MG CAR OWNERS FORUM

Entering navigational information using the wheel is something I simply cannot stand. To yet, I have been unable to locate instructions for converting it to a keypad system. It would be great if Mazda would fix this. This is why I hardly ever use the car's navigation system. When I need a map, I reach for either Apple or Google. Problems arise when venturing to areas without a signal. When the phones aren't working, the car's navigation system usually takes over.

Would voice entry work for you?

Not yet; I had no idea that was a possibility. So, it's back to the books once more.

If you're driving an Android vehicle, you can usually just say "hey Google" and it will navigate you to your destination.
Plus, you can save maps to your device for offline use.

In order to get directions, I use SIRI through Apple CarPlay. Regarding my needs, it is adequate. It seems to be compatible with Android as well, so you won't need an iPhone to use it.

For Apple CarPlay to work, you'll need to "turn" Siri on your iPhone and link your vehicle to it. At that point, all you have to do is say, "Hey Siri" and she or he will respond with "UnHu." Then, you can simply ask for directions to 1234 State Street, (city), and they will be displayed on the center console. It also gives you spoken directions, like "Turn left in 2 miles...." that you can follow step-by-step.

On my Android device, I use Google Maps. Saying "Hey Google" and then responding with "get navigation to" and the destination works equally well. Make note that Offline Maps is compatible with Google Maps.

The map card doesn't seem to be compatible with voice commands. Since Android Auto only functions around 50% of the time, it would be greatly appreciated if someone could figure out how to make that work.

I receive the message "unable to connect to Gemini" on about half of my attempts. Very annoying. Because it is likely four years old, that could be the issue.