Just bought the car today, a CX-30 "Carbon" trim. It has a slot for a navigation card in the console. I used to have a Miata/MX5 and bought an SD card from eBay (I think) that allowed my GPS to function.

Can anyone recommend (Amazon/eBay, etc) which card I need?

Thanks so much.

Doug

 

I am curious about using in-car nav instead of Waze. Not trying to argue, just curious. I gave up on in-car nav long ago because Waze never needs map updating, alerts me of accidents, police, road conditions, moves from car to car and is free. Are there any advantages to in-car that Waze doesn't have?

 

I am totally new to Android Auto haven't used it on my car since yesterday on the CX-30. I have been using GPS units since the early 1990s, and sorta got used to a dedicated navigation system. I've had an OEM system built into cars since they were first available. Our last four cars have been BMWs and I am REALLY used to how those work. I've not used Andoid Auto, Waze or Google Maps, so I am totally unfamiliar with how those operate. I would like my car to have similar to the same features as that built into my current two cars. I know Mazda's nav system will not be identical, but from what I have learned about Android Auto/Google Maps in the last couple of days, it will suit me better than using a phone app. I did have a MX-5 several years ago in which I inserted a nav card from eBay and it function okay if not good.

I like the ability to save destinations, and even create and save routes. I don't think the navigation apps do that. At least I could not find that while fiddling with google maps via Android Auto yesterday. One annoying thing was the car's position could not be centered on the screen. There was an icon on the bottom of the screen "Re-Center", but if there is a way to "push" that, I could not find it. My car does not have touch screen.

I am trying different navigation SD cards available on Amazon. Here's what I have tried and what I have plan next:
1. Tried: - Inserted into car, nothing happens
2. Ordered yesterday: 3. If that does work, I'll try this one:
I have a couple of old Garmin GPS units that I used a lot when I was pulling a fifth-wheel RV around the USA. They worked fine, and I would use them in the CX-30, but both need the old 12 vdc outlet, which my car lacks. Maybe I ought to see if I can find a USB-c powered GPS unit?

Doug

 

Understood.

I recommend that you play with Waze. You can save routes and it never needs updating when new roads are created or closed, but the best part is that it offers you a route that takes into account real time traffic conditions. It will also reroute you automatically when road / traffic conditions while on route.

Use what you feel comfortable with, but i think you will find that modern apps have a lot to offer.

 

It depends where you drive. In the Netherlands and some other European countries we have free real-time road and traffic information "TMC", which is part of the RDS system broadcast by FM radio stations.
The Mazda navigation systems (both MZD Connect and Mazda Connect) may take this road and traffic information into account to determine a new route as you drive to your destination.

 

Thanks, I;ve got a trip coming up in a few weeks, I'll try it out.

Doug

 

Older post, but I tried Waze out for the first time on a 500 mile trip today and was really impressed. Light years ahead of the Mazda's mapping, but I really liked using them both at the same time (viewing the map and listening to Waze). I was alerted to the police radar, traffic jams, and also something as small as cars sitting on the side of the highway.

 

I like the built in nav because I don't have to take my phone out of my pocket and plug it in for the Apple Play integration. I also like the integration with the HUD. I got my card on E-Bay. If I'm taking a long trip I'll plug in the phone to keep it charged (I'm always streaming podcasts or music anyway) and then I could use a map app. I'm not dealing much with traffic and alternate routes so the built in map is fine but I do prefer the better search capabilities of the apps.
-dave

 

When you use the MyMazda app on your mobile phone, you can search for your destination on your phone using Google Maps and send it to your car's infotainment system via connected services.

 

I use the in-car nav system primarily even since the updating ended last September, It is a very basic unit & does not have many of the features of a modern system.
I occasionally use Wave but it is more cumbersome than the in-car system (cables, lost internet, etc) It is very feature rich & as the in-car maps get older I see me using Wave more often.
I have consider getting a new card for the in-car unit, but based on what I've read here, it is hit or miss.
It would be nice to be able to download a nav system like Garmin to the in-car unit.