LEXUS INTERFACE* WITH 14-IN TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY AND THEMATIC AMBIENT ILLUMINATION. INCLUDES 3-YEAR TRIAL OF DRIVE CONNECT* WITH CLOUD NAVIGATION, INTELLIGENT ASSISTANT, AND DESTINATION ASSIST. SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED AFTER TRIAL. 4G NETWORK DEPENDENT.

Looking to buy Lexus NX 350h within 6 months. Does anyone have an opinion on this $1205 package? Is it better than Google Map on CarPlay? And the subscription cost after 3-year trial? I tend to keep my cars for at least seven years, so I am concerned about 4G availability down the road (this is real, as I had to replace the wi-fi hardware on my Generac when 3G was discontinued).

 

We bought the smaller screen version and it doesn't include the Nav subscription. But the general opinion of this board and a couple Facebook groups seems to be that Google Maps or Waze via Android Auto or Apple Car Play (when it works) is superior to the built-in navigation.

 

4G should be around at least to the end of the decade perhaps a tad longer so you might see a full seven years of service. I suppose the real question is whether you think you'll want to use the subscription services beyond the trial. For basic navigation, you'll get better results using Car Play or Android Auto. The Lexus service does have the bonus option of "Destination Assist" over using something like Google Maps. I've never used it myself, but in theory you're able to press a button and talk to a person about figuring out a destination and have them feed the destination directly to your car. Great I suppose if you often don't have an exact address that you can just type in or use the voice recognition,such as help finding a store or restaurant. The intelligent assistant is just a simplified Alexa or Siri. "Hey Lexus, what's 23x34.4?". Various questions can be answered but its not as good as Apple, Google, or Amazon assistants (so far). What else do you get with this package? Well of course, the big screen. It certainly is pretty and makes for an excellent experience with CarPlay or AndroidAuto, however the native interface seems designed for the smaller screen as on the 14" it feels like Lexus wasted some opportunity to really make good use of the big screen (other than maybe their own navigation).

 

I think the larger screen is worth it!

 

I like the large screen. I didn't have a choice, it was came with my purchase. I'm glad I have it as it looks great and when I took my car in for the 5K service, I got an NX350h loaner with the small screen and I felt like I was in a Toyota, a nice one but a Toyota nonetheless.

 

IMO, I feel the 14" is worth it if you plan to keep the vehicle for a longer period of time and drive more than 30 minutes once a while to justify the cost. It's easier to see the maps and menu with the bigger screen when the vehicle is in motion.

Mobile 6G is expected in 2030 so that's pretty far out. Probably after then so many years before 4G goes away.

 

I like it. Easy to see and responsive to touch. Lexus nav, music, and phone are fine, but as others have mentioned Android, Apple, etc. work great as well if you prefer.

 

I like the 14”. I think the Nav works well. I enjoy the Voice command feature. I favor CarPlay but nothing wrong with the onboard Nav.

 

I considered the larger screen option but decided that the smaller screen was more than adequate. So far I've been pretty impressed with the Lexus satnav and have had no reason to use Google\Waze etc.

 

The bigger screen alone is worth it, IMO. Its big and beautiful...you won't regret it. As for the navigation, I second everyone else saying android auto\car play is better. Every once and a while I'll try using the Lexus navigation again, and its just not quite as good as Google maps. The voice is a bit more robotic sounding at times on the Lexus nav. Not to mention, Android Auto and Apple Car play support a split screen option, while the Lexus UI does not.

 

I like Drive Connect. I like to be able to use voice commands to either Lexus/Toyota and I go a lot of new places and need a GPS. I also like to search and find locations on my phone app and download them to the car with the specific name of the destination. I have the 14 inch screen in the Lexus; It is very big and since with no home screen, the 14 inch screen has lots of basically wasted real estate. I have a 2023 Prius LE and added Drive Connect. the Prius only has a 8 inch screen and it is plenty big enough for clear and accurate GPS

I would not get the 14 inch screen just for GPS, the 9.8 inch screen would be more than sufficient. Bit remember with the 14 inch screen you get 3 years of drive connect. with the 9.8 inch screen you have to buy Drive Connect at $15 a month for a total 3 year cost of $540 plus tax at 8.25% that is a total 3year cost of $584.55

YMMV,
MidCow3

 

Thank you for this detailed information. Can you confirm that we are able to purchase the Drive Connect GPS on the base 9.8 inch screen? And that monthly cost is also $15 for the Lexus Interface when the 3-year period expires?

Also, is any travel/driving data captured by Toyota and resold to insurance companies? Are you able to opt-out of the data sharing?

 

Yes, you can purchase Drive Connect on smaller screen. It is an automatic credit card deduction every month. Again, I purchased and have it on a 2023 Prius LE.

Unless Lexus has a price increase in 3years, it will be $15 per month at the end of your 3 year trial if you choose to continue with the service.


YMMV,
MidCow3

 

Its next to impossible to get an absolutely trustworthy answer from any maker in this day and age. So I assume the answer is yes - they will sell data to Lexis-Nexis or similar data-brokers at the least, if not to insurance companies - GM and others were recently caught doing that and sued, despite having told their car buyers that they won't sell data.

So I have opted out from "Clean Assist" and "Drive Pulse" features from within the app - because I use neither, and wouldn't want my data to be sold. There are other features that I think are of value (such as "External Vehicle Video Capture" that helps improve the ADAS) and I kept them on. But its possible to turn data sharing consent completely too, which loses the ability to use some car/app features. I suspect Toyota may be slightly better than the rest of the herd in terms of protective privacy, but as I said, its hard to be sure.

 

Here's an excerpt from Lexus Policy:

• Usage-Based Auto Insurance. You may choose to opt-in for usage-based insurance products and services. If you opt-in, your Driving Data (such as your vehicle's acceleration, speed, braking and steering) and Location Data will be used to deliver usage-based insurance services to you, and for quality assurance, analysis, research, and product development.

The full policy can be found here: https://www.lexus.com/privacyvts