I am able to receive and hear text messages on the nav unit. Is it possible to reply to a message via voice as well?

 

Depends what phone you are using. For iPhone, you can't respond unless you use Siri Eyes Free. You can activate it by holding the off-hook/answer button on the steering wheel until you hear the beep or see the microphone on the screen.
For Android, you can select from a list of responses.

 

Ok, so there is some promise. I have an iPhone 5s...I have never heard of Siri eyes free..?

 

Lexus has had this for a few model years already. It's basically a way to activate Siri from car controls. You won't see any visual stuff on the center screen indicating what Siri is doing, but you'll hear it. Just pair your phone through Bluetooth, allow notifications, hold the off hook/answer button on steering wheel, wait for beep, say "respond to text message," etc., hit cancel when you're done.

 

Hmm Ok I will have to try it again. I thought I tried it and she just said "sorry?"


Is there a was to send a text message from scratch? like.. "Send text message to wife" etc?

 

Yeah. Just do the same thing and change your request. Siri through the car has the same capabilities as Siri just on your phone.