Vehicle Navigation System Satisfaction Declines in 2012
User satisfaction with factory-installed navigation systems is on the decline while the number of drivers turning to their smartphone for directions is rising.
According to J.D. Power’s 2013 U.S. Navigation Usage and Satisfaction Study, navigation systems dropped 13 points to 681 out of a total 1,000.
Those results are based on six categories: ease of use, routing, navigation display screen, system speed, voice directions and voice activation. The survey’s results is based on responses by 20,704 owners who recently bought or leased a new 2012 vehicle with a factory-installed navigation system.
The Garmin systems in the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger both fared well in the survey, although automakers weren’t specifically ranked.
Of the survey’s respondents, 47 percent reported downloading a navigation app for their smartphone – 10 percent more than last year. Additionally, 46 percent said they either “definitely” or “probably” wouldn’t buy a factory-installed navigation system if the car’s screen would display the navigation system from their phone.
Automakers are beginning to understand that trend better. Systems like Chevrolet’s MyLink pair with smartphones to offer exactly that. Meanwhile, other systems like Ford’s MyFord Touch struggle under harsh criticism over its dashboard control system. Complaints are so severe, in fact, that Ford fell to number 27 last year in J.D. Power’s annual new car quality survey.
[Source: Automotive News]
Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.
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