Hot take: Google Maps is not really much of an upgrade

[mkhuffman]

Since I posted about the nav locking up, I determined it was not a Google Maps issue. It was a truck issue.

I was able to get the nav working again after performing a soft reset. But then I discovered walk away lock was not working, nor was arrival unlock. And then I got in the truck and both screens were black. The truck was on and made the sounds as if it was ready to drive, but nothing was shown on the screens.

I did a soft resent and the driver display started working again, but the main display was still black. I finally did a hard reset and that cleared everything up.

Just wanted to make sure nobody thought the issue I reported was related to Google Maps.

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[ksumnole]

Since I posted about the nav locking up, I determined it was not a Google Maps issue. It was a truck issue.

I was able to get the nav working again after performing a soft reset. But then I discovered walk away lock was not working, nor was arrival unlock. And then I got in the truck and both screens were black. The truck was on and made the sounds as if it was ready to drive, but nothing was shown on the screens.

I did a soft resent and the driver display started working again, but the main display was still black. I finally did a hard reset and that cleared everything up.

Just wanted to make sure nobody thought the issue I reported was related to Google Maps.

Hmmm, I'm going to go ahead and blame Google Maps. Or the integration of Google Maps as the reason bugs were introduced, and basic functionality suffered. I had a perfectly functioning truck into this release.

 

[Loodias]

My biggest complaint is why are the fonts so friggen huge?

Agreed, looks like I set it to large type mode or something. And, the default map zoom is ridiculous, the fact that it will not stay zoomed out when i adjust is just maddening.

 

[wrightwood]

As I have been a heavy Google Maps user before I got my truck, I was fairly optimistic about the new integration. Having used it for a week now though, it doesn't feel like much of an improvement. Better traffic data. What I hope is that this opens to the door to adding other Google Map features I like:

• Alternative routes
• Option to prefer HOV lanes

The second one has been a nagging annoyance since I got the Rivian, because with the CA HOV stickers we get, I always use the HOV lanes here in SoCal. Rivian's nav always estimates about 15 extra minutes of travel time because it doesn't factor in the HOV lane usage. Google Maps lets me set this as a user preference, Rivian just needs to add that as well.

 

[norivian]

I agree. Still none of the important features- stop signs and traffic lights. Routing is not any better. I can’t tell anything better because it’s google maps.

… how about that cabin overheat setting @Rivian?

 

[thrill]

As I have been a heavy Google Maps user before I got my truck, I was fairly optimistic about the new integration. Having used it for a week now though, it doesn't feel like much of an improvement. Better traffic data. What I hope is that this opens to the door to adding other Google Map features I like:

• Alternative routes
• Option to prefer HOV lanes

The second one has been a nagging annoyance since I got the Rivian, because with the CA HOV stickers we get, I always use the HOV lanes here in SoCal. Rivian's nav always estimates about 15 extra minutes of travel time because it doesn't factor in the HOV lane usage. Google Maps lets me set this as a user preference, Rivian just needs to add that as well.

Isn't the EVs-allowed on HOV lanes (on interstates) going away with the recent legislation?

 

[DavidMillett]

Been living with Google Maps for about a week, using it as often as I can for both trips I am familiar with as well as journeys to new places over new routes. So far my initial impression is that it has not yet shown itself to be meaningfully improved over MapBox for my uses.

The good:
- Much denser and richer POI data. I have not really had much use for this since I haven't yet encountered a situation where I would want to use it, but it's clearly better than what we had previously.
- Presumably better traffic data. GM rerouted me on my commute home last night, but traffic was so unusually heavy that I suspect MapBox would have figured it out, too. Not much personal experience with this, but given the much larger data set (GM includes Waze user data, too) it has to be better.

The bad:
- Routing does not seem much better, and in my anecdotal experience is actually worse. Over the past week Google Maps has:

- Directed me on a route that required an illegal turn.​

- Routed me around the two sides of a square path rather than the much more obviously direct route that cuts diagonally across, and is a larger road, to boot. I ended up overriding the nav and taking the direct route and there was no reason to have avoided it. It's done it more than once so it seems like their road weighting data is off in that area.​

- Speed limit data does not seem to be as accurate, at least in my area.

