Navigation
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Check out the online brochure: https://www.subaru.com/guides/ascent/#p=21
Looks like the Navigation is optional on the premium and limited trims and standard on touring.
Looks like the Navigation is optional on the premium and limited trims and standard on touring.
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The infotainment system features CarPlay (iPhone) to allow Google map navigation. Never own a car w/ CarPlay (only on MY2017+) but that's the idea. Therefore, you may not want the navigation feature built-in because anything else besides Google Map will be a big disappointment.
Side note: Apple is spending something-like $10B to compete against Google Map.
Side note: Apple is spending something-like $10B to compete against Google Map.
The Ascent has both Android Auto (Android phones) and Apple Carplay (iPhones), so depending on your phone you can use either Google Maps or Apple Maps for navigation on the built-in screen in the dash. Note that Apple limits Carplay to a handful of apps, so you'll have to use Apple Maps if you use Apple Carplay.
Personally, I prefer stand-alone GPS units or a phone to built-in nav systems since they're much easier & cheaper to keep updated. We have built-in nav on our 2012 CX-9 and it's slow & clunky compared to a Garmin or phone.
Personally, I prefer stand-alone GPS units or a phone to built-in nav systems since they're much easier & cheaper to keep updated. We have built-in nav on our 2012 CX-9 and it's slow & clunky compared to a Garmin or phone.
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I don't think it's the same for Subaru. After 2015, Subaru upgraded all of their infotainment system to be responsive and fast like an iPhone. I noticed this because we owned both 2015 and 2016 Forester and the 2015 nav is slow and clunky like you describe.
I do two to three pretty major road trips a year and trips to mountain bike races around Texas in between. I've had CarPlay for a while and depending on a phone for maps just doesn't cut it for me due to lack of cellular signal across many of the funnest parts of the country. I've been running Kenwood stereos with Garmin maps for 10 years and they have been dependable in the jungles of Pisgah in NC, the dunes of White Sands NM, the mountains around Durango CO, and the vast stretches of nature in places like Oregon and Louisiana. Now, I know Subaru navigation isn't quite the quality and lacks many of the features of a Garmin unit or Google Maps, but the range is there and having both is actually ideal if you're a serious road-tripper. Heck, there are hilly parts of Austin that get no signal!
Just something to keep in mind.
Just something to keep in mind.
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590 Posts
I drive in a lot of areas without signal when I make my ski trips up north (no cell signal) and what you can do with Google Maps is download map sections to your phone so you don't need a cell signal. If you don't do it in advance it can be an issue. I'm not sure if Waze or Apple Maps lets you do the same thing. Granted my current vehicle does not have navigation so I use my phone. My wife's car as Android Auto and she uses that all the time especially as it can route around traffic.
Granted I'm really curious how the 4G access will work in the car and how well it will receive the signal and cost each month. I know with Ford you can turn it on and off each month without any other cost. For Chevy you have to subscribe to OnStar then you can turn it on and off.
Yes, downloading offline maps works very well. Last year we went to Italy and I had my garmin all loaded with maps for Italy. Unfortunately, when we got in our rental vehicle, the Garmin was stuck in "searching for Satellite signal". I had my Galaxy S7 with downloaded offline maps as a backup....it worked perfectly. Strangely, 30 minutes down the road, the Garmin decided to come to life and worked from that point onwards.
Now driving along the Amalfi coast in a little Citroen C1 was an experience in itself....over there a road I would think of as sized for 1 way traffic is used for 2 way traffic....with scooters just going right up the middle...and then the busses....not to mention the sheer cliff drops right beside you. Still an enjoyable if sometimes terrifying experience.
Now driving along the Amalfi coast in a little Citroen C1 was an experience in itself....over there a road I would think of as sized for 1 way traffic is used for 2 way traffic....with scooters just going right up the middle...and then the busses....not to mention the sheer cliff drops right beside you. Still an enjoyable if sometimes terrifying experience.
I believe Android Auto will now allow you to put WAZE on your infotainment screen - that is a recent development.
https://blog.waze.com/2017/07/Waze-for-Android-Auto.html
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That's awesome news. I didn't know this. I was planning to use my phone rather than android auto for navigation if it didn't have waze. It only makes sense as Google bought waze for a hefty sum and is needed to grow to be more effective in terms of crowd sourced traffic info.
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I can confirm that Waze works with Android Auto. My wife has it in her Sonata and we use it all the time to the point where if the Ascent did not have Android Auto I would be getting a different car.
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I'm trying to make sure I understand the Navigation feature/option. Am I able to exclude ONLY the Nav option when configuring my Ascent? If so, does that mean I get all the other features the infotainment system has to offer (same size screen, same features, etc.) - I'll just have to use my phone for Nav (which will display on the car's screen) if I want Nav? Or, will I be losing some other feature/function if I do not select the Navigation option? Since it's easier to use the phone for navigation (and you have more options), I'm trying to determine what the argument is for selecting/paying for the Nav option.
So on the Limited the in dash navigation is bundled with the Harmon Kardon and panoramic moonroof. So if all you want is the moonroof too bad so sad you’re getting HK and Nav too. Worked out well for my husband and I because I wanted the nav and he didn’t but the moonroof was a must.
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Well, [email protected] I really only want the moon roof, and I don't even want it that badly. I don't think I care about Nav, and I know I don't care about the upgraded audio system.
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Android auto and Apple auto require the phone to provide navigation. I assume the advantage to having built in navigation would be that you wouldn't need to connect your phone. However you would probably need to pay the cellular service fee for the wifi so that the navigation could get the real time traffic updates.
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Got it - thank you. And are we absolutely sure the moon roof isn't available as a standalone add-on to the Limited?
We are sure you cannot order the moon roof ala carte.
You are correct that you don't need to connect your phone for the fully functional navigation. I believe the navigation real time traffic updates are provided through XM radio. At least that's how it works on my Outback. The real time updates are included for 3 years after purchase/activation. I believe the cellular service is solely for hotspot/Starlink purposes.
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