A Garmin with lifetime maps and traffic updates (LMT) would do a better job for a lot cheaper price.

Garmin Nuvi 2699 LMTHD $270 at Amazon but I believe Costco has it on sale for $190.

 

A Garmin with lifetime maps and traffic updates (LMT) would do a better job for a lot cheaper price. Garmin Nuvi 2699 LMTHD $270 at Amazon but I believe Costco has it on sale for $190.

I agree. I happen to prefer TomTom over Garmin but either is better than a built-in NAV. Not only is the first cost lower, but the cost to repair a built-in NAV system can be lots more than the cost of replacing an add-on device. In addition, if the device has a battery, it can be programmed in the house before getting into the car. My TomTom with lifetime map updates was on sale for ~$100. This is the third car in which I am using the same device. Had to buy only a new stick-on disk in order to move it to another car. And I can take it with me when I travel.

KNS

 

I bought my 2016 with Navigation because the Android Auto update isn't out yet. I see myself keeping it as a backup navi, but will primarily use the Android Auto navigation (once it becomes available for my 2016).

 

As someone who had same dilemma with the 2016, I would skip the nav this time around if I had the choice again .... here is why

The NAV itself looks great, the graphics are good, the integration is good and everything works so no complaints about the unit, and it does bring benefits (setting home location for charging etc) ... BUT

- Traffic does not work unless you intend to continue with your XM subscription (plus traffic subscription) past the 3 month trial date, and Sirius didnt even want to turn it on for me in the first place !

- Traffic avoidance (in Toronto at least) is still as bad as it ever has been with my previous standalone navs from the last 10 years. They still use NavTeq data (or equivalent) and although things like roadwork and such like is pretty current, the traffic itself is 20-30 minutes behind (at least) and avoidance routes are terrible ... Not sure if you are in the GTA or not but I drive the 401 every day and in evening rush (eastbound) it always tries to send me off the highway and down Eglinton Ave to the Allen Rd instead of bearing with it and staying on the 401. Eglinton is worse than the highway at that point of the day, and if you are in the GTA you know that much of it closer to the Allen is a building site for the new crosstown LRT. On bad days, Waze started sending me up the 427 and along the 409 which sounds stupid but is actually a very good route !

- Map updates will cost you nearly $200 when released.

I have ended up using Waze most of the time on my iPhone 6S Plus (so decent screen size) with Apple Maps via Carplay or Google Maps on screen as alternates. Android Auto should have Google Maps when integrated and maybe both will one day get Waze .....

 

On star is free for 3 years and has navigation which works fine. Never needed anything else. Why spend anything extra. After 3 years on star costs something, but you can get a Tom tom or other portable system if you decide on star is not worth it

 

I think they change the onstar and it is only 6 month now
As for add on, I am not big on the add on. The screen normally is to small and display is not good also.
My only concern is my data usage with Android Auto.
I normally have a good data package with my phone ( 5 gig) bit not so sure how much data will be used using Android Auto Navigation.

 

My only concern is my data usage with Android Auto.
I normally have a good data package with my phone ( 5 gig) bit not so sure how much data will be used using Android Auto Navigation.

When I was using android auto, it used about 2GB worth of data (est). I was using it for my daily commute as well as driving different places (averaged about 45 miles per day, maybe more). I would use it even if I knew the area, just to avoid any traffic that I was unaware of.

If you want to do it offline (like turning off data) or if you are often traveling through areas with poor signal, you can cache the map data. http://www.androidcentral.com/how-save-google-maps-offline-use

 

Great information.
Thank you.

 

I was initially indifferent to having NAV or not, but got it anyway. Now that I have it, I use it every day. Very convenient having it all integrated into the car, and not having to mess with the phone and carplay. I've just started trying onstar traffic, and it seems nicely integrated as well. I really don't have many complaints about it, other than maybe a few too many button pushes to nav to an address in my Contacts list.

I do wish there was some way to integrate waze into the infotainment mix though. Waze speaks directions through the bluetooth audio, but other than that I have not found a way to display waze graphics.