Three months with a 2022 LT, and I still hate Google Maps.

Xirabolt · November 7, 2022

I was given a 2022 Silverado LT with the fancy new 13.4" touchscreen and.... Google Maps is still terrible. Aside from the general lag in the system (which has admittedly gotten better -- I no longer have 20 second delays when changing tracks), Maps still reminds me why I absolutely hate Android Auto.

I drive the same path every day. 120 miles round-trip. I downloaded offline map data for the area I'm in. It'll be fine for a couple days, then randomly start giving me "You need offline map data". Sometimes I'm not even driving -- I can arrive to work, take break, and after 10 minutes of sitting in Accessory mode, "You need offline map data" and it forgets what's going on around me.

So I connected it to my work hotspot. Of course, that just DESTROYED my data allotment in only a couple days. It seemingly redownloaded all my maps every single time I turned on the truck, including sitting in it with the engine off during break.

Even trying to download a custom map area is a headache because it tries to do a rectangle based on your current orientation. Realized I had to exit the whole menu, then switch the map view to North Up, THEN go back to the Select Map Area screen. If you wanted your custom map area to be landscape orientation, you need to physically park your truck east/west. Not worth the effort since it won't remember your data after a couple days. I hope it's download the map right now because it was also going painfully slow, about 5MB per minute despite a strong connection to my home wifi.

It seems my only real options are
A) Pay GM for an unlimited data hotspot or
B) Sign out of the entire Google system and have a persistent login screen when I start the truck.

It feels so clunky and useless compared to the Sync 4 navigation in my 2022 Bronco.

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Beyond that, my only other gripes with this truck are

0) It has a camera that can indicate how far I am from the car ahead of me. It has a button on the steering wheel that brings up a 'Gap Adjustment' on the instrument cluster. But I don't have adaptive cruise. You need to pay for the sliding rear window to get adaptive cruise. It has everything necessary already for the camera-based adaptive cruise but simply won't do the thing, nor can I retrofit it like you can on Fords.
1) No 12v power socket anymore. Just USB, which isn't powered when the truck is off. I can't charge my earbuds/hotspot overnight now, nor do I have anywhere to connect my rooftop light
2) There's no switch to disable the dome lamps completely. The button only disables it for that door cycle.
3) The handle for the center seat seatbelt is rather angular, jutting into my thigh. Stuck a 2x4 under to angle the seat higher.
4) Only one fuse inside is accessory-power, any accessories you want (dashcam, gopro, aftermarket mirror, construction lamps, etc) have to be piggybacked off that ONE spot. Likewise, accessory fuses under the hood are 'engine running' or 'constant 12v' only.

5) Minor, but I'd like it if I could get the little lightshow fading effects and lighting up the bed without the reverse lights coming on while the truck is off. I've always hated GM for that behavior; every other manufacturer gets plenty of light on the ground from the license plate lamps and taillamps.

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On the plus side, it's well-equipped and rides very smooth and quiet. Quite an upgrade from my 2018 LT. Black out the bowtie and it's a very handsome truck. While I prefer the Bronco's infotainment, the Silverado definitely has the better instrument cluster.

GMC-AT · November 8, 2022

Are you using Google Maps via the build in app on the truck... or via your phone/android auto?

Xirabolt · November 9, 2022

My wording was vague... I'm using the built-in Android system. I was hoping it would be an improvement over my experiences using Android Auto on the 2018.

Nope, Google Maps still has all the same annoyances but this time without a guaranteed data connection. It'll certainly *act* as if it can rely on a data connection being available.

Wireless Android Auto is even worse. Since it uses wifi, you can't use a personal hotspot. Trying to switch to a hotspot temporarily? Android Auto forcibly reconnects to the truck. Turn off wifi so you can use your 4G for a specific reason? It'll turn wifi right back on and reconnect to the truck.

Of course my Android Auto gripe isn't the truck's fault, but using the truck reminds me of all the frustrating experiences I've had using Maps or Android Auto in general. The Ok Google detection waking everyone up when it momentarily boosts l blasts audio at full volume, or makes my podcast forget where it is, or repeated CONTINUE STRAIGHT at random intersections...

November 12, 2022

I tried Android Auto once in my 2020 and have never used it since. "Clunky" is a good way to put it.

newdude · November 14, 2022

On 11/7/2022 at 6:44 PM, Xirabolt said:

I was given a 2022 Silverado LT with the fancy new 13.4" touchscreen and.... Google Maps is still terrible. Aside from the general lag in the system (which has admittedly gotten better -- I no longer have 20 second delays when changing tracks), Maps still reminds me why I absolutely hate Android Auto.

Beyond that, my only other gripes with this truck are

0) It has a camera that can indicate how far I am from the car ahead of me. It has a button on the steering wheel that brings up a 'Gap Adjustment' on the instrument cluster. But I don't have adaptive cruise. You need to pay for the sliding rear window to get adaptive cruise. It has everything necessary already for the camera-based adaptive cruise but simply won't do the thing, nor can I retrofit it like you can on Fords.

