Google Maps Leaves Lexus Navigation in the Dust
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 441
From: oh
Google Maps Leaves Lexus Navigation in the Dust
I took delivery of my new 2019 ES 350 a week and a half ago. Since I'm familiar with Google Maps, I decided to try both systems simultaneously for a 45 minute trip. Google Maps said the trip was 30 miles and 45 minutes. Lexus Navigation said 37 miles and 58 minutes. About 15 minutes into the trip, the Lexus Navigation directed me to a longer highway route. When I took the shorter highway route that Google Maps found, the miles remaining on both systems became the same, but Lexus said my arrival time would be 5 minutes later. The Goggle time estimate was spot on as usual. Why did the Lexus system choose a longer highway route? We're not talking sides streets here, these are interstate highways!
Also, I didn't get a good feeling that the Lexus system was constantly updating for real time traffic. Maybe it does, but I don't see any feedback to that effect.
Since Lexus Navigation is now cloud-based, Lexus has the ability to improve it and bring it up to state-of-the-art standards. Hopefully that will happen soon.
Also, I didn't get a good feeling that the Lexus system was constantly updating for real time traffic. Maybe it does, but I don't see any feedback to that effect.
Since Lexus Navigation is now cloud-based, Lexus has the ability to improve it and bring it up to state-of-the-art standards. Hopefully that will happen soon.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,251
Likes: 1,595
From: CA
Yeah, Google is a lot better.
I used the Lexus Nav to go to a restaurant a couple months ago. I was literally across the street from the place, but Lexus wanted me to make a right and drive a mile down the road. I haven't used it since
Our '16 RX 350 is the same way... terrible directions.
I used the Lexus Nav to go to a restaurant a couple months ago. I was literally across the street from the place, but Lexus wanted me to make a right and drive a mile down the road. I haven't used it since
Our '16 RX 350 is the same way... terrible directions.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,895
Likes: 838
From: Idaho
I haven’t used the nav on our 2019 yet, however I have to say that we used it on our 2015 during a May road trip, and again with our 2016 NX on a July road trip. Aside from the fact that they both tried to push us towards major highways, they both worked quite well. They worked fine for our needs and my wife would often have Google maps up on her phone. The two sometimes resulted in slightly different routes but never a huge difference. I wonder if those people having challenges with the Lexus nav are in highly congested areas? Just wondering what is so different that Lexus nav results in success for some but failure for others.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,251
Likes: 1,595
From: CA
Who knows, maybe it's address dependent? Like in my case of being directed a mile away from the restaurant, it may have gotten confused with the address? It was in a large-ish city of over half a million people, you'd like Lexus would know the popular areas of the city.
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 1,034
From: Illinois
Note that, in the settings for the Lexus navigation system, you can set the system to give priority to various route types. For example, you can choose the shortest route, the fastest route, routes that use tollways, routes that avoid tollways, etc. The choices that you make with those settings could be a factor in determining whether the system is choosing routes similar to those of Google or ones that are quite different.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,582
Likes: 3,407
From: NJ
I took delivery of my new 2019 ES 350 a week and a half ago. Since I'm familiar with Google Maps, I decided to try both systems simultaneously for a 45 minute trip. Google Maps said the trip was 30 miles and 45 minutes. Lexus Navigation said 37 miles and 58 minutes. About 15 minutes into the trip, the Lexus Navigation directed me to a longer highway route. When I took the shorter highway route that Google Maps found, the miles remaining on both systems became the same, but Lexus said my arrival time would be 5 minutes later. The Goggle time estimate was spot on as usual. Why did the Lexus system choose a longer highway route? We're not talking sides streets here, these are interstate highways!
Also, I didn't get a good feeling that the Lexus system was constantly updating for real time traffic. Maybe it does, but I don't see any feedback to that effect.
Since Lexus Navigation is now cloud-based, Lexus has the ability to improve it and bring it up to state-of-the-art standards. Hopefully that will happen soon.
Also, I didn't get a good feeling that the Lexus system was constantly updating for real time traffic. Maybe it does, but I don't see any feedback to that effect.
