Is city pack worth it on Yaris Cross Excel?

[gallen73]

I've ordered the Excel with city pack and pan roof.

I've noticed the city pack will replace the 9" screen with an 8". 

Is it worth getting or should I remove it from my order?

[Roy124]

The Smart Connect screen has a better Satnav, you can select a destination on the screen, you can enter addresses more accurately.  You lose the route breadcrumbs and I find the display a bit bland and need to try tuning it. 

 

[NeverConsideredToyota]

I am in same conundrum.

To me the 8 inch model is based on an old, soon to be unsupported OS.

Toyota haven't doe the work to support City Pack on newer OS yet (or they have too many stock of the old model and need to clear out) ... Pretty sure it will be soon.

I am not ordering for that reason at the moment 

 

 

 

[Roy124]

Smart connect does not allow for handsfree phone calls out; you need to use the Menu button and screen soft keys.  Not a good installation unless it's my mishandling. 

Smart Connect allows you to input many different events. A bit like Waze, but I don't know how practical it is if you are on your own. 

 

[shufman]

My partner had the city pack - you have to plug your phone in as there’s no wireless CarPlay (dealership didn’t know this) but it has cameras under the door mirrors and one on the front meaning that you can see all around when parking and from above. You can set it to come on automatically below speeds of 6mph. It’s very good and far better than other systems I’ve seen. 

[Jasonic]

I have ordered the same, I have got the birds eye view camera on my RAV4 and think it’s great so wanted it on Yaris cross, also am used to the 8” (old) screen and don’t mind having to plug phone in so does not worry me.

 

[IT Troll]

I have the 9" Smart Connect. The advantages are the slightly bigger screen size, wireless phone connectivity and a more modern interface. The cloud-based sat nav is a mixed bag. Whilst it has the potential to be better, connectivity problems are making it unreliable. Some online services will eventually become a chargeable subscription.

With the 8" Touch you get local sat nav data (updates become chargeable) and support for the enhanced parking features.

I actually find CarPlay to be vastly superior to either on-board system. Especially with voice commands. So it boils down to wireless vs parking and 9" vs 8".

[Jasonic]

1 hour ago, Jasonic said:

I have ordered the same, I have got the birds eye view camera on my RAV4 and think it’s great so wanted it on Yaris cross, also am used to the 8” (old) screen and don’t mind having to plug phone in so does not worry me.

 

And I only use car play for navigation.

[Roy124]

I think it is a fine run thing. 

Look at it another way: the City Pack is an addition to a well tested system. 

The Smart Connect is a new and untried system.  Better Satnav display but you appear to lose handsfree calling, you need to use the screen, though that might be me. 

[IT Troll]

20 hours ago, Roy124 said:

Better Satnav display but you appear to lose handsfree calling, you need to use the screen, though that might be me. 

You can use either the phone button on the steering wheel, or voice commands if using mobile projection.

[NeverConsideredToyota]

On 9/10/2022 at 11:25 AM, Roy124 said:

I think it is a fine run thing. 

Look at it another way: the City Pack is an addition to a well tested system. 

The Smart Connect is a new and untried system.  Better Satnav display but you appear to lose handsfree calling, you need to use the screen, though that might be me. 

Siri or Google assistant for handsfree calling. Works very well in my current car

[gallen73]

Thank you all. seems like there's no obvious "better" choice.