2018 Camry Hybrid

[lakedude]

The New Camry Hybrid LE gets 52 MPG combined and it has 208 HP which is fantastic. I also like that they put the battery under the seat so the trunk is normal sized and has a pass-through (fold down seats). The back seat has more head room than our current vehicles.

I test drove the 2018 Camry Hybrid LE and I really like it, especially the features listed above, but I don't love it. The car has steel wheels which I don't prefer and I don't care for the looks of the nose of the car as well. The thing that is really sticking in my craw is the stereo/GPS. Evidently Toyota wants to charge me money for using my cell phone to obtain GPS coverage! I don't have data so it wouldn't work for me at any rate...


Anybody know a workaround/hack for the GPS?


Scout GPS Link: This is a system that comes with the Entune 3.0 Audio and Audio Plus, which covers all the 4-cylinder trims of the Camry. It is powered by your phone through an app, and it comes with a 3-year trial. After the trial expires, there’s a $24.99 per year fee (The dealer said $12 a month). If you choose not to subscribe, you’ll still have access to turn-by-turn directions but no moving map.
A review:

"This is the most horrible navigation app I have ever tried to use. Too rub salt in the wound Toyota decided to use this piece of garbage as their only Entune 3.0 app on the 2018 Camry and left the headunit as the brain as the car so no upgrades are even possible... Seriously considering trading this in already because of this..."

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scout-gps-link/id866180950?mt=8

Another:

"This is the worst navigation app link ever! I can't believe Toyota has installed this BS ..."

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.telenav.app.android.scout4cars&hl=en

 

[drbrock]

There will eventually be an override mirror function by a third party. I just test drove the hybrid myself with the same trim level. I would seriously wait until next year. For an econobox the only thing you really need is a decent stereo and headunit which the camry does not have. Next year will most likely have car play and android auto. Toyota really screwed up by not putting it in this year. The dealer said that is a common complaint when people test drive the car.

Just read that you don't have data. Just get a new garmin handheld for cars. Much better than any car head unit on the market and will be much cheaper upgrading every few years for new maps.

Why would anyone want to get a third party app for navigation? Apple barely gets their maps right. These low tier companies are terrible.

 

[foghorn67]

There will eventually be an override mirror function by a third party. I just test drove the hybrid myself with the same trim level. I would seriously wait until next year. For an econobox the only thing you really need is a decent stereo and headunit which the camry does not have. Next year will most likely have car play and android auto. Toyota really screwed up by not putting it in this year. The dealer said that is a common complaint when people test drive the car.

Just read that you don't have data. Just get a new garmin handheld for cars. Much better than any car head unit on the market and will be much cheaper upgrading every few years for new maps.

Why would anyone want to get a third party app for navigation? Apple barely gets their maps right. These low tier companies are terrible.

Here Maps (previously Nokia) is very good. And there is Waze of course.

 

[bradly1101]

Going by what dealers charge for Nav updates, a yearly subscription doesn't seem bad. But if the app. itself is bad, that's another story. I'm surprised that Toyota would have forced this.

 

[PowerEngineer]

There are few things sadder than the look of the electronics in an older car. Technology is moving so fast that your factory installed navigation system and other electronic gadgets will seem to be from the "stone age" in just a few years - long before the car itself needs replacement. To me it makes better sense to minimize what is factory installed, and spend the savings on upgrading your smart phone over time. What can't a smartphone do these days?

 

[PricklyPete]

To be honest...every car should just come standard with Android Auto/CarPlay standard. All this other proprietary stuff is nonsense.

The real crime on the new Camry is the looks...ugh...that thing is ugly now and will not age well.

 

[Yuriman]

There are few things sadder than the look of the electronics in an older car. Technology is moving so fast that your factory installed navigation system and other electronic gadgets will seem to be from the "stone age" in just a few years - long before the car itself needs replacement. To me it makes better sense to minimize what is factory installed, and spend the savings on upgrading your smart phone over time. What can't a smartphone do these days?

Agreed. I'm more of an opinion that cars should not have screens at all, or that they should be very minimal. Give me a knob for temperature, a button for fan speed, and a lever for windshield wipers. Everyone has superior navigation already in their pockets, so why spend money integrating it into cars?

 

[lakedude]

I've got aftermarket capacitive touch screen Android head units in all our current vehicles and they work great. They have backup cams, GPS, AM/FM, and video capability. Since they are android they can run most any app from Google Play. They cost around $200 which is totally worth it. The GPS maps are built in so they work even though my phone lacks data. True they will get out of date but they are a lot better than nothing. If I could put one of these double din head units in the car the problem would be solved.

