A "smartphone" is needed to view road maps on cars?

[question everything]

At least, Toyota Rav4 hybrid?

For many years we have been happy with our simple prepaid flip phones. When I got my 2014 KIA Soul with Bluetube, I easily connected it and then, earlier this year when I got an iPhone, I switched.

But yesterday spouse decided it was time to switch from the 14 year old Toyota Highlander (4 cyl) to a hybrid and selected the Rav4.

The dealer sat with us to go through all the features - at least, some of them - and then realized that the old flip phone cannot be connected. OK, spouse has been considering getting an iPhone.

But... we cannot even view the road map! Not without an iPhone.

Yes, I am dismayed. No, not everyone is using an iPhone, even though the dealer was trying to say that most do.

For now, back to the Garmin over the dashboard, and the separate cell phone connector..

[Irish_Dem]

1. I have the iPhone/Nav set up in my Honda CRV. It is phenomenal.

I get state of the art mapping and directions. Makes for a very safe and convenient travel experience.

All my phone contacts are loaded in the car, emails, texts, you name it.

Voice commands take me to any destination I want.
Voice commands answer my texts, emails, etc.

It is much more than just viewing maps.

I think your spouse is correct to get an IPhone.

The IPhone, and then the iPhone/Nav set up is important as a safety feature, especially for women traveling on their own.
It is also very convenient.

My .02 is that at the very least your spouse should have an iPhone.

[question everything]

2. Thank you, yes. Obvious. It still bothers me that one cannot get what used to be basic

I've heard that there are other areas, like banking, when one needs an iPhone.

The dealer went on and on about how one can talk and ask Siri and get info etc etc and I could not interject, from the back seat, that while the driver is engaged in all this, they can be rear ended..

These days, when I am waiting at a traffic light, I am watching cars approaching behind me and as they are getting close, I inch forward a bit, just in case the driver in the last minute realizes that they have to stop..

[3Hotdogs]

3. You don't need an iPhone...

But it makes life easier.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Yes but times have changed, as my daughter keeps telling me when I make the same complaint.

She tells me to get into the 21st century or get left in the dust.

Yes I hear you on the distraction issue and now email, text and phone calls are blocked automatically from your phone if you are the driver. This is a recent update to the system. But the passenger can elect to get all the calls and texts, etc.

I have always been careful about this stuff and usually pull over to take a call or text.

The maps are updated and current. And Siri will take you to your destination with just a voice prompt.
On a long trip or trip to a new area, it is wonderful. It even routes you around heavy traffic in some cases.
You can ask Siri what the weather will be as you travel as well.

You don't have to get the most expensive iPhone, I have an old one, just an iPhone 7 and it works fine for me.
The camera function has come in very handy on many occasions, it is a practical feature.

I am not one for all the latest technology bells and whistles, but when I bought my CRV, and they had this iPhone Nav system I fell in love with it, and it has been a godsend. I would no longer travel without the iPhone Nav system.

[question everything]

7. Thank you for the detailed rationale

Yes, tomorrow we will add spouse’s iPhone to mine. Am using Consumer Cellular with a small AARP discount and no “plan.” Mine is iPhone SE 2000.

[Irish_Dem]

8. I hope it works out as well for you as it has for me.

Good luck and happy traveling and driving.

[Irish_Dem]

9. A few more great features of Apple Car Play.

Sorry to keep adding information, but since it is going to be new for you, here are some other neat features:

As I said, Siri will now be available to you in the car and can answer questions and help you. For example you can ask for local weather info, location of restaurants, stores, etc. Very helpful if you are traveling or in a different part of your home town.
This is all hands free, Siri responds to your voice. If you like, you can pull over and interact with Siri which feels safer sometimes.

When you get into your car, you press a button on your steering wheel to ask Siri questions. You just press the button and say "Directions to (Fill in the blank.)" Siri pops up the location and you hit a button and the directions are there for you.

A magic thing is that if you go to the same place, same time every day or a couple of times a week, when you get into your car it will automatically set the nav to that location. So it anticipates regular driving activity.

The Nav map and directions are really good. I have had a Garmin and various map apps and I think the Apple nav is the best.
The visual screen view is very concise and helpful. If you tap your screen on the top you will get vocal directions which are excellent. For example, they don't just say "turn right", they will say go through the light then turn right. Or turn left from the middle lane.
They also let you know what the next couple of moves will be. That you will turn right then turn left.

So the directions are very clear and helpful. This is especially important if you are out of town traveling and the area is a complicated interstate situation.

When you bought your new car, you paid for this system so you might as well use it and enjoy it! The technology is amazing.

[question everything]

10. Thanks, again. Just curious: will Android work, too?

Oh, and we got a new iPhone. Consumer Cellular, our carrier, is sending a SIM card since it did not have the phone that we wanted so we got it at the Apple store and once we have the SIM card, will have to get it activated, or whatever the term is.

[Irish_Dem]

11. The internet seems to say there is a way to hook up an Android to Apple car play.

But I am not sure how this would work.

I have always only had an Iphone, so don't know about other types of phones.

Oh that is so exciting for you to get an iPhone and then have your nav set up.....

I am sure your spouse will like the iPhone, it is very easy to use, very intuitive.
The texting is very easy, as well as emails on the phone.

[2naSalit]

5. None of that stuff works well in my part of the world...

Even though the insistence of smart phone use by providers is not an option but the only way you can have a phone anymore. GPS doesn't work well in the mountains so don't try to depend on it without an actual map to use when the device fails you.

[mitch96]

6. Screw it... Get an inexpensive GPS with lifetime maps.. Once paid for your done.. YMMV. nt