Built In Garmin GPS Discussions - Honda Civic

Thanks for the links... I find them very helpful !

Why not go straight to the OEM source. HERE Navigation produces, compiles, provides and sells updates for 40 brands of vehicles around the world.

https://here.navigation.com/north-america/

It appears that they also provided Honda navigation software for 2016 and older Hondas.

I'm a died-in-the-wool Garmin fan ... but I bought a 2017 GMC and discovered the nav software is produced by HERE.

They also have a mobile software app called HERE WeGO and offer free maps from around the world. For both Apple and Android.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/here-wego-city-navigation-of...

I've really fallen in love with their software and maps. I was even able to get them to add my new address (a new house on a new street) in the most recent update on both my 2017 car's navigation system and my Apple iPhone.

Going to the above site first wants you to specify your car, in this case I chose Honda and it take me to:

http://hondanavi.navigation.com/home/en_US/HondaNA/USD?utm_m...

That link presents me with a list of Honda Models, so I chose Civic and the 2016 model year which gives this link:

http://hondanavi.navigation.com/pages/en_US/HondaNA/USD/MapC...

Honda MapCare Program
Optimal Performance and Convenience
The following vehicles come with 5 years of complimentary map updates:

2016-2017 Accord
2016-2017 Civic
2016-2017 Pilot
2017 CR-V
2017 Ridgeline

Updating your Honda navigation system map is an essential part of maximizing your system's benefits and performance. Map updates ensure that the changing world outside is accurately reflected in your navigation system, making it much easier to reach your destination.

The map update is performed via USB.
Please click below to continue to the download site and learn more:

Please click here to continue

Pushing on the "Please click here to continue " button take me to this link:

https://honda.garmin.com/honda/

Where I choose the 2017 button and got this link:

https://honda.garmin.com/honda/#getStarted2017

where it asks you to select your model so I chose civic and I get this link:

https://honda.garmin.com/honda/#getStarted

Which was almost exactly the link that was posted

Seems to be the exact same place from multiple ways to get there..

I understand that various auto manufacturers market their respective map updates ... but the maps are compiled and produced by HERE developers.

In the case of my 2017 GMC, I contacted HERE directly and was able to get my new house on a new street in a newly developed part in the back of an existing subdivision into the latest GMC map.

When I called my dealership (Laura GMC, the second largest GMC dealer in the USA), they had no clue that HERE had released a map update. The parts manager looked into it, and was able to order the update from HERE.

So yes, it's a GMC product ... just as your Honda update is a Honda product ... but the folks producing the updates all work for HERE ...

Not trying to cause a problem. I just found it interesting that they produce the maps for 40 makes of vehicles around the world.

And in my experience, the HERE folks were able to tell me about the contents and timing of a map update long before my dealership even knew an update was available.

For the explanation.. I wasn't trying to cause any problem either.. I just found it interesting both ways took me back to the Honda site... maybe I'm being thick??

I'm so glad Honda finally entered into an agreement with Garmin. The Garmin database is FAR FAR superior than Here maps. I've updated my Here maps in my Hondas religiously and despite the latest DVD updates, they continue to be hopelessly behind the times with both the roads and the points of interest. Garmin runs rings around them every time! Rip off to charge $150 per disk annually so at least they have a map care program to soften the blow for some.

It doesn't make sense for these automotive manufacturers to try and come up with a proprietary system particularly when cars are designed several years before they're released at which point the technology is already dated. Linking up with Garmin is the way to go!

... you think that as HERE supply the Garmin maps

Garmin has been using HERE for its mapping system since the days HERE was branded NAVTEQ.

And with Garmin's recent GPS navigation units, HERE has facilitated and provided DAB to broadcast live traffic information free to users.

But hey, few understand that.

If you scroll down to the bottom of Garmin's traffic page, way down at the bottom, you'll see the tiny HERE logo on the lower left of the page.

http://www8.garmin.com/traffic/index.html

Garmin recently announced they were partnering with HERE to provide maps and traffic in Russia.

http://360.here.com/2017/06/22/garmin-gps-navigators-russia-...

