Android Auto has been one of the biggest upgrades for in-car navigation in years, but as good as it is, I don’t blindly follow every route that it suggests.
I’ve noticed that all too often, the best navigation route isn’t the default. These issues arise from small assumptions.
For example, Google Maps assumes that I’m fine with paying tolls, and sometimes it assumes that I want the most fuel-efficient route.
More than that, it assumes that the first route it recommends is the one that I should take. That isn’t always true.
Recently, I did a 1,000km road trip. Before leaving home, I spent a minute checking a few settings that are tucked away just enough that most people don’t get around to them.
These aren’t hidden features, but they prevent some surprisingly common routing mistakes before they happen, and you might observe that they make your journey much smoother.
These are the three options that I check every time I am about to hit the road.
I optimized Android Auto for long drives, and now I can’t go back
A few tweaks made long road trips less chaotic
Review route restrictions before every long drive
Don’t let Android Auto decide for you
One of the most frustrating things about navigation apps is realizing that they’re taking you somewhere you never intended to go.
You blindly trust these apps, but sometimes they can goof up.
For example, I’ve had Android Auto take me off an expensive toll road through the back country, which added two hours to my journey. I would have happily paid the toll.
Similarly, on an international trip, it suggested a ferry crossing that made no sense for the journey I was taking. That’s why I always check route restrictions before a long drive.
The navigation system doesn’t know whether I am comfortable paying a toll or want to stay on local roads.
If I only see the total travel time and traffic conditions, it chooses for me. While the toll road option is usually set by default, I’ve occasionally observed that Google Maps might switch it off.
The best way forward is to check this before you kickstart your journey.
In my case, I prefer to take the toll road option because it’s the most straightforward, no-nonsense route.
Living in India, off-road, off-highway lanes can be small, congested, and traffic-prone. I want to avoid that.
Moreover, a route that saves me a couple of dollars isn’t worth it if it’s going to add an extra half hour or an hour to my journey.
Tucked away under settings, checking this one option before you start your trip can save you a nasty surprise.
Fuel-efficient routing might not be the most efficient route
Efficiency doesn’t always mean a better drive
The other option I keep an eye out for is Fuel Efficient Routing.
It sounds like the kind of toggle that everybody should leave enabled, and the idea is simple.
Google Maps analyzes factors like traffic speed changes and elevation to find a route that could save fuel without impacting travel times.
In practice, I found that the route it creates can have unnecessary detours.
For example, while driving into the hills, it might take a route with fewer elevation changes to enhance fuel efficiency.
If that route crosses through multiple towns instead of taking a direct path, I’m going to be stuck in traffic or taking an unnecessarily complicated route.
Once in a while, instead of asking me to keep straight on a highway, it wanted me to take a series of smaller roads because the route was supposedly more efficient.
While the estimated arrival time was basically the same, the drive was certainly more challenging.
That’s where having the option to enable or disable the setting becomes useful.
For example, if you are driving across town, Fuel Efficient Routing can help you avoid traffic and find detours that you might not have known of otherwise.
Long-distance drives are different. You want to avoid complexity instead of adding detours through unknown places.
The toggle is easy to check under settings, and if you’re unsure, it makes sense to start off the navigation using both options and making a judgment call.
If Android Auto makes recommendations that seem overly complicated, turning it off usually results in more logical and straightforward route mapping.
Still, I appreciate the feature, and since most of my driving is within the city, I’ll leave it enabled most of the time.
As it turns out, for some trips, the smartest route isn’t necessarily the one that saves a little more fuel.
You’ll want to use your own judgment about when to enable or disable this feature.
Review alternate routes before tapping start
The fastest route isn’t always the best route
The third option is less of an option and more of a habit you should probably change.
Most of us get in our car, tap our location, and press Start on the navigation button.
Did you know that Google Maps gives you multiple routes to the same destination before you tap start?
Lately, I’ve taken to spending a few seconds reviewing the alternate routes before I pull out of my driveway.
The reason is simple. Navigation apps make decisions based on existing traffic data and other variables, but you know your city better.
For example, I’ve been in situations where the fastest route saved me a couple of minutes but went along a route that I knew passed through residential areas and tight turns.
The chances of getting stuck in traffic were exponentially higher because data has latency, and those roads are known to be unpredictable.
I’ve also seen routes that cut through city streets for absolutely no reason when a slightly longer highway route would have brought me to my destination with easier driving and maybe only a few extra minutes.
Looking at alternatives gives you context and the ability to choose a route that is more suited to your personal conditions.
Maybe you are running late for a meeting and want the absolute fastest route, or perhaps you’re heading out for a road trip and want comfort and ease of driving instead of speed.
Looking at the options presented by Android Auto can help you make a more informed decision.
The process takes mere seconds, but it can save you a lot of time wondering why Android Auto chose a particular road.
A few seconds of preparation can make Android Auto much more reliable
I believe Android Auto Support is one of the best features added to cars in the last couple of years, and for the most part, it works remarkably well.
However, navigation cannot be put completely on autopilot, nor can it be completely data-driven.
It requires personal context and personal awareness of settings to effectively get you to your destination, both in time and in comfort.
Checking route restrictions helps avoid routes you don’t want to use, while fuel-efficient routing can prevent you from ending up with surprises you don’t need.
Similarly, looking at alternate routes gives you a chance to choose your own adventure while you get to your destination.
These are all basic settings, but relying on them can solve very real problems that you might be facing and might not even be aware of while you’re out and about.
The best part is that changing any of these settings takes mere seconds. It can make a big difference between a comfortable journey and an annoying one.
And you won’t be wondering why Android Auto sent you down that particular road.
