Mazda CX-9 GPS and Navigation

baxterdown

Hi everyone,

I test drove the CX-9 yesterday and loved it! I noticed that the Navigation's map didn't turn. Does anyone know if the CX-9's nav map has dynamic turn?

To further explain, dynamic turn is when the vehicle marker stays static pointing towards the hood of the vehicle. In contrast, it is he map that turns as the vehicle turns. This way, the car is always traveling in the same direction as the map...

Jose

lexxm3

Yes, this is one of the modes. Note that I've known this to be normally called "Track Up" display mode on every GPS unit I've player with, 4-5 of them. Versus "North Up" mode.

mlkitt

I would not suggest buying the Mazda system. We recently bought an RX8 with the navigation system and while we love the car we hate this system. Once the car is in motion very few of the options in the system are available for use. You are not even allowed to find the closest resturant or ATM without stopping the vehicle. We own a Roadmate portable that has touchscreen and you can do anything at any time and it was less than half the price.

geraint

Can you tell me how you activate this mode? My AWD GT came with no instruction book for the navigation system and the 3 minute guide that the sales guy gave me wasn't terribly illuminating.

lexxm3

I am not in front of the car right now, but I believe you toggle between "track up" and "north up" modes by tapping the the compass-looking symbol in the upper left corner. It's too bad that we don't have a PDF owner manual for the navigation, it would have been easy to search it for "track up".

Lexx

geraint

thank you - that was it. soooo much nicer using it this way.

g

svofan2

My AWD GT came with no instruction book for the navigation system and the 3 minute guide that the sales guy gave me wasn't terribly illuminating".....how could this be when one buys such an expensive option?...anybody complaint to Mazda?....

imamg

Mazda has recognized that some of the cars were shipped w/o the nav manuals... contact your dealer for them to provide one for you... they are available...

imamg

If you regester you vehicle on Mazdausa.com... you can access the owners manual(s) via pdf format.

branchburg

I have programmed in 10 different destinations over the past few months. Recently I wanted to go back to a place the nav. system had already guided me to. When I chose "previous destinations" the "list" option is always greyed out. The only option I can choose is delete or delete all. How to I get it to allow me to choose list so I don't have to put in the entire address again. I have tried when stopped and in park and the "manual" is useless.

I appreciate any help

imamg

I was just in a CX-7 with nave at our dealer...and went through the program...

You have to go to destination entry.... and if you scroll down it'll show... previous destinations... from there you can select the one you want...

Hope this helps.

branchburg

I did what you said and never realized that you could scroll down on that menu. Thanks, it worked.

imamg

Awesome... I'm glad it worked! Keep the questions and information coming... I'm still getting to know "our" CX-9... This weekend had the opportunity to realy use the Nav system... (w/o voice) and realy enjoy the visuals.

x5killer

hows does the NAV in the CX-9 compare to the NAV system in teh Subaru B9 TRibeca which I have found very decent besides like many including lexus not being able to input a destination whiel driving.

sedmund

If "home" is already set, how can I delete it or override it? "Destination Entry"->"Home" takes me to the map, but after selecting my home from that map what's the next step? On that screen, I see "destination", "memory pt" and "way pt" but none of them helps me set that location as my home.

readyformyrl

I have two acura's and can use the navigation system without voice activation on the fly, to create waypoints and reroute to a different address, etc....With the Mazda nav system, are you able to create a way point or reroute by voice or do you have to be in park to do that?

tonymogle

Does anyone understand how to use the voice commands for the cx-9 navigation system? It seems that when on the fly they want you to change destination via voice recognition not by touch screen.

When I give a voice command such as "fast food" or "golf course" the nav system simply says it back to me and then drops me back to the audio system.