At the end of the press release:

"The update is the latest agreement in an already thriving partnership between HERE and Garmin, which also includes HERE mapping and location services for numerous Garmin devices and services around the world. It's a great example of an industry leader placing its trust in HERE Technologies and powering its devices with world-class global maps and services from HERE."

Look, I'm really not trying to cause a problem. Just trying to pull back the curtain that HERE has become the dominant player in the GPS landscape with build-in and free-standing GPS systems. And I'm excited by it!

sussamb and others are correct. Garmin does not create maps.

I'll bet that if you open a Honda map file, supplied by Garmin, using a "Hex Editor" and view it, you will find a copyright statement from HERE.

Hex Editors and viewers are available on the internet for free. Just be careful and D/L one from CNET or another reputable site that scans their files for Trojans and viruses.

I would suspect that the major reason your Honda maps seem out of date is that Honda (and most other vehicle manufacturers) are only making updates to your maps available annually while Garmin is updating our GPS units 3 or 4 times a year. I think you'll always find the Here maps on a Garmin GPS more up to date than the ones on your Honda. I know that's certainly the case between my GPS maps and those on my GM vehicle.

Here may do the maps for many nav systems, but the results sure vary.

The updates they release for my Acura TL-S (old Nav type) and my 2018 Pilot (Honda's version of Garmin) are both way behind what I get from Garmin for my portable devices. The Pilot just got 2018 (my 2018 came with 2017 maps) while my portables are on their second 2019 version.

The garbage they release for the 2007 Acura is not only out of date, but costs more for one update than Garmin charges for lifetime maps.

The Acura maps also end just north of the Canadian border. When I went to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia I drove off the edge of the world. Shortly after crossing the border into New Brunswick a line appeared on the map, with nothing on the other side. As I drove, it crept down the screen until the screen was empty except for the car icon. The only way to get Canada is to buy the Canadian update, which is two disks instead of one and costs twice as much. Then, while driving north you have to stop and change disks! The poor Canadians pay twice as much for their updates because they get both disks. I drove around Canada with my portable Garmin stuck to the screen of the Acura built-in with a suction cup!!

Oddly enough, the US version maps include hawaii, which is difficult to drive to, while ignoring most of Canada.

I spent an hour or so on the phone with the fine folks in Garmin Engineering and here's what they told me.

1). Honda "licensed" using the GARMIN code.
- they created their own hardware to interact with the GARMIN SW.
- during testing, Garmin raised concerns about some behavior aspects of the system.
$ - inability to import / export saved places
$ - inability to install POI's (think RLC's, SPEED, and other)
$ - inability to control brightness separate from dash brightness
$ - inability to get frequent updates to maps ( 3 - 4 x per yr)
$ - Inconsistent voice command structures.. must use "page up" & "Page Down" instead of "up" "Down". and some other quirks.
- Difficult to control audio, while stopped and impossible while moving. So even if you have someone in the car do do it for you, you're required to stop to adjust many functions.

I'll never ever get another one of these and I'd not recommend anyone get one either.

I'm more n' torqued off about this!

Man... All of those things stink !

I just bought a 2019 Honda with the built-in Nav system.

When it boots up it says "Garmin", but I still have not found any way to add my own POI's, such as the RLC list.

It's amazing how you can find everything on the internet.

I own a 2017 Honda Ridgeline and have also not been able to add any POIs to the Honda/Garmin system. I have been able to add extra Garmin voices from my portable Garmin units by simply adding a Voice folder to my Honda update USB drive. I have also added some different vehicles, but the Vehicle folder I created wiped out my original Honda vehicles, (Duh!) which in my case was different color Ridgeline trucks. So, if you try to add vehicles backup your original Vehicle folder first!

Thanks for that info.

AT least I now know that it's possible to add SOME things to the factory units.

If you can do that, I suspect you should be able to add POI's.

But it's going to take someone more savvy than me to figure it out.