You should have gotten a one year free trial of Drive Connect to give you a chance to experience it before you have to decide if you like it.

One benefit of Drive Connect is the Predictive Efficient Driving. On my '21 Sienna the built in map would drop little leaf markers at spots where your driving tends to get regenerative breaking or EV use. Then, when using the built in map for navigation (so it knows you are going through an area with a leaf) the collected data will guide the operation of thr hybrid. This avoids using the ICE to recharge the battery just as you are about to have regenerative braking available. Folks on the Sienna forum have indicated up to 10% efficiency improvements. My '23 RAV4 is less than a week old, and I haven't seen leaves on the map yet; but Drive Connect dies support Predictive Efficient Driving.

I prefer Waze, so on the Sienna I had my phone mount beside the infotainment display and used both. I'm still looking for a good solution for mounting my phone beside the 10.5" display without blocking vents, controls, or instruments.

 

It wasn't offered with the XLE, according to the brochure at least. So no, I wasn't sadly. I just was curious if you can still just manually use it like you could with almost any other built in nav system.

 

You don't use android auto or apple carplay? No subscriptions required.

 

I have and regularly use Apple CarPlay, I was just curious about the built in nav being open to use or completely locked.

 

I recently purchased a used 2022 R4P SE. I was using a Garmin nuvi 55 in my 2008 Outback, and I'm now looking for a service as good as Garmin's to view on my infotainment screen in the Prime. I dislike physically connecting my iPhone to the car to use Google maps (CarPlay) when I'm in and out of the car multiple times during a trip. The screen in my car is telling me to go through the Toyota app for navigation service, but I park my car in an underground garage at my condo (i.e., in a complete dead zone) and I have no plans to use the Toyota app for anything. What are my options?

 

Get you a CarPlay wireless ad. I use the Carlinkit on my and my wife’s Rav4s without a problem. Amazon has them and others for a reasonable price

 

I was all set to buy one of those based on other threads in this forum, but I was put off by the incredibly mixed reviews, and confusing assortment of versions. For the price, I'd liked to have seen a much higher rating for any of them.

 

Dumb question but what happens to built in maps after trial period ends? | Toyota RAV4 Forums (rav4world.com)

There are 3-4 discussions in the past on Toyota current cloud-based navigation (vs. old dynamic navigation). Link above is the discussion with the most inputs (good info).

 

Most of that discussion appears to be people relating their experience with the old Dynamic Nav system and what happens when the free trial expires. There is a single beneficial post that shows the page of the manual that clearly states that Drive Connect nav will not be available when the subscription expires.

There is also a bunch of discussion on using projection (Android Auto or CarPlay) which is the only way to get navigation on the big infotainment display without a subscription.

 

Most of that discussion appears to be people relating their experience with the old Dynamic Nav system

The SDGTR's posting seeks support to his 2023 RAV4 Prime's (cloud) navigation system, and the discussion included many members providing feedback from their 2019+ Primes' navigation system.
Like all other discussions and much the same as this discussion, SDGTR's discussion opens up suggestions from others using other APPs.

 

Exactly what I stated. I was just trying to dispell the confusion that might arise when multiple folks responded that the nav will still work when the subscription expires. Those comments are for the '19 - '22 systems, not the '23 system.

 

I'm guessing you'll like the experience better. I use Android Auto and it's better than built in.

 

Ditto for Apple CarPlay and Google maps.

 

With Apple CarPlay and I am assuming also Android you have a multitude of choices for the maps and navigation you want to use. On Apple CarPlay the map apps are Google Maps, Waze, and of course Apple Maps for starters. Just look at the App store for your phone be it Apple or Android and pick the best one for you.

 

Get a Garmin. No cell phone needed. No monthly payment. Free updates. Better directions. Portability. It breaks, replace it. The center screen in your car breaks . . . all the Gods of Asgard cannot help you. You will spend $hundreds$ and the shop will have your car forever. And, they WILL screw up something else.

