My 2011 has all the options. The only one I would miss if I did not have it is the backup camera. If I remember correctly there was very little difference in the sound quality that I noticed. The Bose speakers are supposed to be more efficient power wise though.

 

I have a 2014 with NAV and have never used the NAV. It's a terrible system and with an iPhone a car based NAV is something you never need to use.

 

This!^^^

Why would anyone pay for an OEM NAV option these days? It's always sub-par to Waze and Google Maps. If you're 60+ years old with poor vision, no smart phone, and you live in the middle of nowhere, then I can see you going for it. Otherwise, no one should be paying for NAV in my opinion.

 

I just bought a 15 with leather, S1, S2, bose and Nav. I previously drove a 14 volt with leather and S1, and felt as if nothing was missing, so I wonder if I'll regret the latest purchase. Ultimately, it added $1,200 to the final price (versus the $1,600 retail value), so at least it will help with resale, though not $1200 worth, probably.

I've heard that S2 is useless and annoying, and as for the nav, I'll mostly use my android with Google Maps, as it has live traffic updates and dynamic routing. The onboard nav will come in handy, though, when there's no data service on my phone.

 

Our 2011 has both and our 2014 has neither. The Bose sounds a bit better to me, but not for the cost. The nav stinks. The only time I really needed it, it sent us to the wrong address, missed it by about five miles! Save the money and take that one.

 

This is my first car with NAV and I can't imagine having a volt without it -- comes in very handy with route planning and knowing how far I am from my destination to switch back to EV mode (I drive a lot and use hold often).

Of course, if you can set up a good place to cradle your phone or buy a cheap garmin head unit, that would give you the same flexibility. I personally like the NAV and find it useful to have the large screen integrated with the car.

With that said, there are other things more important to me (color, wheels, etc.), and I wouldn't put a NAV as a "must-have" for $1000s more. I have the Bose and it's adequate, but not spectacular.

 

I have both and love them. I don't like I can't update the Nav though - I could do that in my Ford Focus 2012.

 

The Nav is helpful to have traffic on display at all times. Also love sending addresses to the nav via the OnStar app.

I waffled between two 15%ers - one with and one without - and ultimately did it for the traffic.

Fumbling around for your phone and using that as a nav isn't safe IMO and burns battery like crazy.l So one ends up with wires and mounts and it's just not an elegant solution.

 

Are the Nav and Bose worth it? No. I have them. And I'd likely get them again. But objectively they are not worth it.

Nav screens are lame compared to phone or tablet screens. They just don't have the requisite detail. The turn-by-turn directions will more than suffice. If you need more, use your phone. The Bose sound is nice but you can certainly live with the standard system. It's not half bad.

 

I like mine with nav and bose... the Bose system sounds very clean and clear. To me, this is a car you either get fully loaded or totally stripped... no in between. Too many weird configurations out there.. If I were a dealer I would order either fully loaded or stripped but have safety 1. Period.

 

I have Both, and love it! The Bose system is more than adequate "for me" and has Sirrius XM. Can you get that w/o Bose and Nav in a Volt? In any case My next car whatever it is (likely not a gen 2 Volt as it did not improve in the metrics I personally wanted to see) and I'm leaning towards a BEV at lease end, Will have integrated Nav. and an upgraded sound system.

Of note all my recent cars have had upgraded Sound systems "which is a must" But my current Volt is the first car I've ever had with a Nav system built in and I'm finding it too will need to be on my must have list.

FYI The backup Camera is almost needed in the Volt as rear visibility is limited, especially for old folks like me who can't contort as well as I used to so I can see behind the car.

 

Thanks for the inputs.
It seems opinion is quite divided and perhaps because of personal choice. I do not like the built in NAV because of the cost of upgrading it and the maps get old quick. My $100 Garmin is much better with new maps every 3 months.
I will be commuting on the Volt 10 hours a week so a good sound system will be nice. Is the standard sound system OK enough or jump to BOSE is noticeable.

So some objective questions:
- Does the NAV has real time traffic? If yes is it better then google maps?
- Does anyone have specs of the standard and BOSE system?
- With NAV/BOSE option do you get anything more? for example in Honda with the NAV/DVD option you get a much larger HDD and higher resolution display.

 

Thanks for the inputs.

So some objective questions:
- Does the NAV has real time traffic? If yes is it better then google maps?
- Does anyone have specs of the standard and BOSE system?
- With NAV/BOSE option do you get anything more? for example in Honda with the NAV/DVD option you get a much larger HDD and higher resolution display.

My wife has a 2012 with Nav and BOSE, my 2015 has neither.

