No matter how often you rely on it, a car’s navigation system can significantly influence your driving experience. If the interface is cumbersome, the system is sluggish, entering data is challenging, or the routes are erratic, a bad navigation experience can be hard to overlook. In 2024, many regard Google Maps as the benchmark for navigation, so it was exciting when Chevrolet revealed its new cooperation with Google, announcing that Google Maps would be integrated into the Silverado starting from 2022, as part of its Google Built-In system. This technology is also available in the Tahoe and Suburban SUVs, along with the entire range of their electric vehicles.

After spending more than 7 months and driving 13,000 miles with our year-long test vehicle, the 2024 Chevy Silverado ZR2, we have developed some insights about GM’s integration with Google.

It works 60% of the time, every time

Shortly after receiving our long-term 2024 Silverado ZR2, we encountered problems with Google Maps. The system would unexpectedly freeze at inconvenient and random moments. During these episodes, not only did the maps become unresponsive, but the speed limit information on the driver display and head-up display would also freeze. If you try accessing the Google Maps app in the infotainment system while frozen, you’ll just get an error message saying, “searching for GPS.”

Like most owners confronted with this issue, we turned to the internet for possible fixes. Surprisingly (or not), forums and Reddit pages are packed with stories from others experiencing similar problems. Unfortunately, none of these discussions provide any concrete explanations or solutions. The response we received from the service writer and technician during our truck’s first maintenance was just as vague. The best tip we were given was to perform a manual reboot of the system when it freezes.

Restarting the system is a pretty straightforward process. When the truck is in park and running, you simply press and hold the “hang-up” button on the steering wheel for 15 seconds to reboot the entire infotainment system. Once it powers back on, everything seems fine. However, the duration of this fix is uncertain. We’ve found that these resets may last from three hours to three weeks. Adding to the complication, sometimes the system appears to correct itself. This might occur while you are driving, where the Google Maps screen will suddenly go dark and reboot, or it can happen overnight, where you find the system operational again upon your next drive. It’s a genuinely aggravating situation.

Constrained vehicle control

The Google Built-In feature offers more than just managing Google’s suite of integrated applications, including making phone calls, sending messages, finding directions with Google Maps, and checking the Google calendar. With its voice command system, you can also request basic vehicle functions, such as setting the air conditioning, adjusting fan speed, changing radio volume, and switching between media sources.

The system responds fairly well to its activation phrase, “Hey, Google,” and will lower the HVAC fan speed for better audio clarity. However, unlike some advanced systems, Google Built-In doesn’t fully understand natural language. To maximize the system’s capabilities, you’ll need to remember specific command prompts. Even with those prompts, requests must be very precise. For example, merely saying, “Tune to the Disney channel” won’t work. Instead, you must say, “Tune the radio to the Disney channel on SiriusXM.” It’s all in the details, which are crucial. The same principle applies to navigation: instead of saying, “Take me to the Trader Joes in El Segundo,” you should say, “Give me directions to the Trader Joes store on Rosecrans Boulevard in El Segundo, California.” Additionally, clarity and a slow speaking pace are vital for the system to understand most requests. Background noise, such as children talking in the backseat, can lead to misunderstandings.

One of the downsides of the truck’s integration with Google is that it doesn’t allow users to send custom routes to the vehicle. With Google Maps, planning distinct driving routes with several stops is quite easy, especially when using a desktop. You can share these tailored routes with other iOS and Android devices just by sending a link, and they work effectively through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, since the Google Built-In system needs you to log in with a Google account, it seems like sharing custom routes with the vehicle should be possible. Unfortunately, this capability is not currently offered.

Limited App Store Options

We understand that app integration in vehicles is still in its infancy. While we enjoy customizing our phones with beneficial apps, it would be great to do the same with our vehicle’s infotainment system. Google Built-In takes a step in that direction by providing access to the Google Play app store from the driver’s seat of our Silverado ZR2. However, our excitement quickly faded when we explored the available apps. Currently, the selection is quite limited, mostly featuring podcast and streaming services, as well as fuel and charging maps. Additionally, many of these apps still need a connected phone to operate effectively. This is particularly true for Waze.

