my surprise the sales rep said yes! I thought, wow, that's awesome. Carplay typically needs a hard wire connection, although some aftermarket radios utilize wifi. Wrong. Not wireless. I then asked if the Toyota has remote start, and to my disapointment the sales rep said no. Wrong again. Useless sales rep. I even asked the guy to get me a quote on installing the bed lights, and the price on a new rubber mat for the bed. Never heard back.

I love the remote start feature, but even here the tech leaves you wanting. The remote start runs through Carplay, really. At least, I believe that's where the communication engine lies. You would think the app would also give you remote climate control. Of course, no. All you can do is lock and unlock, and start and stop. That's it. I believe the programming connectors are there to make it all happen, but Toyota tech sucks. They just didn't bother adding it.

So, the real questions is, can I install apps, besides nav, in my 2022 Tacoma? Can I get weather? Pandora? Anything?

 

The technological backwardness is a feature, not a bug. After all, it's a truck. And older owners like me (77 y.o.) prefer simplicity. That's one reason I got a manual transmission.

 

No, it's not a feature. That's just silly.

I can appreciate that old school mentality to a point. However, there's a big difference between old school simplicity and poor quality technology. The quality of Toyota's tech is poor. Flat out. You can't put shit tech into a vehicle and call it old school. It's just shit tech in a $40k vehicle. If they wanted old school tech than an optional simple FM/AM radio would have done the trick. That's not what they did. They just installed inferior technology with a crappy interface.

The truck I love. Not knocking the mechanics of it. I'm no spring chicken either.

Toyota needs to step up their game. It costs just as much to put crap technology in a vehicle as it does to put quality technology into a vehicle. Better touch screen and software is all that was needed. Maybe a better backup cam too.

 

I think folks forget it's a 6/7 year old platform. My wife's 2015 Mercedes is more luxurious than a 2022 Tacoma but the reverse camera, navigation, cell phone integration is also outdated by today's standards.

I realize I'm spending a silly amount of money for a dinosaur but nobody else has Toyota reliability in a 6MT.

 

Not trying to be a PITA, but if cutting technology in a vehicle is important to you, what are you doing with a Toyota? Being on the leading edge of technology has never been their strong suit. You came from a 2019 to a 2022, so I'm assuming this was no surprise and you bought again because you consider the rest of what you got outweighs the outdated tech. If that's the case, asking people here for workarounds is perfectly understandable. Complaining about Toyota having the worst tech and that you should have gotten more for your $40k is not. It may very well be true, but you knew what you were getting into IMHO.

 

I’m kind of curious about how you got Nav back. I thought Nav only came with a technology package and wasn’t able to be added by the owner later.

I just use the wired car play for navigation from my phone.

 

It isn't a feature. You are not the target audience for a Tacoma.

 

Well, you know what they say about “assume”.

Ironically, I went to a 2022 partially because I hated the radio in the 2019. To my surprise and astonishment, the 2022 is actually a little worse. Lol. Carplay aside, it does less and has less than the 2019. I am truly surprised. I never in a million years would have thought upgrading the vehicle would have meant downgrading the radio, especially in 2022 with the plethora of good technology.

But, it’s okay. Thanks to the other poster my question was answered. I can’t install jack shit on the head. If I want to navigate on the trucks lcd it’s carplay or nothing.

It’s okay. But you guys have to admit, old school or not, toyota tech sucks. And there really isn’t any rhyme or reason to it. There’s a lot of other good tech in the vehicle that doesn’t jibe with a pathetic stereo system. Keep in mind, the last Toyota I owned was a 1978 SR5 shortbed 2 seater 4x4. I was 18 or 19 at the time. Loved it. Then I got married to my first wife.

It is what is. It made sense to trade up given the insane amount of money they’re paying for used vehicles right now. Basically gave me what I paid for the 2019 nearly 3 years ago. Why not trade up?

i do have a cool electric seat, blind spot monitoring, and a few more buttons. Lol

 

I thought it was a subscription based thing? Granted, yes, your vehicle has to be compatible.

 

+2

 

Yes the tech is dated, but people are still buying every Tacoma that Toyota can build. They don't have much incentive to put the newest tech in these things. Most manufacturers these days rely on our phones to run apps, which makes a lot more sense.

 

The radio is what the radio is. If you really like the Tacoma otherwise, invest in an aftermarket head unit that has more bells and whistles than most OEM radios, and enjoy your new truck! I'd much rather have a reliable truck with a shitty radio than have an awesome radio in a shitty truck!

 

Completely agree. I was just trying to figure out how to bring back a couple of apps like I had on the 2019. Thought for sure I was just missing something. That’s why I posted. To my surprise, not possible. Not really a deal breaker. Love the truck otherwise. Hell, it’s my third technically.

 

Definitely makes more sense to push software onto the phone manufactures.

 

Of course I didn’t. I was buying a truck, not a radio. I didn’t figure the radio could be worse, and I did know it had Carplay. That was about it. The sales rep was as useless as tits on a bull. I guess you’re right, I am whining a bit. Sorry, not intentional. I really just posted to find out how to add a few apps. And now I know. Ain’t happening. Lol.

 

This is what I did. I knew what a steaming pile Entune was. I even discussed it with the salesman who admitted Entune is junk. I started working on tearing it out entirely and replacing it with Pioneer and Kicker when I bought the truck.

ETA: The Pioneer has wireless Carplay so I have Waze and Spotify running without even pulling the phone out of my pocket.

 

I too went from a 19 to a 22 and agree it seems like a step backwards. My biggest gripe is the radio functions are no longer in the instrument cluster screen. While using CarPlay as nav, you can’t see what’s on the radio.

 

I get annoyed with the HU. It is glitchy and sucks but eventually I’ll upgrade all my sound. Not a big deal for me yet. I can wait until I find good deals on speakers and HU also maybe until my warranty is up.

I just got a $50 dongle to use wireless CarPlay. Works well.

 

If you actually listen to the radio (as in AM/FM) mine has an option to rewind.
You get so used to being able to rewind the tv for anything you missed I used to catch myself trying to rewind the radio... now I actually can.
Might be useless to most but I think it's sweet.