Offline GPS - Question from Wife

[brumey]

After trying to use the GPS in a new 4R SR5 today, it seems like thew GPS offering is cloud based with a $15 subscription. I am aware you can use CarPlay and a variety of apps. My wife's question is if your in an area with no cell coverage, will you have GPS capability.

I realize that is true now for phone based GPS's but vehicle GPS systems usually had a CD/SD card based map so no reliance on cell service. I also realize that you should bring a paper map and you can bring a traditional GPS with built in maps, which I have in my older truck. Her point was, they are selling a vehicle that is not only charging you $15 a month for GPS service, its reliant on cell.

Is there any way to get the Toyota GPS working offline even if the map is older. Can you for example subscribe, get the maps downloaded and cancel the subscription?

I do have AT&T as an LTE (slow) hotspot and I have my iPhone provider that uses Verizon towers, so I have diversity. Maybe bring a map and my old Garmin for emergencies?

It still sucks that they don't have or I can't find off line capability for GPS in an over priced vehicle.

Thanks in advance....

 

[mars001]

I don't know iPhone, but with Google Map on my Android phone, I can select any area (or areas) and download all maps directly from Google to my phone's internal memory storage and then use those maps in navigation in offline mode (when no cell data is available.)

 

[brumey]

I will be testing offline maps with Apple maps, Google and might try waze. I will not keep all three after I settle on one that we like most.

Thank you.

 

[Floki]

I use onX offroad because you can download maps online. Its a very cool service you do have to pay annual but it's only like 35 dollars!

 

[zhenyizhainan]

I only noticed this after I took delivery of the car. It felt like I saw a dead fly in a bowl. Toyota is really stingy.