Waze has been my favorite for the past 14 years. I'll use Google Maps on the phone if I need offline maps when venturing into locations without a cell signal. Apple maps still need work for accuracy.

Waze and the crowd-sourced data make certain things, like real-time traffic to accidents, etc, helpful.

I also use the Highway Radar app on my phone while Waze runs on the main screen. It takes Waze data and integrates with specific radar detectors + ADS-B data for VASCAR police traps.

 

Unlike the Toyota navigation system that was in Highlanders through the 2022 model year, the 2023 and 2024 model (and probably beyond for people reading this in the future) is quite good. It's what I use on a day-to-day basis as I go to different locations throughout my town. It's significantly better than in prior years and is very intuitive.

When I don't use the onboard navigation, I use Google Maps. I've tried using Apple Maps a few times, but have found that in my neck of the woods, the route that Apple Maps suggests isn't very logical.

 

Does both Waze and Google Maps read off your cell phone via Bluetooth onto the 12.3” navigation screen like the trial period at purchase? I do not want to pay the $16.00 per month for the navigation feature which Toyota provides for the 1 year.
I don’t know how that would work.

 

If it's Android Auto or CarPlay then no, you don't need to pay for anything related to those two connections.

Though in the future, like GM, I'm sure they'll get rid of Android Auto & CarPlay so they can force customers to pay for their own GPS and other services. Just like the 2023+ models you need to pay $6 more than 2022 or older models for the $10/month remote lock/unlock feature.

 

So I would enter my destination in Google Maps on my iPhone (which is set for Car Play). Then, choose destination on my 12.3” in navigation and choose the destination off my iPhone Google Maps? Basically the same as now, but it is reading the address off my phone and navigating off my phone?

 

Once you're phone is connected (via cable or wireless carplay) you can select whatever app you like to use for navigation (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, etc) from the vehicle's screen, enter the address from the screen and go (just the same as using the phone). Cheers!

 

After the phone is connected to the vehicle, rather than entering an address "character by character" via the touch screen, just speak (towards the windshield) what you want. Say:

Hey Toyota
or
Hey Google
or
Hey Siri

Wait for a "How can I help?" response (or similar) and then say:

Find (desired destination using street address or "nearest whatever").

You may have to indicate which destination if multiple are found but it can usually all be done by voice commands.

Very convenient and less driver distraction.

Here is a demonstration of a variety of "Hey Toyota" commands. Android Auto and Apple Carplay have similar commands.

 

Thanks all for explaining

 

Another thing to consider is, I think only Apple Maps route instructions are displayed in the instrument cluster (and switches back and forth with the HUD)

 

I don't have the HUD on my 23 Limited, but my Android Auto / Google Maps route instructions absolutely display in my instrument cluster in the center of the right-hand gauge.

 

When I have my iPhone connected to the data port (next to the 2 USB ports) and say, "Hey Siri, directions to XYZ," my 2021 Platinum displays Google maps on the 12.5" screen, but not on the HUD or in the instrument cluster. If I don't have a cell phone connected to the data port, it will use Toyota's maps and also show up in the HUD. Showing in the HUD is very cool and I wish it did that when I have my phone connected via the data port.