Pioneer cranks out slew of AVIC in-car navigation systems

Pioneer's been known to unveil new navigators fairly frequently, but the firm is starting October off right by introducing no fewer than nine new units for you to choose from. Starting at the top, the AVIC-HRZ009G / AVIC-HRV002G both sport seven-inch displays, DVD playback, support for MP3 / AAC / DivX formats, a terrestrial digital TV tuner, built-in hard drive and a wireless remote, with the only real difference being the in-dash design of the former and the on-dash (mountable) design of the latter. As your budget tightens, Pioneer ratchets the specs down on seven other similar siblings, giving users a ¥126,000 ($1,094) to ¥262,500 ($2,278) window of alternatives. Hit the read link for all the juicy details on each.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

[jaapv @ Oct 2nd 2007 5:45AM]

The 3D view is nice for when you're flying a helikopter.

[Fruition @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:29AM]

At first when I saw that screen I thought I was looking at a new Katamari Damacy game. The Prince hasn't rolled up Paris yet, has he?

[Ryan P @ Oct 2nd 2007 2:53PM]

I would totally "roll" my car into the nearest giant milk bottle.

[Jugomugo @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:32AM]

That's nice if you have a double-din setup I suppose.

[Jugomugo @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:33AM]

Bah! Just noticed an alternate version with single.

[El in AZ @ Oct 2nd 2007 12:29PM]

If the shop I bought my Pioneer AVIC from allowed refunds, I'd take the thing back.

There's a major road near my house .. it's been there for more than a decade, it shows up on the AVIC's map when I drive on it and it's one of the major freeway exits in my city .. however, the AVIC-D3 refuses to use it. My $200 Garmin c330 uses Estrella Parkway and its map data is more than a year out of date now.

But perhaps THE MOST GRATING thing the AVIC does is insert random "slight right turn" commands into directions. Sometimes that's telling you to get over into the turning lane as you approach an intersection. Eight times out of 10 though, it says that while you're driving down a straight road, with no turn coming up... Or on the freeway, at 75 MPH, with no exit within 5 miles or more... "Slight right turn ahead." Uh, thanks, Honey.

I wonder if that's a TeleAtlas map data issue or an issue with Pioneer? In any case, the device is maddening to use.

[Matthew @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:15PM]

can your $200 Garmin c330 play DVDs, have ipod function controls or have a 6.5" screen?

[El in AZ @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:49PM]

Nope. But that's not what I bought the Garmin for. I just needed it to get me from Point A to Point B, which it does beautifully.

I thought the Garmin would do that and much much more. It does. Just not very elegantly.