Is there a way to enable the touch screen while in motion so that a passenger can use the screen to change destinations?

ocala

I have had the CX-9 for over a month, and the Nav will never automatically revert to night mode. I have to physically change the display mode myself.
Anyone have any suggestions?

gramx10

What is the current version of the CX-9 navigation software?

imamg

it doesnt change automaticaly... and there's no setting to force it to.

cspillman

So just so I'm clear. You can NOT program the navigation when driving...you have to be in park? Please tell me that isn't so.

gramx10

I have a CX-9 and the display changes to/from day and night automatically. Did you set the Map Mode to Auto. Go to 'Menu' then 'Navigation Set Up' then 'User Settings' then 'Auto' on the Map Mode line. That should do the trick.

gramx10

Is there a Demo Disk for the CX-9 Navigation System? If not, I may develop one.

maltb

Not park, but you basically have to stop moving before you can change the destination.

cspillman

Is there anyway to overide that? I didn't buy Cadillac or Lexus because you can't program the navigation on the fly. I actually like this car better than the x5 but as a realtor i can't stop everytime i need to put in a new address.

cspillman

Can you look for a restaurant or atm without stopping the vehicle. And is it real time traffic?

carlitos92

There is an aftermarket "black box" you can fit to a RX with NAV that overrides the restrictions. I would think they would come out with one for the Mazda too, someday.

-c92

maltb

I would look at an aftermarket Nav like the Garmin nuvi series if you want to do that. Most will let make changes while driving as long as you state that you are not the driver. The OEMs have too much at stake to take the risk.

jose23

I own a Honda Pilot and love the Honda navigation system. I am going to be purchasing a Mazda Miata which does not offer navigation as an option. Does anybody have a recommendation for a Honda-like after-market navigation system?

ocala

The settings are on Auto, but it doesn't automatically revert. In fact, it will never enter night mode unless I change the settings to that mode.
Big, big pain in the a..
Navteq never responds to my emails. I got a response to one of my original questions about a month after the post, and it didn't address the Q.

maltb

Navteq only provides the map software. Address the issue with a Mazda dealer or the Mazda Customer Assistance hotline.

imamg

At what point would you like it to automatically change? I'd think it'd be more of a pain for it to do so when you didn want it... as opposed to simply pressing one button when you want or dont want it.

kbedwards

I have used and loved many a Garmin auto GPS unit. Man that sounds bad.

But it's true, the interface, the intuitiveness, everything about those little units just screams quality and testing to me. It's like the designers are always one step ahead of you when you are using it, always anticipating your next step.

Anyway, gushfest behind us, I just test drove a GT Cx-9 last night, with one of my primary goals being to take a look at the nav system which has been much maligned as being out of date, clunky, and generally a lot of confusion or lack of knowledge about it from Mazda in general:

Updates - how do you get them? When do you get them? How much do they cost? How updated is the map when I buy the car?

Unfortunately, my salesman did not have a clue how to even use the system, so it went untested by me.

Can someone with some experience with the excellent Garmin standalone products and the Mazda system please do a comparo for me? Is a really really crappy OEM nav system a deal breaker? I.e. if it is as bad as everyone says, the logical thing seems to be to get a $300 Nuvi 350, and just not get that option on the CX9 (but then you lose a lot of other features, right? Camera, for instance, don't know what else, maybe premium sound?) Since my Mazda salesguy couldn't answer any of my questions, just hoping someone here can.

Thanks

tooold

I have a CX-9 GT with Nav and a Nuvi 350. I bought the Nuvi to use in one of our other vehicles. The nav in the 9 works ok, about the same as the one in my previous GM vehicle, but it suffers from all the usual restrictions of built-ins. Unless the manufacturers make some sweeping changes to the way the built-ins work and update, I will never have another. I always have a copilot so the Nuvi can be reprogrammed on the fly easily. If you're always solo, you have to park it to change things anyway. I've never tried a real voice controlled nav. The voice control in the 9 is useless.

kbedwards

Excellent! Thanks. So you would recommend NOT getting the Nav in the CX9?

That is so sad...considering the cost of the vehicle at the GT level, as well as the fact that I don't currently even have a portable GPS - would have to go buy one.

Let me rephrase, considering what else comes in the package with NAV in the CX9, would you suffer the craptitude that it is to get the other stuff anyway?

I.e. is the other stuff that comes with the Nav package worth the extra cost (to you - I know that is somewhat subjective)?

Thanks again...

So voice interaction does not work at all with the Nav system of the CX-9? I am thinking I will make them show me how it works at the dealer before I buy, and if it really is bad, or they can't get it to work properly, or at all, I will try to use that as a bargaining tool.

kbedwards

Update: bought the GT with Nav after all.