​

The ugly:
- The map colors are not as attractive and do not blend as well with the Rivian UI as MapBox did.
- It can't seem to draw curves. Turns in the road look like they are built out of adjoining straight sections. Cloverleafs look like dodecahedrons. Particularly noticeable when it zooms in to make a turn.
- The navigation path sometimes differs from the road outline (the blue line drifts off the side of the road outline below).
- Adjoining road sections sometimes do not line up, leaving little jagged edges or weird discontinuities in the road shape.
- I know this one is on Rivian and not Google, but the new larger directions box sometimes cuts off text or shapes. For example: state routes in my area are shown as numbers inside a pill shape, and the bottom of the pill outline is often cut off.

I agree the nav system is less functional now

 

[mkhuffman]

Hmmm, I'm going to go ahead and blame Google Maps. Or the integration of Google Maps as the reason bugs were introduced, and basic functionality suffered. I had a perfectly functioning truck into this release.

You could be correct, but it seems like if a hard reset was necessary to clear up the issues, the bug is deeper than the navigation system.

 

[mkhuffman]

I agree. Still none of the important features- stop signs and traffic lights. Routing is not any better. I can’t tell anything better because it’s google maps.

… how about that cabin overheat setting @Rivian?

It now shows you the estimated SoC at destination, which I think is a big improvement. In addition, it tells you exactly how much you have to charge (in SoC) to make it to your next stop. Those improvements didn't require Google Maps, I guess, but they came with and I like those changes a lot.

 

[waitingonanr1s]

Isn't the EVs-allowed on HOV lanes (on interstates) going away with the recent legislation?

No new legislation - the federal law that authorized these programs (needed since federal dollars helped pay for them) was always set to sunset September 30, 2025. Congress would need to extend the program to authorize it past 9/30/25 - so yes, it's dead in the water beginning Oct 1.

 

[Maintenant]

We are just coming back from a 2,000 mile trip from St Louis to Pile National Forest. The new map routinely doesn’t acknowledge Rivian chargers—I was parked at a waypoint in Meuller State Park and couldn’t get it to show on a map. I had to find the Flager, CO RAN myself and route us to it. And the Tesla charger in Kit Carson didn’t show up. Also when I sent a route using the two RAN chargers along I70, the truck replaced the chargers with Teslas *smh* I don’t see improvement. I see more work on my end

 

[Who-Dat]

Not so hot a take at all. I use Apple Carplay on my BMW and have found Google Maps has seem to be only getting worse over time. Several times it has made me get off the highway to get back on again...for no reason at all. It has sent on private roads, dirt roads, roads that don't exist, etc. I use it to account for traffic when I know where I'm going and have found most Google routes to be the least direct way to get anywhere, traffic included. I was in Disney last weekend and it sent me on a road for castmembers only and had an awkward episode trying to back out of a gated entrance with a line of cars behind me. Apparently "Google maps sent me this way" was not enough to be let in lol

While Mapbox wasn't perfect, compared to the current state of Google Maps, it really wasn't much worse. I suspect people's mileage may vary, but personally I'm just happy with the Google Maps aesthetic. Nav wise, its hit or miss for sure.

I know, right (This why Only Use Apple Maps on My iPhone..... for Right Now.

 

[VandalSibs]

Isn't the EVs-allowed on HOV lanes (on interstates) going away with the recent legislation?

Unless I'm mistaken, HOV lane rules and other regulations on interstates are usually dictated by the state. While the Interstate system is technically a federal program/project, states are each responsible for upkeep and establishing rules. Hence why you see different speed limits and other rules as you get into different states - for example, Washington State has a regulation that says the left lane of an interstate is for passing only, and it's technically a citable offence... but that isn't the case in Idaho.

 

[wrightwood]

No new legislation - the federal law that authorized these programs (needed since federal dollars helped pay for them) was always set to sunset September 30, 2025. Congress would need to extend the program to authorize it past 9/30/25 - so yes, it's dead in the water beginning Oct 1.

Regardless of changes to federal laws that authorize the CA program, my stickers are good for 2 more years I believe, and I intend for CA to honor that contract. You raise a good point that the good ole days are likely ending soon. Maybe California will continue to pave its own path on EV incentives?

 

[Rivianready]

Apple Maps is by far better both aesthetically and with multiple route options. Google is better (at the moment) if searching for points of interest on a map… But Rivian should have gone with Apple if they were choosing an underlying map.

Or as we all know (but Rivian can’t see yet), they should just allow CarPlay in one of their windows for people who want to use it. That would give people access to any mapping app they want of their choice along with other apps that could be useful as well. This is truly a poor strategic decision and I know customers they are losing because of it.

The only problem with that is that it won't synch with the battery range and plan charging stops. EVs need that integration until charging stations become ubiquitous.

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