OEM GPS devices
 11 years
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I'm in the early stages of thinking about buying my next car. I was looking at the Subaru Outback with Eyesight. However, you can't get Eyesight without getting the Suburu GPS, and according to Subaru Customer Service, there is no mechanism for importing POIs into a Subaru GPS.
(Yes, I know that I can pull their GPS and have my Kenwood GPS installed, but that seems wasteful.) (Yes, I also know that I can get a separate GPS and put it on the dash or suction cup it to the windshield. But that's illegal in a lot of states, and the screen is generally bigger in an internal unit than an external unit.)
So, which car company GPSs include the ability to import POI files? And do all of the company's GPSs include this ability, or does the capability vary on a model by model basis?
And why would you buy an offroad capable vehicle that didn't let you enter POIs prior to driving into the boonies?
current production
So, which car company GPSs include the ability to import POI files? And do all of the company's GPSs include this ability, or does the capability vary on a model by model basis?
I don't think there are any that allow custom POI in the current production runs. Car manufacturers are worried about liability if something you add to their unit could cause either a malfunction or incorrect information the courts (and some lawyers) would try to assign.
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Lexus GPS
I have a 2007 Lexus with GPS and love it... You can search so many ways that it is extremly rare you need to add POI's. You can search by phone number, city, POIs, address, intersections,and many more... You can also save a location where you currently are....I also have a Garmin 2450LM for my subuaru Forester and find it does not always have what I am looking for. My Samsung Galaxy phone also has a geat GPS. Personally I wouldn't worry about not being able to load POI's. My personal opinion.
Bobby....Garmin 2450LM
OEM GPS Units
I wonder if Garmin makes any built-in unitsfor any auto makers ?
Garmin OEM
I wonder if Garmin makes any built-in unitsfor any auto makers ?
This might be the best option.
My concern is that as automobile makers add more and more intelligence to their cars, they may make it difficult to add aftermarket in dash units without breaking some of the existing functionality of the rest of the car. Or, as in the case of Subaru, buying a factory GPS with all the minuses I've heard about just to pull it out and replace it with my old Kenwood.
Subaru claimed that their EyeSight system doesn't require the GPS being installed. However, you've got to pay for the GPS in order to get EyeSight; you can't just buy EyeSight.
(Quoting the Subaru web site: "Subaru takes a look into the future with EyeSight.[1] Two cameras are mounted by the rearview mirror to monitor traffic and react to conditions even before you do. Basically, EyeSight sees the problem and initiates action to help avoid the trouble. EyeSight will also sound an alert and flash a visual warning if there's danger of a collision and will apply the brakes automatically if you don't. It can also optimize cruise control and warn drivers when they're swaying outside their lane.")
This may be less of an issue for American built cars, which tend to have more of a "pick whatever options you want" than a package level mentality.
If you go to Garmin support (On the Road), the options include OEM. Under OEM it appears that at least some of the automobile manufacturers have gone to Garmin, since they list Aston Martin, BMW, Chrysler, Harley Davidson, Honda, Mopar, Toyota, and Volvo. Subaru wasn't listed. So maybe some of those manufacturers have gone the Garmin route. Which would (hopefully) mean installable custom POIs and map upgrades for less than $100/year.
Which goes back to the original question: does anyone have any details about models and capabilities?
Kenwood DNX710EX (powered by Garmin) Garmin eTrex 20 Florida Trailheads POI File