J.D. Power and Associates has polled owners of factory-nav equipped vehicles, and Infiniti's zippy-performing setup gets the nod for top honors from end users. Part of the win might be chalked up to the hard drive that the Infiniti system comes with, making it more responsive than a DVD based navigation system. Infiniti owners also tend to be more tech savvy than owners of other navigation-equipped vehicles, further contributing to the win. The study's results show that even after coming up with a few extra thousand dollars to get the fancy LCD in the dash, most drivers hardly scratch the surface of what the systems can do for them. Apparently, watching a little triangle follow an animated route is all many owners ever use their nav systems for, preferring to be even more helpless and use live operators to talk them in. Ignorance leads to negative comments about maps that are out of date (easily rectified via updates), while actual technology gets in the way when it comes to wonky voice activation and real time traffic updates that have limited coverage in some areas. Despite the complaints, most owners declined to go back to the dealer for any kind of solution. Some owners apparently purchase navigation systems because they like the fancy cachet, while others actually use the systems. Those that use their nav more than twice a week tended to be more satisfied, pretty much proving that navigation systems are complex and take time to learn how to fully utilize before they're more than an expensive electronic bauble. Having used the Infiniti navigation system, we can say that it is among the best when it comes to ease of use and accuracy, but unfortunately, we're not junketing enough to far flung locales to actually need it.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
graviton @ Nov 5th 2007 11:40AM
I have never owned a GPS but I have often wondered why they use the DVD's to do this when flash memory or hard drives would be so much better and quicker. For those of you that do have DVD based nav, does the DVD player let you watch movies too, or play mp3's off of a DVD?
seoultrain @ Nov 5th 2007 12:25PM
I think the ones in Acuras let you play DVD-Audio.
Vivek @ Nov 5th 2007 11:46AM
Instead of spending a couple of grand on in car navigation, a portable one is a much better option. Ofcourse it doesn't look as good in your car but it's cheap & portable.
J @ Nov 5th 2007 11:52AM
Polled owners?????? Doesn't sound like a very reliable way to test or get a true conclusion.
nastinupe @ Nov 5th 2007 11:52AM
I own a 3rd Gen (2005) TL and I believe that the 2007 TL's have the best Navi in the business. It's touch screen and made by Alpine. They have the traffic updates... which are a little behind true life, but good for long standing traffic jams.
The system is also good at understanding regular speaking commands like find this and find that.
icecube777 @ Nov 5th 2007 12:26PM
The Honda/Acura displays sufferes from low resolution compared to Infiniti and Lexus. They are easier to use but get killed on screen resolution. Infiniti and Lexus screens boost high resolution displays which are clearer, vivid and easy to see.
SOhp101 @ Nov 5th 2007 2:05PM
The newer version of the Honda/Acura navi program is much better in terms of speed, resolution, etc. compared to the previous version, but now they're moving away from the touch screen and to the knob that every other automaker is doing. It's still fairly usable but it would make me think twice about paying the premium for it.
In the current version TL (and most Hondas/Acuras), the DVD-Audio 6 disc changer is separate from the DVD player that holds the navi disc (located in the trunk).
teknokracy @ Nov 5th 2007 11:52AM
I agree! I had the pleasure of evaluating a G35x back in the summer, and the navigation (and really the whole computer system) actually made me say "Wow!" which is quite rare. Everything "just worked", and if I had to decide between cars of that price range, I would have chosen the G35 based on its driveability first, and its technology second! I can only say that Mercedes makes a "cleaner" looking map - their street names and roads are not pixelated but smooth, like Google maps.
nastinupe @ Nov 5th 2007 11:55AM
DVD based systems allow for easy upgrades.
For instance, I own a 2005 TL with Navi, so in another year or so I will be the "new" DVD with all the new roads and stores and stuff for my ride.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 5th 2007 11:57AM
A friend has the G35 NAV. It is by far better than its competitors from Lexus and such.
But they're all junk next to a good portable system. graviton asks why they don't use hard drives or flash for storage? Portable systems do. They introduced hard drives 3-4 years ago and now are switching to all flash.
They have better graphics, faster routing and many useful new features that in-car systems don't have yet. And they're cheaper.
Jruhi4 @ Nov 5th 2007 12:04PM
I'm not much of a technogeek, but I'd say that the "3D/Bird's-Eye View" feature on Infiniti's navi is another reason it was so well-liked.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 5th 2007 12:49PM
Oh, if you don't like that, then you'd better hurry up and buy your NAV now. Because all NAV systems are going to helicopter view, simply because it is very well liked.
All the portables of note already made the switch, and the in-car NAVs are following along.
Hank @ Nov 5th 2007 12:02PM
I still think a high-end portable GPS unit from one of the well-known manufacturers (Garmin, TomTom, etc) is the best bang-for-performance/value right now for a GPS system.
Perry @ Nov 5th 2007 2:01PM
I totally agree.
I have a Treo 750 with Tomtom Nav installed....nothing beats a cell/pda/gps you can have with you at all times.
Why spend the money on the NAV package and 3 years down the road you get rid of the car and start all over again? With the portable ones you can change cars and have GPS everywhere.
Anti-believer @ Nov 5th 2007 12:31PM
Acura has the best navi.
Ligor @ Nov 5th 2007 12:37PM
I would agree,
I found myself using the navi as if i had used it for years, but I just don't like to have one in my car.
a pertable one is the best for me. the navi is $$$ and when it burns out it will also be quite $$$$$.
I don't drive in much traffic jams, and don't travel a new route on a daily basis so i Have no need for one unless i go on vacation - $8/day can get you a garmin for rent at enterprise.
Ben H. @ Nov 5th 2007 12:48PM
No one really *drives* in a traffic jam! ;)
I'm considering a G37-6MT coupe and its navi system. After reading this article, I may opt for it.
Fooman @ Nov 5th 2007 12:46PM
Acura and Infiniti touch navs are the best. The Inifiniti gets a slight nod in the better screen, and slightly faster response. BMW's is craap.
beanspants @ Nov 5th 2007 12:52PM
i think the portable ones are too small, slightly overpriced comparatively, and are theft magnets. that's why i'd prefer an in-dash one.
A portable with a 5" screen is $1000. A 7" installed with radio/etc/ combined is only like a $1500 option.
SOhp101 @ Nov 5th 2007 2:25PM
What are you talking about? Most portable navi systems cost at most $500-600 while the OEM ones cost at least $2000.
The only disadvantages to aftermarket systems are they're slightly less accurate, doesn't have built in/finished look, and you need to unplug it/hide it in the glove compartment every time you park.