I'm considering the RDX 4WD w/tech. As I'm currently driving a 99 Accord I have no experience with any modern car tech. A person in another RDX forum said this about the nav system. How much of this is fact?

1. The layout is not intuitive, many geographic areas marked "unverified."
2. There is no way to load phone's contacts and it won't send or receive text messages. (Android, Samsung Galaxy Nexus)."

 

Acura gets their maps from NAVTEQ - the same place most everyone else (except TomTom and a few others) get their maps. Garmin uses NAVTEQ maps. I have yet to see an "unverified" but it probably depends on map coverage for your location.

You can load contacts.

 

I see all my contacts, missed calls, received calls, ... etc on the screen. Didn't try to send text message, but it does receive text message. Mime is 2015

 

I am not a huge fan of the navigation system because if you want to use handsfree then you have to say one number/alphabet at a time to type the address..it takes forever..if you're driving...

I would like a navigation system where I can just say 123 main street, New york 10001......instead with this I have to say 1....2.....3.....m...a...i....n... you get the point


I like the tech package because of xenon HID lights, power tailgate, AMAZING speaker system

I can see the hx of missed calls, outgoing, incoming etc....It also reads the text messages to me while I am driving..

I have not tried sending messages...not a big deal

The drive quality is very nice..VERY NICE

 

I prefer it over the My-Ford-Crash system I had in my previous vehicle.

 

I've been looking at new cars for the past month and I am amazed at how poorly designed many navigation systems are. Some screens look pixelated, bad fonts, fonts leaning backwards, screens almost completely washed out by the sun, syncing a phone taking minutes for the Bluetooth to connect... I my mind I should be able connect my cell phone via Bluetooth and up pops Google Maps on the cars navigation screen.

 

Right. And then you'd always need a data connection. Not always possible.

 

then you would have an even slower system BT is not the best way to transmitt data...especially large amounts of it.

Thankfully I use something better than google maps and that is Nokia's drive+. It allows me to download and store maps on my phone's SD card... totally awsome when you are somewhere with no data connection

 

And then your signal keeps getting lost. I noticed that most car's built-in map can handle GPS signal better smart phone. So you end up depending on your carrier's coverage.

 

I test drove a Tesla for shits and it has google maps..it basically has a giant screen..so I am assuming that would work well.

here's what pisses me off the most...all I want in a navigation system is an app on my phone where I can search lets say for "mcdonalds"...it displays nearby mcdonalds and I select one and send the address over bluetooth...

can't be that hard to have an app and transmit address over bluetooth??

I HATE typing address one letter at a time..ridiculous...I can type much faster on my phone

 

No, it's not hard at all to have an app built to transmit address over Bluetooth. The problem is can your car accept the transmitted data.

I agree, typing address in RDX is slow and frustrated.

 

Acura Navi systems are pretty simple with basic features compared to current smartphones and stand alone GPS systems. It really has to be to keep potential problems down. My 06 TSX Navi system has worked consistently over the last 8 years with only 3 DVD updates. I've updated my phone(s), OS, and apps about 30X more during the same time period. There isn't a lot of data processing tech that will last +10 years and still be useful with zero to minimum updates and operate in wide range of environmental ranges.

Acura should add an AUX/HDMI connection to bypass the in car navi and switch to the smartphone display on Navi screen. I'm pretty sure someone could make an Acura ELS/Navi App that allows you to use the in car buttons to control the smart phone functions for text, music, and GPS/Navi. Adding Siri shouldn't be a problem if you want voice commands also. It is very nice to ask Siri for the nearest "whatever" and she finds it without giving you the location on the dark side of moon location first like Acura.

There are times when I am 3-5 hours into a 3G or worst 2G/edge network when traveling on the hwy in the southwest. It is nice to have Acura Sat/Navi/XM in those areas and switch to 4G/smartphone/Google maps when I get to town as an option.

 

Doesn't the text function only work with iPhones?

 

^^ Well, I have a BB and with my former 2013 RDX, it would receive/read TXT and able to send the pre-canned messages.