GM's 'Google Built-In' Is Glitchy, Requires A Subscription To Use Google Maps

Whether you like it or not, GM is developing its own infotainment operating system for its cars. Unfortunately it doesn’t sound as if the system is very good. And you’re going to have to open your wallet if you want to use some of the systems’ main features.

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Motor Trend recently discovered this unfortunate reality in their long term testing of the 2024 Chevy Silverado ZR2. After seven months and 13,000 miles, they discovered that the system has some flaws.

The system would suddenly freeze at the most inopportune and random times. When this happened, not only did the maps stop working, but speed limit information displayed in the driver information screen and head-up display froze as well. Navigating to the infotainment system’s Google Maps app while the system is frozen results in the displaying of a “searching for GPS” error message.

Motor Trend says the best solution they could find was a complete system reboot when it happens, which requires holding the phone hang up button on the steering wheel for 15 seconds with the truck running. Pretty annoying. Another annoying problem was the voice control function. GM says that drivers can say “Hey Google” and then control various functions in the car by just saying them, like climate control fan speed or changing a radio station. Except it’s not that simple.

Simply stating “Tune to the Disney channel” will result in failure. Instead, the prompt would need to be “Tune the radio to the Disney channel on SiriusXM.” It’s nuanced, but important. The same goes for navigation. Instead of “Take me to the Trader Joes in El Segundo,” you need to say, “Give me directions to the Trader Joe’s store on Rosecrans Boulevard in El Segundo, California.” You also need to speak slowly and enunciate clearly for the system to get most requests on the first try.

There’s also an app store with apps like Waze. However Motor Trend says it’s so slow to load and inputting an address is so difficult that they gave up on using it the first time they tried it. The worst part of the system? You have to pay for a data access plan if you want to use its connected features like Google Maps.

Choosing not to pay for OnStar will result in the loss of access to certain features. These include the Google Play app store, Google Assistant, and, most alarming, Google Maps. That’s right—without a paid subscription, our $75,000 2024 Chevy Silverado ZR2 doesn’t offer access to its native navigation system.

Screenshot: OnStar

This means that without purchasing one of OnStar’s Connected Vehicle Plans — which range from $29.99 to $49.99 a month — Google Maps, Assistant, Google Play Store and other connected features are all rendered useless. I confirmed this with OnStar who said that yes, if there’s no Connected Vehicle data subscription, you can’t use any Google Built-in features. Luckily there’s a big workaround: you can still connect your phone and use wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However with GM planning to abandon phone mirroring features like Carplay, it’s only a matter of time before the automaker closes that loophole.