We were thrilled to find that Waze was accessible on the Silverado, especially since we sought an alternative to the glitchy built-in Google Maps. Unfortunately, our hopes were dashed when we discovered the app’s limited capabilities. Aside from a basic list of points of interest, entering an address was cumbersome, and despite being linked to our main Waze account, the truck’s app did not sync with the phone app. Waze only allows usage of one app at a time, which adds to the frustration. The performance was so poor and sluggish that we decided to abandon our first attempt. At this juncture, using the Waze app on an iPhone alongside Apple CarPlay is far superior. This pattern holds true for all other Google Built-In apps we tested.

Subscription Costs for Google Built-In

It seems like everything these days requires a subscription, and Chevy’s Google Built-In features are no exception. To access these functions, an active OnStar plan is necessary, and the basic plan won’t do. The Google Built-In feature starts with the Connected Vehicle Plan, which currently costs $24.99 per month, with higher pricing tiers going up to $49.99 per month for the comprehensive Premium plan.

If you opt not to pay for OnStar, you will lose access to various features, including the Google Play app store, Google Assistant, and, most concerning, Google Maps. That’s right — without a paid subscription, even a high-end $75,000 2024 Chevy Silverado ZR2 won’t have access to its built-in navigation system.

Comparing Google Built-In with Apple CarPlay

Fortunately, there’s a clear alternative for those who prefer not to pay for navigation subscriptions. Chevy has been integrating Apple CarPlay into its Silverado models since 2016. Starting in 2024, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard in all trims, from the basic WT to the highest levels. Unsurprisingly, Apple CarPlay has become our indispensable feature. It allows us to easily access Google Maps (and other navigational apps like Apple Maps), make calls, send and reply to texts, and manage a variety of other applications without removing our phone from our pocket. We’ve experienced no connectivity issues, and the wireless connection remains stable, unlike other vehicles we’ve used in the past. Activating Siri is as simple as pressing and holding the talk button on the steering wheel, and it navigates through Apple Music far more effectively than the truck’s built-in voice recognition does. We can only hope that Chevy will continue to support Apple CarPlay in the future.

Is Alexa an Option Too?

As if having one voice assistant wasn’t sufficient, Chevy also incorporates Amazon’s Alexa Built-In as an alternative to Google Built-In (the naming team at GM seems to have taken a day off on that one). Besides speaking “Alexa” instead of “Hey, Google” to activate it, the functionality is largely the same. Like Google Built-In, Alexa Built-In also requires the same OnStar subscription, in addition to an Amazon account and the Alexa app installed on a paired smartphone.

Using Alexa, you can interact with various vehicle functions similar to Google, though it’s important to note that climate control features are exclusive to Google. Alexa also allows you to stream music from connected services like Amazon Music, Pandora, and more. Furthermore, Alexa Built-In can tap into many functionalities found in your home Alexa devices, and you have the option to set Alexa as the primary voice system in your truck if you choose.

When considering Google, Siri, and Alexa, we’ve had the least experience interacting with Alexa. Among the three, our connection with Alexa feels the most distant. The performance of the system is comparable to Google Built-In, making it a decent choice for anyone deeply integrated into the Amazon and Alexa ecosystem.

Is Google Built-In A Good Investment?

We were quite supportive of the Google Built-In feature until we noticed the subscription fee. While we might overlook current limitations with the hope that future updates will enhance the system’s functionality if the feature were free, the $300 annual fee is simply too high for us. For the time being, we prefer to save the cost, manage our own air conditioning, and stick to using Apple CarPlay.

Explore more about our long-term experience with the 2024 Chevy Silverado ZR2:

• Is This The General’s Best Off-Roader? A Look at the Long-Term Arrival of the 2024 Silverado ZR2
• We Tested Our Yearlong Review Silverado ZR2 by Driving It to the Bottom of the Grand Canyon
• Just Short of Perfection: A Review of the 2024 Silverado ZR2 Interior
• What We Discovered While Maximizing Our Silverado ZR2’s Towing Capacity

Images by MotorTrend Staff