I made them show me that the voice recog works (it did) before I would buy

Also was assured that the map is not more than a year old. Finally got hold of someone that knew what they were talking about. He said the old map versions shipping with new cars was a def problem before, but they are trying to change it.

I have yet to verify the map version in mine, but will try to get a year to confirm.

Updates ARE available, on DVD. Did not know how much they would be. I am guessing $200-$300.

I will say that the graphics are horrible! Compared to the svelte Garmin units, even the last gen Garmins, with their 3D option, this thing looks like it's 20 yrs old!

I wonder what effect Nokia buying Navteq (announced yesterday I think) will have on this system in the future?

tommy3102

Ok I am spoiled I will admit it - we have a Nuvi 360 and love it on trips and around town.

The lockout while moving on any built-in is frustrating, and in my opinion the voice functions are clunky to useless. Say "go home" and it will tell you "you are not currently under voice navigation." It constantly misunderstands you. Why can't they make a real product? Also POI database is horrendous I mean realllly terrible.

I was sitting in the parking lot of Kohl's department store and we needed to go to Costco, so type up C..O..S..T search and Costco pizza in MASSACHUSSETS comes up - I am in Jersey, and yes I had the region properly selected the whole time.

Ok so you don't have my Costco - not a new one, but ok, well guess what? NO Costco's at all. NONE, no SAM'S CLUB. Oh and Kohl's whose parking lot I was sitting in - nope not that either. Suggested that maybe I was really looking for Kohls park - in BOULDER *&(&*ing COLORADO. Give me a break.

Under POI shopping there are only 2 choices - Shopping malls or grocery stores - and those work poorly (I was next to a pathmark supermarket and the damn nav was telling me the closest supermarket was 2.5 miles away. GIVE ME A BREAK.

SO we pulled out our internet enabled phone looked up COSTCO and typed in the address - and BAM the navigation took us straight there. The Nav even knew to tell us where the entrance to the parking lot was.

So if you have every address you will ever need the this nav is for you. I would much rather have skipped BT and NAV and even though I am leasing spent $1,000 on a top notch DVD/NAV/BT/STEREO that actually works and looks awesome - I would still be ahead of the game - instead I am sitting with a nice looking pile of crap.

Another thing if you are driving somewhere you CAN make some changes while in motion - you can go home, or find a hospital. Once you hit emergency and select a hospital the system doesn't wait for you to hit guide after about 2 seconds it just re-routes. I was just playing around - but we had to pull over to re program our original destination.

It also tried to send me to a hospital in a different state! granted it might have been marginally closer as we were in Staten Island, but really all in all a pile of crap.

It is by far the worst part of an otherwise pleasant car, but a huge disappointment for me.

SKIP IT!

AND - Don't get me started on the Bluetooth. Apparently in the voice activated phone book "jack"/"mom"/"dad"/"beth" are all too similar sounding to be used so now my whole family is using first AND Middle names. GARBAGE! why couldn't they just pass it through to my own phone's voice recognition like my headset does? also the nav screen would be so nice if it pulled up a numeric keypad?? a visual phone book. the NUVI does, but oh yeah it is fancy - and 1/5th the price! Oh and forget about using nav and phone together - ie to dial a POI to make a reservation? they don't know that the other exists! Horrible execution of technology.

Tommy D.

remmib

I can certainly understand your frustration as I am in the exact situation. I have the Nuvi 360 and leased the CX-9 GT-AWD with Navi. For the most part I get the Navi for the power liftgate, which my wife and I enjoy greatly. I find the BT ok and usable. The Navi is absoultely hopeless in terms of POI....and the sad part is there isn't anything we can do.
On trips, what I'll do is to put the Nuvi in the CX-9, it's silly to have to GPS systems in the car but the CX-9 Navi system isn't going to help when you are in an unfamilar city and need to find restaurants or supermarkets.