-Real time traffic is part of the Sirus subscription, so there's a cost.

-Don't know the BOSE specs. Standard system works fine for me.

-Display is the same size with or without Nav. Integration of the Nav with the car systems is nice. For example, it lowers the music volume when turn instructions are spoken. But that's the only advantage over a Garmin or your phone. Garmin has better routing and more features. And don't overlook the covered storage cubby on the top of the dash. Has a power port perfect for dash mounting the Garmin and keeping the power cord neatly stored and out of sight.

 

Bose is all name and no more. I've used all manner of Bose equipment, including professional PA for a band, as well as home hi-fi. So I am never impressed by Bose, and always avoid paying extra for it, if possible.

The Nav I've had in my last three cars. Pretty redundant, so hardly worth what it costs. I avoided it on my 2015 Volt.

At first the front camera system seemed like a good idea, but once I studied what it actually does (essentially nothing) I chose a Volt without.

after two months I'm getting good at parking against a curb without messing anything up.

 

I have the NAV/Bose option on my 2014. I did not listen to a non-Bose car, so I don't know how the sound differs, but I think you get a subwoofer with the Bose that you don't with the regular system. So there is that.

As far as NAV, I think it is a personal preference. I always buy cars with NAV because I prefer the built in look vs having a Garmin sitting on my dash. Built in systems are never as nice as the latest Garmin, they just get outdated too fast. But I find my NAV perfectly sufficient, it hasn't routed me wrong yet, which my iPhone can't claim. Traffic is OK, probably not as up to date as Waze (used by Google maps) because it isn't crowd sourced. You can't really beat real time crowd sourced reporting of accidents.

As far as using your phone for turn by turn, I drive through a lot of areas in the desert without phone service, so that isn't always an option. If you use a phone for a GPS, buy an app that has locally stored maps. Or even better, keep some paper maps in the car.

 

With respect to traffic reports, nothing touches Waze that I know of. Which I guess is why Google paid $1B for it.

 

Anytime I can get a sound system with a subwoofer, I will. It simply is better by default. It will free up the bass from the other speakers so you get a much clearer crisper sound. You do have to be a bit more attentive to the sound settings and what you are inputting your music with since each tone with be that much more amplified in relation to the other as opposed to the usual all in one soup mix.

The navigation finds charging stations just fine... Its a bit buried in the menu but its there at least on my 2014

I thought the navigation is directed by Onstar.. so do you even need updates now? It should be real time no?

Safety 2 is a half assed attempt. Don't bother.

 

I had a 2012 Volt for 3 years with the Nav/Bose. I just replaced it with a 2013 base model. I miss the NAV a little bit. It was nice to be able to look over there and see which street was coming up before the sign was readable. But other than that, I can use my iPhone for those rare events where I need the NAV.

As for the Bose.. I don't miss it. I honestly can't even tell the difference in audio quality.

 

Have it, like it, keeping it.

 

How long do you plan on keeping the car? If the answer is longer than 3-5 years, don't get the nav. Map updates for built-in nav systems alone cost more than a good Garmin with free lifetime updates.

The Bose is somewhat better than that supplied with the base car. However, if you plan to modify the sound system significantly, it's easier to accomplish with the base system than the Bose one.

 

So I have Nav and Bose. I just got the car so can't provide feedback as to whether or not they are worth it. It is nice to have nav on the "big screen" vs. working off the phone. Part of my reasoning for getting it was that in the scheme of things the upcharge is not all that much. For me it was worth paying the extra to have it vs. deciding I want it and bitching about it not being in the car.

Except for the larger screen it will not be as good or as up to date as what Google Maps offers. Nor is input as clean or fast. But I think it will be nice to have.

 

Hi Bavarian13 - When you leave the traffic feature on at all times does it update real time as you move down the road, i.e. does the distance change? Also, while moving do you have the ability to page through the event list?

I just purchased a 2015 and mine does not update real time and I do not have the ability to page thorough the event list. When I am stopped all works time.

Thanks,

 

No. The NAV and mylink is nerfed so hard from GM is is practically useless.

Buy an ipad and load waze and pandora up on it.

1000% better and it farking works.

 

It's a very subjective question. Yes the Bose option does sound better. It has cleaner bass because it has a small subwoofer that is missing from the stock system. I't also has more power and better high frequency drivers. So yes it does sound "better".

The Nav is purely subjective. I happen to like the Volt's in dash Nav system. A phone is better for finding a point of interest. But I find the large built in screen to be helpful while driving. Fumbling around with a tiny cell phone screen while driving is dangerous. I like the built in Nav and I use it a lot. I also like to check traffic with the Waze app before leaving home.