I can't speak on the nav issue as so far mine is working I think because I have the top OnStar plan.

Adaptive cruise. Its missing more than the front camera. GM's system uses a front long distance radar. It is not a strictly image based system.

Xirabolt · November 14, 2022

3 hours ago, newdude said:

Adaptive cruise. Its missing more than the front camera. GM's system uses a front long distance radar. It is not a strictly image based system.

Everything I've read says that the LT-level adaptive cruise is strictly visual, only when you have SuperCruise is a radar incorporated

edit: from the manual, page 254: "ACC uses a windshield mounted front camera sensor. If equipped with Super Cruise, ACC uses a radar sensor as well to detect other vehicles"

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Same nonsense this morning, barely made it out of my driveway before it prompted YOU NEED MORE OFFLINE DATA. I swear it wants you to idle in your driveway for 5 minutes *every single start* so it can update the maps again. Maybe letting it update fully, then deleting my wifi will help so it stops trying to discover if a Starbucks was built in the last 12 hours

Lmao discovered there's a bug where if you activate turn signals at the same time collision warning is happening, the radio gets stuck in Silent mode until you restart the truck

Edited November 14, 2022 by Xirabolt

RedLT · November 16, 2022

On 11/9/2022 at 4:15 PM, Xirabolt said:

My wording was vague... I'm using the built-in Android system. I was hoping it would be an improvement over my experiences using Android Auto on the 2018.

Nope, Google Maps still has all the same annoyances but this time without a guaranteed data connection. It'll certainly *act* as if it can rely on a data connection being available.

Wireless Android Auto is even worse. Since it uses wifi, you can't use a personal hotspot. Trying to switch to a hotspot temporarily? Android Auto forcibly reconnects to the truck. Turn off wifi so you can use your 4G for a specific reason? It'll turn wifi right back on and reconnect to the truck.

Of course my Android Auto gripe isn't the truck's fault, but using the truck reminds me of all the frustrating experiences I've had using Maps or Android Auto in general. The Ok Google detection waking everyone up when it momentarily boosts l blasts audio at full volume, or makes my podcast forget where it is, or repeated CONTINUE STRAIGHT at random intersections...

My biggest annoyance with the built-in Google Maps with no OnStar data plan is the constant nagging splash screen "....this application requires a service plan..". I have my phone to automatically turn on my phone's hotspot when it connects to the infotainment to provide internet connectivity.

SilveradoRST · November 16, 2022

1 minute ago, RedLT said:

My biggest annoyance with the built-in Google Maps with no OnStar data plan is the constant nagging splash screen "....this application requires a service plan..". I have my phone to automatically turn on my phone's hotspot when it connects to the infotainment to provide internet connectivity.

So you can use your phone’s hotspot to use the built-in Google services without an Onstar data plan?

I’ve seen conflicting info as to whether it would work via a phone’s hotspot or not.

It's Tim · November 16, 2022

Xirabolt · November 16, 2022

1 hour ago, SilveradoRST said:

So you can use your phone’s hotspot to use the built-in Google services without an Onstar data plan?

I’ve seen conflicting info as to whether it would work via a phone’s hotspot or not.

Yes, your phone can act as the wifi for the maps/services from what I'm experiencing.

I've given up and trying to get the $25 plan. Of course I keep getting server errors and it refuses to activate. Edit: ok my activation troubles stem from this being a fleet truck ordered by a different company, it's still tied to their fleet number instead of mine.

It *claims* unlimited data but I'm sure that's a lie and it's just the 2GB allowance. Hopefully that's enough to keep Maps happy

Edited November 16, 2022 by Xirabolt

RedLT · November 16, 2022

3 hours ago, SilveradoRST said:

So you can use your phone’s hotspot to use the built-in Google services without an Onstar data plan?

I’ve seen conflicting info as to whether it would work via a phone’s hotspot or not.

Yes, I've been using it like this since trial period ended a few months back.

LTgone · November 16, 2022

4 hours ago, RedLT said:

My biggest annoyance with the built-in Google Maps with no OnStar data plan is the constant nagging splash screen "....this application requires a service plan..". I have my phone to automatically turn on my phone's hotspot when it connects to the infotainment to provide internet connectivity.

GM is really pushing owners to purchase their service plan. Dam jackasses!!

SilveradoRST · November 16, 2022

Good to know hotspot works. I have a 2019 RST (old Global A) and when I hotspot from my phone, the Weather app works but the Chevrolet Maps+ doesn’t. It says I need a Onstar plan. I use CarPlay so I don’t care. Good to see the 2022.5 works with hotspot. I’d still like to see CarPlay be able to take up the full screen, like the built-in Google Maps.