My mom's Mazda CX-5 came with all the GPS hardware but no maps. Mazda maps come on a small SD card. We purchased the card, plugged it in and viola, maps!

This Toyota business is disturbing. I'm now looking at the Hyundai Ioniq instead but it has its own issues like no spare tire and I suspect not enough rear head room...

Most all the small or midsize hybrids suffer from some serious flaws.

Ford did a terrible job with their battery pack location in the Fusion Hybrid. They just shoved it in the trunk and what usable space is left of the trunk is tiny and on 2 different levels.

Hyundai put the battery where the spare would normally go in the Sonata Hybrid so no possibility of a spare in that car (unless you just want it bouncing around in the trunk). My wife's Hyundai Elantra lacked a spare but at least there was a space to put one, which we did.

 

[drnickriviera]

To be honest...every car should just come standard with Android Auto/CarPlay standard. All this other proprietary stuff is nonsense.

The real crime on the new Camry is the looks...ugh...that thing is ugly now and will not age well.

I'm not sure why toyota refuses to add it. Looked at a rav4 yesterday for my mom. Severely disappointed. Little pathetic 4.2" screen when everyone else has 7 and 8"

 

[bradly1101]

I've got aftermarket capacitive touch screen Android head units in all our current vehicles and they work great. They have backup cams, GPS, AM/FM, and video capability. Since they are android they can run most any app from Google Play. They cost around $200 which is totally worth it. The GPS maps are built in so they work even though my phone lacks data. True they will get out of date but they are a lot better than nothing. If I could put one of these double din head units in the car the problem would be solved.

My mom's Mazda CX-5 came with all the GPS hardware but no maps. Mazda maps come on a small SD card. We purchased the card, plugged it in and viola, maps!

This Toyota business is disturbing. I'm now looking at the Hyundai Ioniq instead but it has its own issues like no spare tire and I suspect not enough rear head room...

Most all the small or midsize hybrids suffer from some serious flaws.

Ford did a terrible job with their battery pack location in the Fusion Hybrid. They just shoved it in the trunk and what usable space is left of the trunk is tiny and on 2 different levels.

Hyundai put the battery where the spare would normally go in the Sonata Hybrid so no possibility of a spare in that car (unless you just want it bouncing around in the trunk). My wife's Hyundai Elantra lacked a spare but at least there was a space to put one, which we did.

It seems you can't replace head units anymore without losing all the car's customization (convenience, lighting, security) adjustments and mileage computer info.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I've got aftermarket capacitive touch screen Android head units in all our current vehicles and they work great. They have backup cams, GPS, AM/FM, and video capability. Since they are android they can run most any app from Google Play. They cost around $200 which is totally worth it. The GPS maps are built in so they work even though my phone lacks data. True they will get out of date but they are a lot better than nothing. If I could put one of these double din head units in the car the problem would be solved.

My mom's Mazda CX-5 came with all the GPS hardware but no maps. Mazda maps come on a small SD card. We purchased the card, plugged it in and viola, maps!

This Toyota business is disturbing. I'm now looking at the Hyundai Ioniq instead but it has its own issues like no spare tire and I suspect not enough rear head room...

Most all the small or midsize hybrids suffer from some serious flaws.

Ford did a terrible job with their battery pack location in the Fusion Hybrid. They just shoved it in the trunk and what usable space is left of the trunk is tiny and on 2 different levels.

Hyundai put the battery where the spare would normally go in the Sonata Hybrid so no possibility of a spare in that car (unless you just want it bouncing around in the trunk). My wife's Hyundai Elantra lacked a spare but at least there was a space to put one, which we did.

Hyundai did a terrible job on battery placement in their first hybrid sonata too. As did Toyota in the camry and Honda in the accord. When Ford refreshes the Fusion they would be wise to place the battery under the rear seat so you can still have room for a spare. I really like the updated sonata hybrid other than the lack of room for a spare.

 

[lakedude]

Hyundai did a terrible job on battery placement in their first hybrid sonata too. As did Toyota in the Camry and Honda in the accord. When Ford refreshes the Fusion they would be wise to place the battery under the rear seat so you can still have room for a spare. I really like the updated sonata hybrid other than the lack of room for a spare.

The Sonata is OK but the mileage is 40 MPG which seemed great till Toyota came out with the 2018 Camry Hybrid. The Sonata also lacks rear seat head room which the Camry has plenty of. The Camry also wins on the spare tire issue. The battery under the rear seat is the ticket.