 

Garmin might be a solution if you don't already have the infotainment system built into the Toyota RAV4. The Garmin 8 inch screen Drive Smart 86 requires a smartphone Apple iPhone or Android for cellular Connectivity and Bluetooth.

if you have an iPhone or Android cellphone. It does the same functions as the infotainment system built into the RAV4 it requires you have a cellphone with Cellular Data Connectivity and Bluetooth does support iPhone or Android. At least that is what the website states. Garmin DriveSmart™ 86 | Car GPS

Now with Garmin you only have one choice in maps, that is Garmin Maps. Also where are you going to put an 8 inch screen? In front of your windshield blocking vision or in front of the Toyota Infotainment Screen that you already paid for. System cost for Garmin on sale for $299.99 plus any Sales tax. For a little extra there is an Outdoor Maps+ Plan for an annual subscription of $49.99 to ave the most updated maps

With Outdoor Maps+, you have access to a wide variety of premium mapping content covering all 50 U.S. states that is regularly updated and delivered directly to your compatible Garmin device via Wi-Fi® connectivity.

The subscription lasts 1 year from the purchase date. An active subscription is required to receive updates and retain downloaded content.
Garmin Outdoor Maps+ Annual Plan

So if you have download the Maps and forget to pay for the next year it is bye-bye maps.

I look in the App Store for iPhone and quit counting the map navigation apps at fifty map apps. I'm sure that Android has the same or more map apps. So you have a vast choice to fit your needs.

 

I can't imagine using a Garmin device now. Your smart phone is better in pretty much every way. You don't even need a cellular data plan. Google allows you to cache giant areas when you are in WiFi. But if you don't mind using data having traffic, speed trap, and accident info is super useful.

 

If you are dumb enough to buy the 8 inch Garmin, more power to you.
My little 5 inch has lifetime map updates free.
Now, click Post Reply and then Unfollow. Bye.

 

you are welcome to use it if you already have it obviously but if someone is looking to solve this problem now I wouldn't suggest buying a stand alone garmin for the rav4 that supports both apple and android phones and all their associated navigation apps. even my cheap base level Ford supports android auto now.

 

The gps in the Garmin can still come in handy. I have driven through enough rural areas where my cell signal on the phone drops off, but the Garmin is still operational.

 

cellular service not required for you phone to provide navigation capability. both the garmin and the phone have a GPS receiver. now maybe the garmin has a better gps antenna but that's going to vary depending on which models of garmin and phone we are talking about.

in an "urban canyon" the phone will probably work better because it can at least use sources other than GPS.

 

cellular service not required for you phone to provide navigation capability. both the garmin and the phone have a GPS receiver. now maybe the garmin has a better gps antenna but that's going to vary depending on which models of garmin and phone we are talking about.

in an "urban canyon" the phone will probably work better because it can at least use sources other than GPS.

Google Maps, Waze, and Apple maps on a smart phone normally use cell phone connections (data) to download the map display data. Google Maps does have a mode than you can down load the date pre-trip, but the area covered is limited. The location information is all inside the phone using signals from the GPS satellites, or a bit of "inertial navigation " using the built in accelerometers.

The gps in the Garmin can still come in handy. I have driven through enough rural areas where my cell signal on the phone drops off, but the Garmin is still operational.

Yes, Garmin has all the map data in memory, thus does not need a cell data connection. Some older Toyotas also have the map data built in using a micro SD card. My '18 4Runner uses that, but the built in data chip has to be replaced from time to time to update the map info for new roads.

 

Google Maps, Waze, and Apple maps on a smart phone normally use cell phone connections (data) to download the map display data. Google Maps does have a mode than you can down load the date pre-trip, but the area covered is limited. The location information is all inside the phone using signals from the GPS satellites, or a bit of "inertial navigation " using the built in accelerometers.


Yes, Garmin has all the map data in memory, thus does not need a cell data connection. Some older Toyotas also have the map data built in using a micro SD card. My '18 4Runner uses that, but the built in data chip has to be replaced from time to time to update the map info for new roads.

Use offline maps on Google. I have all of New England available with no data all the time. It took less than a minute to set the download up and now it's just there so if I don't have data it's no problem.