will 2017 ES have software update that we can use apple carplay or android carplay in our car? Or do we already have it?

the navigation system in our display is just so difficult to use

NO... And NO. You could try some aftermarket system out there... Good Luck...

If Lexus has been reluctant to upgrade systems to allow for Apple Car Play or Android Auto for the first couple of years of the Generation 7 ES, they are certainly not going to be doing it for Generation 6 ES cars.

I have to agree with the OP, the nav system is really clunky and can cause one to miss turns (not sure why they keep the display North on top always, its confusing, and the UI to add destinations???? WOW!! if that doesn't make you appreciate good UI design by seeing what doesn't work well, nothing will)

Is there a way to check the software version on my NAV system, maybe its a matter of upgrade, also I though lexus did support Carplay????

North doesn't necessarily have to be on top. You can set up map either to have north on top or to have the direction in which you are moving on top. (My preference is to have north on top.)

Every map that I've ever seen has North pointing well, North...

Yep, I have mine set to correspond with driving direction. There are too many other distractions to deal with other than trying to figure out how to orientate myself on the map.

I'll have to change that as soon as I can figure out how....I do have a question - is there a way to find out if there are software updates available for the car? I bought mine about a month ago, its a 2017, it only had 6200 miles so I was happy to get it, but I don't think it ever had any maintenance so I think its still got the original software version, I hope there are some of the bugs fixed, the input for destinations is sooooo clunky, I would hope they fixed that...