What's Wrong With Factory Nav?

Spurshot · April 30, 2014

Seems to be a lot of grumbling about factory nav not being as good as a Garmin. I just have had my truck for a month in L.A. and haven't used the nav much except to play with. Seems to work well enough. Im not sure what the issues are.

Let's hear those issues

MikeNH · April 30, 2014

Factory navigation in most vehicles is crap compared to the average TomTom or Garmin you can buy off the shelf. This isn't unique to GM though Chrysler does use Garmin nav which I think is terrific (in theory anyhow, I've never used one). The issue is that the nav on these brand new 2014s probably dates back to 2012 at best and with the speed technology moves the OEM navigation is usually outdated from the beginning.

KARNUT · April 30, 2014

I have a 5 year old Garmin, under two hundred dollars, I get traffic alerts etc. I stick it to the navi screens in my other rides that came with one. I all ways opp out when I can of the packages that include navi in my rides, not worth the money.

dmd277 · April 30, 2014

I had Garmen in my 2010 with a Kenwood head unit. Much better than the factory navs on GM or Ford vehicles. Wish I could put my old head unit in my 14.

Spurshot · April 30, 2014

So exactly what doesn't the factory nav do?

mzodarg · April 30, 2014

As stated by others, my factory NAV compared to my Garmin is pure Sh!t. I wished GM would have bit the bullet and contracted Garmin for their NAV.

Oh well, the factory 8" display is a great place to put my Garmin suction mount!

Spurshot · April 30, 2014

Sh! T and crap. Can you be more specific?

MikeNH · April 30, 2014

Sh! T and crap. Can you be more specific?

The graphics will be downmarket, traffic is an extra cost service, the interface is usually clunky. This isn't all specific to the trucks but like I said, the $750 extra for nav is a ripoff, spend like $200 for a decent Garmin and it's a better system.

krzyd · April 30, 2014

Sh! T and crap. Can you be more specific?

I like the Nav, better than my Lexus, better than my 2007 Tahoe and better than my phone (GS4). I don't use all that often as I usually know where I'm going, that's my take.

diannabill · April 30, 2014

I'm not 100% certain, but it appears that map updates for the factory nav system cost between $159 - $200.

That would be a deal breaker for me. I get them free with my < $200 Garmin.

Spurshot · April 30, 2014

My factory nav has selectable 3D and top view as well as heading or north to the top of the screen just like my Garmins. I was disappointed that it didn't show speed limits like Garmin until I found it on the DIC center screen in a much larger display. Also lane selection and next turn can be displayed on the center DIC. It has a huge keyboard display and does voice recognition pretty well...better than my Garmins anyway. I have not really used it more than a few times playing around on trips to work and such. But it seems pretty well integrated.

I'll admit the colors are not as brilliant and pretty as Garmins. But that's not something I care much about.

krzyd · April 30, 2014

My factory nav has selectable 3D and top view as well as heading or north to the top of the screen just like my Garmins. I was disappointed that it didn't show speed limits like Garmin until I found it on the DIC center screen in a much larger display. Also lane selection and next turn can be displayed on the center DIC. It has a huge keyboard display and does voice recognition pretty well...better than my Garmins anyway. I have not really used it more than a few times playing around on trips to work and such. But it seems pretty well integrated.

I'll admit the colors are not as brilliant and pretty as Garmins. But that's not something I care much about.

I keep my display in night mode, looks better to me.

fondupot · April 30, 2014

I don't have a problem with the factory NAV. Sure its not as good as a Garmin, but it gets the job done every time I have used it.

Craftco · April 30, 2014

With the nav map on full screen, it will not display the name of whatever street or road you are on, that is my biggest gripe. Every navigation system i have used except for this one does this.