Slide into the ES fasten the belt and the seat glides forward while the wheel lowers and extends. Foot on the brake push the start button the lights do a dance and screens come to life. I say in my sexiest voice, hey Lexus, she's answers alluringly, how can I help. I say, navigation, she replies, where would you like to go. I tell her teasingly, take me to the river...

On come the cool seat blowers as the stereo comes alive...

She gets me.

 

I've sometimes thought that if there's one word to describe this car, it would be "coddling."

I agree with the poster who said this is the first car they ever owned that actually made them want to drive slower, as if they felt the car encouraging them to relax. It's a whole different form of enthusiast driving than I've ever experienced before, but I do enjoy it.

 

So, do you regularly use the Lexus Navigation instead of the Android Auto or the Apple one? If so, do you find the Lexus Navigation as savvy for Road Closures and Traffic as the others?

 

I don't own a smart phone so haven't had the opportunity to use anything but the Lexus Nav. Before this I always used a Garmin which doesn't have very good avoidance features at least not a few years ago.

 

The Lexus Navigation traffic avoidance system is outstanding. My wife and I use it on road trips and also turn on Waze to see how they match up. Other than warning us about LEOs Waze loses every time. The Lexus system is that good at avoiding traffic. We live NW of Atlanta and I turn it on anytime we have to travel through there just to avoid traffic.

 

I have always used the in car Google navigation and haven’t had a problem yet. I don’t understand the bias some people have against it, for it’s really no different from using your phone for a routing. Back in the day when they were disc based and not real time, sure that was far less desirable and prone to errors. But I don’t link my iPhone to the car except for texting and calls via Bluetooth, and that works well.

 

I'm a bit confused at your statement of "in car Google navigation". Are you referring to Apple Car Play or Android auto?

 

I mean using the Lexus navigation which in turn is using Google as the over the air source of data.

 

Oh, I didn't realize that! So, if I'm using Android Auto with Google Maps, are real time road closures updated as soon as Google Maps are?

This summer has been a real road construction nightmare here. I have to use Google Maps just to get home as they are closing and opening roads by the hour.

What is the subscription cost?

 

Unless I’m mistaken, Google maps is the same data base regardless of whether it’s accessed by your phone, laptop, or the car nav system. What you see may depend on things like having real time road data active, which may take a paid subscription, but in the end your seeing the same info from the same min source across devices.

Current prices are probably available on line from Lexus. But if you have a 2025, aren’t you receiving two years of full paid service anyway?

 

You might know better than me but I thought the new system used google maps only and navigation is from another source as others have mentioned in other threads.

 

I stand corrected.

“Lexus Dynamic Navigation integrates Google's POI data, meaning it uses Google's vast database of locations and points of interest to enhance its own search functionality. However, the core navigation engine and map data are managed by Lexus, not Google.”

 

Intereatingly, one of my cars are older, with a Nav system that integrates a Disc with satellite. I also have a subscription to Sirius XM Nav. It works really well and has real time updates. My new lexus just uses Apple Car Play. I use Google, Waze, etc. It also works very well. I did not want to get a Nav system in my new car because I knew I would not want to be required to pay after the trial, to keep it working. I find that annoying.

 

Hmm...
Lexus navigation (either the "old" Dynamic Navigation or the "new" Drive Connect Cloud Navigation) uses HERE as the source of mapping data including traffic data.

The "old" Dynamic Navigation system also had the option of using, where available, HD FM radio station provided local traffic and weather data.

The "new" Drive Connect Cloud Navigation uses Google only for Points-of-Interest (POI) data to overlay locations such as businesses, hospitals, etc. or in searching for locations of such POIs.

 

Yes, thanks.... I just tried out the Lexus Navigation and it was not aware of some of the road closures and convenient ways around them in my area. Unlike Google Maps, which seems a lot more 'real time' and savvy. So, I'll be sticking with Android Auto.... Plus it's free. No subscription needed.