Navigation System Ranking by Vehicle Model
(Based on a 1,000-point scale)

Index
Supplier Model Score JDPower.com
Power
Circle
-------- ----- ------ Ratings
For
Consumers
----------
Clarion Ford Fusion 817 5
Clarion Ford Flex 801 5
Clarion Ford Taurus 795 5
Clarion Lincoln MKS 792 5
DENSO Buick LaCrosse 791 5
DENSO Lexus IS 250/350 791 5
Clarion Lincoln MKT 788 5
DENSO Cadillac SRX 787 5

PIONEER Acura TL 783 4
Clarion Ford Fusion Hybrid 783 4
Clarion Lincoln MKZ 782 4
Alpine Cadillac CTS (Total) 772 4
Alpine Acura MDX 772 4
DENSO Lexus ES 350 772 4
Harman Dodge Challenger 771 4
Harman Lexus IS 250C/350C 770 4
DENSO Audi A4/S4 770 4
Clarion Ford F-150 LD 767 4
Alpine Acura TSX 763 4
DENSO Lexus LS 460 762 4
DENSO Lexus RX 350 759 4
Clarion Nissan Altima Sedan 759 4
DENSO Hyundai Tucson 757 4
Mobis Chevrolet Equinox 757 4
DENSO GMC Terrain 756 4

Harman Audi A5/S5 Coupe 754 3
Clarion Ford Edge 754 3
Harman Jeep Wrangler (Total) 752 3
Clarion Ford Expedition 751 3
DENSO Toyota 4Runner 751 3
Mobis Hyundai Santa Fe 749 3
Delphi GMC Acadia 747 3
Clarion Lincoln MKX 746 3
BMW 3 Series/M3
Harman Coupe/Sedan 745 3
Harman Ram 1500 LD 742 3
Honda Civic Coupe/
Alpine Sedan 741 3
Alpine BMW 5 Series/M5 741 3
Alpine Acura RDX 741 3
Alpine Honda Insight 740 3
Harman Audi A6/S6 738 3
Harman Audi Q5 737 3
Harman Hyundai Genesis Sedan 737 3
Honda Accord
Alpine Crosstour 736 3
Infiniti G37 Coupe/
Clarion Sedan 734 3
Harman BMW X5 (Total) 729 3
Harman Jeep Grand Cherokee 728 3
DENSO Lexus HS 250h 728 3
Alpine Honda CR-V 726 3
Industry Average 725 3
Clarion Toyota Camry 723 3
DENSO Nissan Murano 723 3
Delphi Chevrolet Traverse 719 3
Alpine Honda Pilot 719 3
DENSO Toyota Venza 718 3
DENSO Chevrolet Avalanche 717 3
Delphi Buick Enclave 713 3
DENSO Toyota Camry Hybrid 713 3
Chrysler Town &
Harman Country 712 3
Alpine Honda Accord (Total) 712 3
DENSO Toyota Prius 712 3
Volkswagen Jetta
Clarion (Total) 707 3
Continental Infiniti M-Series 707 3
Mitsubishi
Electric Toyota Tundra 705 3
DENSO Mercedes-Benz C-Class 705 3
Harman Ram 2500/3500 HD 703 3
DENSO Chevrolet Tahoe 699 3
Mitsubishi Mercedes-Benz E-
Electric Class (Total) 688 3
Land Rover Range
DENSO Rover 685 3
Alpine Honda Odyssey 681 3
Mitsubishi Mercedes-Benz GLK-
Electric Class 679 3
DENSO Mazda CX-9 678 3
SANYO GMC Yukon/Yukon XL 678 3
DENSO Toyota RAV4 672 3
DENSO Mazda MAZDA3 (Total) 665 3
Chevrolet Silverado
DENSO LD 665 3

DENSO Jaguar XF 643 2
DENSO Toyota Highlander 641 2
Alpine Mercedes-Benz M-Class 631 2
DENSO GMC Sierra LD 628 2
DENSO Toyota Sienna 603 2
Kenwood Subaru Forester 593 2
Kenwood Subaru Outback 586 2
DENSO Toyota Avalon 511 2


http://www.itnewsonline.com/showprns...storyid=131201

 

I still think it (the TL's nav) could be improved. The nav's screen and directions dont update fast enough for the numerous freeway interchanges in LA. I've been mis-directed onto the wrong freeway tons of times all because the directions on the TL's nav don't update fast enough.

I don't understand how, after so many years, all these car audio companies could still be outdone by my $150 garmin when i had the civic......

 

Jason! I absolutely agree with ya! I drove civic too with a nice garmin 750..... recalculating very fast and of course a lot cheaper to get an update.....