Since Lexus Navigation is now cloud-based, Lexus has the ability to improve it and bring it up to state-of-the-art standards. Hopefully that will happen soon.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,582
Likes: 3,407
From: NJ
Note that, in the settings for the Lexus navigation system, you can set the system to give priority to various route types. For example, you can choose the shortest route, the fastest route, routes that use tollways, routes that avoid tollways, etc. The choices that you make with those settings could be a factor in determining whether the system is choosing routes similar to those of Google or ones that are quite different.
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Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 357
Likes: 56
From: Texas
I took delivery of my new 2019 ES 350 a week and a half ago. Since I'm familiar with Google Maps, I decided to try both systems simultaneously for a 45 minute trip. Google Maps said the trip was 30 miles and 45 minutes. Lexus Navigation said 37 miles and 58 minutes. About 15 minutes into the trip, the Lexus Navigation directed me to a longer highway route. When I took the shorter highway route that Google Maps found, the miles remaining on both systems became the same, but Lexus said my arrival time would be 5 minutes later. The Goggle time estimate was spot on as usual. Why did the Lexus system choose a longer highway route? We're not talking sides streets here, these are interstate highways!
Also, I didn't get a good feeling that the Lexus system was constantly updating for real time traffic. Maybe it does, but I don't see any feedback to that effect.
Since Lexus Navigation is now cloud-based, Lexus has the ability to improve it and bring it up to state-of-the-art standards. Hopefully that will happen soon.
Also, I didn't get a good feeling that the Lexus system was constantly updating for real time traffic. Maybe it does, but I don't see any feedback to that effect.
Since Lexus Navigation is now cloud-based, Lexus has the ability to improve it and bring it up to state-of-the-art standards. Hopefully that will happen soon.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 441
From: oh
Note that, in the settings for the Lexus navigation system, you can set the system to give priority to various route types. For example, you can choose the shortest route, the fastest route, routes that use tollways, routes that avoid tollways, etc. The choices that you make with those settings could be a factor in determining whether the system is choosing routes similar to those of Google or ones that are quite different.
Note that when I made the correct turn, the Lexus Navigation immediately recalculated and indicated the same number of miles remaining for the last 2/3rds of my trip as Google Maps. It knew that this route was 7 miles shorter and less time but chose the longer route anyway.
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 52
Likes: 20
From: California
I have had navigation systems in pretty much all my cars and never used them for directions. I only use the factory Nav to see the general map of where i am at. To see when im approaching a certain street or when im getting close to the freeway. Google Maps has always been my go to app for directions. And since Lexus comes with Apple CarPlay now, i was fortunate enough to find an ES with the color ii wanted with all of the packages except Navigation. Definitely saved some money there.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,471
Likes: 958
From: IL
No system is perfect. I've had Google Maps take me off the highway and down some frontage road, just to have me get back on a half mile later. There was no reason for it, but since I didn't know the area well, I followed along. I've also had issues with it when traveling through Texas on business. So many, that I just followed the street signs like the old days. 
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 5,304
Likes: 1,593
From: SE PA
There was a story on TV - I think 20/20 where a young female was following Google maps and was directed up a dirt road. She followed the road until there was no more road and ran out of gas. She was stranded for 3 days and was eventually rescued by a farmer out fixing fence posts... Nothing on earth is perfect...
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 42
Likes: 11
From: Tx
I have had navigation systems in pretty much all my cars and never used them for directions. I only use the factory Nav to see the general map of where i am at. To see when im approaching a certain street or when im getting close to the freeway. Google Maps has always been my go to app for directions. And since Lexus comes with Apple CarPlay now, i was fortunate enough to find an ES with the color ii wanted with all of the packages except Navigation. Definitely saved some money there.
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 52
Likes: 20
From: California
One thing i do like about the 12" display is that the Apple CarPlay app takes up the whole screen. In my previous car, it only showed on a portion of the screen, so that is really cool feature that your car has.
Last edited by DiamondES; Aug 6, 2019 at 02:34 PM.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 42
Likes: 11
From: Tx
I do have the Mark Levinson package as well, just no Navigation. The dealer did mention this was kind of a rare car because the factory rarely equips a vehicle with the ML system and no Nav.
One thing i do like about the 12" display is that the Apple CarPlay app takes up the whole screen. In my previous car, it only showed on a portion of the screen, so that is really cool feature that your car has.
One thing i do like about the 12" display is that the Apple CarPlay app takes up the whole screen. In my previous car, it only showed on a portion of the screen, so that is really cool feature that your car has.