2020 Ultimate Nav System versus Waze

Discussion in 'Hyundai Kona Electric' started by KonaScot, Jan 3, 2020.

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  1. KonaScot

    KonaScot Active Member

    We're 4 days into 2020 Ultimate ownership. I'm a Waze user, impressed with it's algorithms for route changes due to traffic. It appears that the Kona system uses some HD delivered traffic data. How does it compare to Waze (both metro areas and in the boonies when a wreck on an interstate may necessitate a detour)?
     
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  3. Mia

    Mia New Member

    I have the same question, I am getting ready to purchase and was wondering if the navagation is worth the extra expense.
    I typically use a garmin with traffic
     
  4. Murry

    Murry Member

    Waze all the way. With CarPlay all the way.
     
    Vanryan likes this.
  5. ericy

    ericy Well-Known Member

    I have the nav, and I like it. I cant say much about traffic info however, as I haven't encountered enough of it. It does sometimes have routing that seems weird, and that is probably routing around traffic issues.

    It does have info about chargers, and it is easy to add a charging stop as a waypoint. The info is quasi real time - for some chargers, it knows whether they are busy or not. It seems to depend on which network the charger is on.

    With the Ultimate, basic navigation info also displays on the HUD (distance to next turn, for example).

    I have never liked having a phone stuck to the dash with cables to keep the battery from running out. The Ultimate has a wireless charging spot - I drop my phone in there on longer trips.

    I would note that Android Auto ought to work if you don't have a builtin navi. That would display on the big screen and not the phone screen, which would be way easier to see.
     
  6. KonaScot

    KonaScot Active Member

    I'll have to experiment with Waze versus the Kona-installed Nav/traffic.
     
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  8. KonaScot

    KonaScot Active Member

    Thanks, Murry
     
  9. TheLight75

    TheLight75 Active Member

    One thing to consider if you skip ordering the NAV is that you'll be nav-less in the event that your phone loses reception. Earlier this week while traveling to Canada during a snowstorm, my cell lost reception at a crucial point in the trip so Google Maps became useless. Thankfully, I had the Kona NAV so I was able to use it to get back on track.

    The Kona NAV is somewhat basic (like most car brands') and doesn't have all those really cool bells & whistles that Google Maps or Waze have. But, when all else fails, it will get you from point A to point B.
     
    Murry likes this.
  10. CJC

    CJC Well-Known Member

    We have the 2019 Kona EV and the 2020 Kia Soul EV. We love, love, love the 2020 Kia's nav system. It is likely the same as the 2020 Kona EV. It has great traffic updates that are accurate and re-routes us. We never use Waze with the Kia.
     
  11. I like Kona Nav. One reason is that it shows on the HUD and is simply convenient. Can't be bothered to plug phone in for CarPlay to work each time I get in/out of the car. While I have used Google a few times (with CarPlay), I always go back to Kona. Kona Nav may have some shortcomings but I like that it's integrated and I don't have to worry about being in cell coverage.
     
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  13. Paul DeLeon

    Paul DeLeon Active Member

    Having used both Kona nav (Tom-Tom) and Waze, there is no question in my mind that for avoiding traffic, Waze wins. The Tom-Tom screen accurately shows traffic problems, but is poor at avoiding them. My previous car, a Civic, had Garmin, which was far better than Tom-Tom and nearly the equal of Waze.
     
  14. KonaScot

    KonaScot Active Member

    Thanks, Paul, good info. Tom-Tom, that's a blast from the past! As an installed system, the Kona iteration is pretty good and I do like the turns being shown o the HUD. But very accurate and timely reroutes, debris in road, police locations, etc. with Waze are hard to give up (so I won't).
     
    Murry likes this.
  15. ericy

    ericy Well-Known Member

    My old car was horrible at traffic. It only had info on major roads, and it assumed side streets were clear. So it constantly tried to route me on city streets, and I always ignored the advice. In addition, sometimes the traffic problems that it thinks are there have cleared, and the rerouting isn't even needed.

    The Kona nav seems to have much better data, and I have not yet seen it suggest a routing that I would regard as idiotic.
     
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  16. Tim94549

    Tim94549 Active Member

    I have to agree with TheLight75's response. It's very basic vs WAZE or Google MAPS (which is what I used prior to the KONA EV). It DOES display traffic - and seems pretty accurate. (It doesn't display Police Alerts (Radar, etc) and you can't generate such alerts (hazards). Basically just TRAFFIC & Accident alerts). The 1 thing that is kind of frustrating is that NONE of the CONTACT ADDRESSES get downloaded when Pairing my Android. So I have to "Enter" every destination address when navigating someplace already in my contacts. The Voice Recognition works very well at this though - I dont have to actually "type" in the address, just say "NAVIGATE to .. address ... " Seems to get it correct every time. And after, I have it in "previous addresses" to select from.

    Also, the thing I have learned from the $Stealer is that the NAVIGATION Maps get updated infrequently - supposedly like every 4-6 months or so. And that auto-update of the maps requires the BLUELINK service (or whatever you have outside the US). He told me that there are a couple of ways to have the updates pushed to the NAV system : Have the repair dept update the UPDATES directly at the shop, or (supposedly) download the file(s) to a USB stick and update using this USB transfer method. I have yet to figure out THAT way to do that. Yep, there is a USB port. However the actual method to download current maps & get them updated is still a mystery. (Anyone have knowledge of how to do that?) Anyway, I'll cross that Technical bridge in 3 years when the (Expensive @ $30/month) BLUELINK service expires. At that time I may just choose to simply use Android AUTO's Google or WAZE Maps. In the meantime, I actually like the built-in NAV system. .. and LOVE LOVE this feature-rich EV ULIMATE !! (vs the TESLA 3) :)
     
  17. EnerG

    EnerG Active Member

    Waze gets my vote -the McDonalds and Starbucks plugs all over the map. If there were a paid version I would opt for that.

    For longer trips I use both systems. I set a destination on the Kona and then load Android auto and use either Google Maps or Waze. The Kona provides turn by turn on the HUD while Waze/Google provide somewhat dynamic traffic and camera reports. The Kona is awful as compared to Waze when it come to re-routing around the Fraser river crossings in the Vancouver region.
     
    Murry likes this.
  18. Murry

    Murry Member

    That’s genius! The only thing missing in Waze is the info on the HUD. I’ll try this :)
     
  19. ericy

    ericy Well-Known Member

    Map updates are downloaded from here

    https://www.mapnsoft.com/hyundai/mapcare/

    It should be free for 3 years, but you need to create an account and register your VIN. It takes a month or two for your VIN to be added to the system after you buy your car. You download onto a suitable SD card, and then insert it in the slot beneath the screen.

    6 month update intervals sounds about right.
     
  20. I like Waze for the radar trap location warnings.
     
    Vanryan likes this.
  21. Tim94549

    Tim94549 Active Member

    Yes, aware that there is a 3 years freebie... However, there is no SD Card slot anymore in the 2020 EV - at leastthat I can find.. DO you know where it is in the 2020 model? Anyway, I'm hoping there will be a USB Stick alternative when the time comes. (The $Stealer also commented on there being an SD CARD ... However that was in the 2019 models. I asked him about this when I picked up the car and he basically said "oh, it's not there anymore. You'll just need to some into the shop & have the techs update the maps.")
     
    TomN likes this.

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