 

Nice to see that the ACURA Nav System ranks so high.

 

Thank you. This explains the issues I've had Between the TL & RDX

 

I have a $150 Garmin in my 06 TL. Yes, I know, It makes my interior low rent. But it is the easiest and fasted navigation system compared to any luxury car nav. My boss traveled with me recently. He drives an S550. He couldn't believe how easy and fast the Garmin worked.

NAV is the biggest rip off in a new car if you choose to buy it

 

Couldn't agree with you more about the factory nav systems. I guess if your in sales and on the road a lot it pays for itself pretty quickly but I think for the majority of people we use it so rarely, at least I do, it's not worth its hefty price tag.

Anyway, the problem is becoming, and Acura is beginning to go down this path, these car companies are making it more and more difficult to not get the navigation b/c they start grouping other features, which used to come standard without nav, you have to get the navigation package in order to get them. For instance, used to be able to get perforated leather and ELS audio system standard with Acura, now you have to get their $3k+ nav system (tech package) in order to get those features. Lexus, BMW, and MB are even worse in these regards. This is just one example in many, and their are a few more features that Acura and others have lumped into their nav packages that used to be standard or you were able to get without having to get navigation.

Its such a shame, the people who don't want the nav system seemed to be punished now by either having to suck it up and pay more in order to get certain features we want by getting a nav system we will not often use, or we have to do with out features we used to have on our vehicles and not get the nav system.

 

I agree that the factory navi leaves a lot to be desired but I wouldn't be without it because of the other features having the navi provides such as back-up camera and interaction with audio/climate controls. Not to mention how it classes up the interior. And this was before having to get navi for the features that used to be free on the 3g.

 

That is why I'm hoping Acura at some point will go down the route that Nissan, Infiniti, Lexus, and BMW have where you can get a rear view camera WITHOUT getting a navigation system! A nav system I use maybe once a month, rear view camera I use constantly! See the dilemma by having it grouped in a nav package?

 

I can't believe the Nav unit in the Lexus IS 250/350 rated so highly. I used to have all kinds of issues with mine including the system calculating the longest possible route in unknown areas, inability to track car correctly (would tell me I was on the feeder road when I'm on the highway) and the voice recognition system not understanding commands unless spoken succinctly. As everyone is aware, Lexus blocks out access to the Navi when the car is in motion further inhibiting the usefulness of the system.

 

Yeah, I don't understand that either b/c out of the 3 japanese makes, I like Toyota/Lexus the least b/c of the lockout function on everything when the car is in motion. Nissan/Infiniti locks you out of about 60-70% of function in motion but you can still do some things and their nav is super easy and intuitive to use. Acura though still has the best with no lockout, screen resolution, database size, accuracy, and voice recognition capability.

 

I really wish my '10 TL navi would transfer not just the phone numbers from my cellphone's contact list, but also the street addresses. As it is, I often find myself having to look up addresses on my phone and entering them manually into the navi. My satisfaction index would go way up if I didn't have to do this. I do like the fact that I (or usually my front passenger) can access the navi while I'm driving.

 

And I would really appreciate it if the TL's navi had the option of not routing on unpaved roads, something my old Garmin iQue 3600 GPS had.

 

+100000000

I had a 09 IS 250 AWD for a whole 4k miles prior to trading it in for the TL. Comfort issues aside, I thought the nav was an absolute POS. Sure it was a touch screen, but like many points you brought, the nav: couldn't track the car correctly, couldn't recognize my voice, had a counter intuitive menu system, and the system would lock out would once the car was in motion (Lexus claims it to be a safety issue for the driver, but what about the passenger who wants to the nav?? Ridiculous so-called safety claim). Absolutely useless nav system IMHO, and a complete waste of money.

The IS' nav made me appreciate Acura's nav system that much more.

Acura's nav system is not perfect by any means, but it's friendly and "logical" menu system, and that one can use the nav when the car is moving is a HUGE selling point.

As far as I'm concerned, if any nav system locks out when the car is in motion, the system is useless.

 

+100000000
I absolutely agree. I regretted getting the nav on the IS 250 a few months into ownership... but I digress.

 

Anyone else notice that we are the only vehicle listed that uses a Pioneer based system?

I wonder why.

 

What I can't understand is why the TL is the only one that uses Pioneer, but the other Acura models use something else? Wouldn't it be more cost effective to have all the Acura models use the same kind of navigation system rather then different ones?

 

Has anyone verified by physical examination that the Navi in the TL is actually a Pioneer unit? All the other Acura models are listed as being equipped with Alpine. Also noted that no other car is listed as using Pioneer. Seems rather odd...