cynfl1

I bought my 2007 GT AWD on 7/31/07, and I thought I was the only crazy person around thinking how useless these Nav systems are in these cars! I am very good with directions, so the few times I've had to use the thing, I've literally had to return home to go onto mapqest and print out driving directions!!! Subdivisions that were around for 7-10 years still aren't showing up in this system. Also, a simple trip to the nearest Wal-Mart takes me to the East coast! Restaurant don't show up, nor department stores. Voice recognition? Maybe if I had a Japanese accent would it work??? I'd really like to have my $2,500 back, that's for sure! The power liftgate isn't that impressive to me, either. And when I'm going to my car with groceries, I still have to dig out the smartcard to use the liftgate because there isn't a button on the outside that lifts it. I'm really disappointed and frustrated with a lot of things with this car, and would really like to trade it in, but know I would lose lots of money.

cx9rx8owner

Try setting the clock in the Navigation system. This may turn the display to night time at the approperate time.

cx9rx8owner

I'm disappointed that Mazda uses a Bose surround sound system and DVD player, but the wireless headsets are some cheap no name brand. Does anyone know if there is a better quality replacement that I can get from Best Buy or somewhere else?

nxs138

After reading various discussion forums regarding built-in NAV systems, I've come to realize that they are seldom worth it, for the very reasons you mention. Even on the venerated MDX, which touts its superior technology, owners complain about the NAV not finding proper restaurants, or finding them 500 miles away, or maps being way outdated.

And add the fact that you have to pay a couple of hundred bucks to get them updated every year, it's ridiculous (and they usually come outdated when you buy the car).

I'll be buying a portable when I get my car. Yeah, I'll have a cord dangling, but it's much cheaper to buy, and much, much cheaper to upgrade.

remmib

I have a Garmin Nuvi 360 and bought the 2008 Maps update, to my surprise,
an old postoffice (must be more than 10 years) is not showing up in its POI database, and it's directing me to somewhere farther away.
None of the GPS systems on the market is fool proof, the only reason people hate the in-car systems so much is because of their outrageous price. If they were a $300 option, we will still hear complain but at least it's easier to forgive...

remmib

The Navigation System manual comes with the CX-9 does not have a list of acceptable voice commands or what the system is expecting or can accept....
Does anyone know if is there a voice-command manual of any sort? I have the car for more than a month and still couldn't figure out how to use the voice-command to do stuff successfully (other than to go home).
The MDX/honda Navi system is definitely way better.....

johnf59

When setting map mode to auto the maual states that when your turn on the headlights the navigation is supposed to go into night mode. This does not work I have to manually place it there.
I had the car check by a mazda tech he said it should just dim little. How anyone experience this

jdoering

The tech is wrong although I couldn't find a clear statement of the actual behavior in the Nav manual either.

The Nav display is controlled by the dash illumination knob (Manual page 5-40) + headlights + Nav display mode. If the dash illumination knob is in the cancel position then the Nav display backlight will stay bright and the contrast scheme will stay in day mode even with auto select and the headlights on.

However; if the dash illumination knob is active (so you can twist it to adjust dash light dimming) then the backlight for the Nav display will dim a little (that's probably what your tech was refering) AND the Nav auto display mode will toggle between the day color screen and the night reverse-contrast colors as you turn your headlights on and off.

So the final behavior makes sense and is convenient but I didn't see any mention in the manuals of the tie-in with the dash illumination knob.

-Jeff

jdoering

Page 51 of my Nav Manual (2008) has a precise list of accepted voice commands.

ntermini

I noticed when driving you cannot enter a destination address into the GPS as all the options are grayed out. Does anyone know if this is a permanent safety feature? Can this be turned off? What if you want to have the passenger enter the address?

ntermini

I just purchased an 08 AWD GT with NAV and the GPS maps version is 2006. Does anyone know when a new update is going to be released? If you buy an 08 car you should at least get the latest maps for free, which I think are 07. I have seen some people selling these updates maps on EBAY, but the dealership and MazdaUsa are unaware of the update. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks

ntermini

Does anyone know how to edit the home location - I follow the manual and it states you can classify the category as preset destinations or home - unfortunately home is always grayed out. Any suggestions?

btm2518

My dealer told me that Mazda updates their mapping system "about" every three years. I would like to find an outside source so I can get a more up to date mapping system.