Navigation Fail - 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Navigation Fail - 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Long-Term Road Test

This long-term update on Edmunds' 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel includes discussion of the truck's navigation system.

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kirkhilles1

That's why manufacturers shouldn't be coming up with their own navigation. Integrate with Google Maps and/or integrate with my mobile device. Don't give me worthless/bad mapping software and THEN expect me to pay for updated maps on top of that. This isn't 2000.

ebeaudoin

I agree ^ It's amazing how much some people pay for in-car navigation that doesn't always work the best! I am thrilled with my $150 Garmin with Lifetime Map Updates. If I had a better-functioning smartphone, I would use Google Maps. The few times I have used it, I've loved it.

Nav from the manufacturers just doesn't make sense anymore.

chol92594

Using Internet-sourced navigation like Google Maps is great, except that it requires a data connection. I'm not aware of any cars that have such a connection without an added cost, so you have to pay a monthly fee to a cellular carrier for data, just like with a smartphone. That's probably not a big deal on a more expensive luxury car, but on lower end models, a lot of people aren't going to want to pay that extra money each month. Plus, since navigation data requires a constant internet connection, you'll most likely be out of luck if you're in a more remote area where data service is scarce or nonexistant. Still, it would be better than a majority of the OEM nav systems used today. I use the Maps app on my iPhone for navigation (I've also used Google Maps in the past and at times where the Maps app wouldn't suffice for what I needed) and I've never wished for a stock navigation system. It's much easier to use and always up to date.

rsholland

ebeaudoin said:

I agree ^ It's amazing how much some people pay for in-car navigation that doesn't always work the best! I am thrilled with my $150 Garmin with Lifetime Map Updates. If I had a better-functioning smartphone, I would use Google Maps. The few times I have used it, I've loved it.

Nav from the manufacturers just doesn't make sense anymore.

The navigation used by the Ram and other Chrysler products is made by Garmin.

speednet

It just needed a reboot. That fixes computers great -- and apparently car navigation systems too.

Mr_Shiftright

I use Google maps with cellphone extensively, and it has been the rare instance that a failed signal leaves me stranded. I personally would never order NAV on a car, especially when it comes bundled as an expensive package. Also you can get a voice-activated Garmin for $200 bucks with lifetime maps and traffic.

misterfusion

As noted above, the Ram's nav is by Garmin. However, the traffic data is an add-on feature provided by SiriusXM, so it's hard to tell whether the errors came from Sirius or the nav unit itself.