When I drove the Fusion I liked it well enough but that trunk was an instant deal breaker. Worst one I've seen. Much worse than my 2005 year model Civic Hybrid!

Really the Camry wins on all the important issues like, power (208 HP), spare (it has one), mileage (52 MPG) , rear seat head room, trunk space with pass-through. I also tend to believe that Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive (or whatever they call it now) will be extremely reliable since there are no belts and no clutches or bands, only gears that never shift and that are always in mesh.

If they would just do something about that radio.

I emailed Toyota about this. It will be interesting to hear what they have to say.

 

[lakedude]

Toyota's answer was a copy/paste of Scout Link virtues, all of which depend on my phone having a data plan, which it does not. This really rubbed me the wrong way. I'm frightened of the Hyundai Ioniq's dual clutch tranny so it looks like I'm going to keep what I got. Non-Hybrid Sonatas are dirt cheap right now but they don't thrill me.

 

[NutBucket]

Hyundai did a terrible job on battery placement in their first hybrid sonata too. As did Toyota in the camry and Honda in the accord. When Ford refreshes the Fusion they would be wise to place the battery under the rear seat so you can still have room for a spare. I really like the updated sonata hybrid other than the lack of room for a spare.

Except the gas tank is usually under the rear seat...

 

[Herr Kutz]

Except the gas tank is usually under the rear seat...

Well Toyota did reduce the gas tank size to 13gal on the hybrid Camry...

 

[lakedude]

So I ordered a Lanzar SNV90 Universal Touch Screen Portable GPS Navigator on the chance that I get the Camry...

 

[Yuriman]

Before I had data on my phone, I just preloaded the area around me for about 500 miles in maps. It takes ~1GB of space on your phone, but there's no need to own a separate device or spend any money.

 

[lakedude]

I tried to do that last trip and had little luck. Tried Waze, Google Maps and some other off-line map and none worked well offline. My wife has data and Google Maps works great on her phone, with the occasional glitch of course. Yuri where are you getting your maps/how?

 

[Yuriman]

Google Maps -> Left pane -> Offline Maps -> Select your own map, you can drag a box over an area and it will all be available offline.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I have a 18 camry LE. It's not the hybrid. Head unit is definitely the weak link of the car. Comes with a good amount of standard features. The ride is really comfortable and the motor (205hp) has enough power for me. I'm averaging 35 mpg. Overall I'm happy with the car. Should last a long time.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I have a 18 camry LE. It's not the hybrid. Head unit is definitely the weak link of the car. Comes with a good amount of standard features. The ride is really comfortable and the motor (205hp) has enough power for me. I'm averaging 35 mpg. Overall I'm happy with the car. Should last a long time.

Dude, wth happened to the civic?

P.S. I really liked the 18 camry SE when I test drove one.

 

[Thump553]

Back in 70's and 80's dealers used to have basically mandatory addon undercoating options. I view the current spate of mandatory manufacturer provided GPS as the modern equivalent-overpriced option to soak the buyers.

GPS is essential to me. Several times a day I go somewhere I've never been before and never will again. I use a standalone Garmin, lasts several years, never costs more than $100 and map updates are free. The casual user can easily get away with smartphone maps. I've driven a few cars with built in gps, their layout and quality is substantially subpar.

One suggestion-several times I have written the manufacturer stating that I was strongly considering buying model XXXX but decided against it, a primary reason being this GPS policy.

 

[manly]

To be honest...every car should just come standard with Android Auto/CarPlay standard. All this other proprietary stuff is nonsense.

The real crime on the new Camry is the looks...ugh...that thing is ugly now and will not age well.

Noticed a new XSE on the road the other day, I thought it looks pretty good for a family sedan.

I'd never pick Camry over an Accord, and while the standard new grille is questionable, it still seems like easily the least boring Camry design ever.

 

[lakedude]

I'm giving serious thought to the Hyundai Ioniq. The Ioniq is quite a bit cheaper (seen on "Cars" as low as $17k or in my area at $19k), has alloy wheels, has a better warranty (forever on the battery if my info is correct), gets slightly better MPG, looks better in the nose, and Hyundai has the second best rated head unit as opposed to Toyota which has the second to worst rated infotainment.

 

[Yuriman]

My only reservation with the Ioniq, which otherwise looks to be a slam dunk, is the dual clutch transmission. Hyundai's previous DCTs have been relatively unreliable, whereas Toyota's HSD is bulletproof.