Toyota Connect

How do you like their system, especially the navigation. I have U connect in my Compass, not sure anything can beat it.

 

I haven’t used any cars nav since Waze came out. Nothing compares to it and yes we also had Jeep Wrangler and GC’s to compare. Started using Apple CarPlay and always use Waze for any nav.

BTW the Tacoma is the first WIRELESS CarPlay we have had and it is a game changer to just get in and drive.

 

I ripped the fuses out connecting all these features. Completely unnecessary.

 

FWIW, I too love the wireless connection, but find that sometimes it doesn't connect for some reason.

Just to try it out, I paid the $25 for one month of the Premium subscription. I won't be re-upping. I already get all the music & audio content I want via Spotify on my Pixel 7. So far, Google Maps on my phone is just as good at Nav, if not better. Regardless, that Toyota subscription isn't worth the $15 version, much less the Premium. Not to mention, I paid $48K for this damn vehicle, and they want to hit me with a subscription for navigation and access to music that I and many other buyers already have? That's complete BS. Urinating down my neck and calling it rain...

 

So far navigation has been good, but still learning with only 300 miles on it. It is nice that you can set up favorite locations as well as your home location on you phone app and send to the truck. In the truck you can say "Hey Toyota" and navigate to "saved favorite location". Navigation has a lot of options so you can remove toll roads, Highways, unpaved roads, ferries and other options which can help the routing depending on what you are doing. Has live traffic updates, a field where you can enter traffic issues as well. Time will tell if it is on par with Maps or Waze, but initial use looks good.

 

I assume map updates are over the air?

 

Yes, but only until the trial period ends.

https://www.toyota.com/owners/toyot...mic Navigation trial,and over the air updates.

 

Navigation works live over air. I belive TRD Offroad and SR do not come with the 1 year trial, but I believe all other trims do have the trial. Cost is $15 per month for the Drive Connect which includes the remote app control of the truck like remote start, unlock door, HVAC remote control etc..... Plus you can use the Drive, Pulse and Trips which can track where you or someone that has driven your truck have been if you care to know that info

 

They need to get rid of that silly fade at the top of the nav map just looks bad. It requires a cellular connection to function. not sure why i would pay for a worse experience than android auto+gaia or just maps gives me.

 

I honestly don't know why you'd want to pay for a subscription for something your phone does better and that you're already paying for. Many modern apps allow you to download the map for your journey so it's available when you're out in the sticks with no signal.

Built-in navigation is stupid and has been for ages. We only tolerated it because it was what we had besides using a paper map. Don't give them any more money to encourage them to keep doing it.

 

The Cloud navigation can download the areas that your planned route is passing through just like Maps. I can say that a few days ago I was driving in no man's land with no cell reception and the Navigation map was moving and tracking just fine with having set a planned route. It kept telling me that I had lost cloud communication, so the system must have done some prep work and downloaded areas.

Watch the video

 

One more question do you get weather radar, gas prices and movie theater info ?

 

Tough to beat Google Maps. I'm passing on the subscription and am just using CarPlay.

 

My wife's 2023 Tundra TRD Sport, bought in May-23 evidently came with a 10 yr trial Drive and Remote Connect according to what I've read and hers is still working. My 24 Tacoma, bought in Feb 24 came with 1 year trial and it just expired. I can't get a navigation map on the 14"display. I just get the following message, "Experience Drive Connect, Subscribe for the latest route and location guidance with Cloud Navigation, Destination Assist and Intelligent Assistant ".
I also can no longer use my cell phone to check on vehicle status ( tire pressure, doors locked, etc) or to remote start from my phone.
It appears I either do without these conveniences or pony up $16/month to be able to use the service.
Granted, conveniences are nice but apparently I've made it through life so far without them!

 

Wholeheartedly agree. Paying Toyota for those features (at $16 per month) is a tad annoying. Not to mention they track your driving habits and sell them to data miners (insurance companies). I went on the Toyo site and selected (under the privacy menu) "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information".

 

Make sure there is no safety/ theft features included. Many insurance companies give large discounts and when it expires and you do not keep, you end up
Paying more to insurance. Than what you would for the service. Plus if you pay by the year I am sure that 16.99 will drop.

 

I wish all the manufacturers would just stop trying to compete with Android (and I guess Apple as well). No. Toyota software is not as good as Android. My 2019 Sienna has the miserable/failed Toyota Entune app built in, I can't update it short of a new head unit. Stick to making high quality vehicles. All I want is for the in vehicle screen to be a larger version of my phone.

I've already got it set up. Every member of the family has thier own favorites set on their phones. When I rent a car I have my phone. I've made peace with sharing my data with my phone. I'm not giving toyota the chance to harvest my data, or charge me another subscription fee, or put advertisements on the screen when I stop at a light.

 

I have no need for it with a modern cell phone, nor need for one more $14.99 (or whatever amount) "subscription". The vehicle tracking that must be enabled is the deal-breaker though.

What sucks is that when you turn all that off via Toyota's website, the gage cluster resets to a default every time you start the truck. There's no "profile" to associate settings with, so it doesn't save any. Ridiculous.

 

I truly don't understand almost any auto company charging even a single dime for maps. I just use a Garman I bought 6? 7? years ago and it has everything and more still working fine and it works great anyplace even if I can't even get a signal on my phone maps.

It also doesn't track you, try to push you to certain places/businesses, and I can take it with me even in a 32 year old convertible and lock it in the trunk or toss it into my bag so it doesn't get jacked. And monthly charges, bwa HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! And I can even use it if out walking around and I get turned around or signs are missing.

 

I get those using Google Maps on iPhone. Works great. I say No Thanks to Toyota Connect.