I'm looking at purchasing a 2014 ES300h. I have a couple voice command questions.

1. Can you adjust the cabin temperature by saying "driver temperature 67"

2. Can you adjust the radio by saying "XM Watercolors"

Thank you!

 

Curious to see responses from 2014 owners to see if the system was updated. No to both on the 2013.

 

Interesting. I currently have an 2008 Acura TL and I can control temperature via voice saying "Driver Temperature 67". As for XM, I can only say XM Channel 66.

I drove a Lincoln MKZ Hybrid the other day and you can say the XM Station name.

 

Yep, the 2013 is behind the curve on this. Maybe they updated the 2014 since they've included the Siri feature.

 

Tried changing the temps by voice control. Did a test of 10 commands. No outside noise, no one else in the car, no radio on. Said "cooler" 10 times, temp was already set at 72. System said 'warmer?" 8 times, "pardon?" once, and "cooler?" once. Not great results although I don't use VC for temps anyway. Gave up on the radio long ago...

 

Bob - Pardon? Oh how much I hate that from the VC.

 

I've been successful in getting it to change the temperature via voice commands a few times, but, even when it is successful, it isn't very useful because it can only raise of lower the temperature, if I remember correctly, in 4 or 5 degree increments, which is not nearly the precise type of adjustment that I'd like to make.

The number of voice commands available on the ES is quite limited, but, to me, the number of commands is mostly irrelevant because, regardless of how clearly I try to speak and regardless of how careful I am at trying to aim my voice toward the microphone when I do try to use the limited number of commands available, more often than not, the system will either not recognize my command or it will think that I am saying something other than what I am saying, and I generally end up frustrated and having to do what I was trying to get the system to do manually. Thus, I've pretty much given up on trying to use the voice command system.

 

What I have read online states the temperature can only be raised and lowered in increments of 4 degrees by saying "Warmer" or "Colder".

The 2014 Lincoln MKZ allows for setting the temperature with commands.

 

Thus, I've pretty much given up on trying to use the voice command system.[/QUOTE]

I'm with you Lesz...

 

I've never found a use for voice commands in any of the cars I've owned with the function. It isn't like they removed the switch controls, or hidden them. Besides, you still have to hit a button to get to the VC interface.