Voice activated navigation
 

I just bought a 2018 Mazda CX-9 and one of the features I thought would be helpful is the voice activated navigation. I realize that you can’t navigate by touch when in motion I am stumped, though, as to why the car does not allow the voice feature to be used when in motion. It seems ridiculous to completely disable all ways of on-the-fly nav. Is there something wrong with the system or is this really how it is? “Entering by voice is not currently available” is the response we hear when trying to use voice.

Anyone with a similar experience?

I was able to get the voice activated navigation to update and correct itself for use by loading an update onto the SD card. I guess it just wasn't up to date...weird since it is a 2018 model. It works fine now.

Where did you get the update for the SD card?

What I absolutely hate is that you can't hit a button for Navigation and speak where you want to go and have the system do a search. Kind of like a "Hey, Siri...take me to blah blah blah." Everything is done by touch in a very restricted format and only way to really type in an address or search is to be pulled over to the side of the road. The passenger can't even use the full menu in the touchscreen because it locks out. That is extremely inconvenient and although I usually don't need to have destinations entered, I can see how people would be tempted to just say screw it and use their phones, which is counter to the intended safety of the system.

Jen

The Update is Via a USB stick, only available from your Mazda Dealership.

I insert my SD Card into my PC and use the Mazda Toolbox app to update the system and maps. I assumed that this was available to everyone.

The voice commands is not as strong as I would like but I can tell mine to navigate to an address. I have not figured out how to navigate to a place name.

There are some commands that are only available in certain screens, but it is better than nothing.