
However, Google Maps’ biggest weakness is related to its greatest strengths. Nor does it display the local speed limit in most territories. For instance, the audio guidance still doesn’t call out street names. Google Maps still arguably isn’t fully optimised for driving. Google Map’s overhauled interface is also great for searching and adding petrol stations while you’re en route, an extremely useful feature. Just remember that the ongoing war between Apple and Google means you can’t do the same using an iPhone and Apple CarPlay. Android Auto also means you can mirror a streamlined version of the Google Maps interface on to supporting car infotainment screens. That’s improved recently with the addition of features like multiple waypoint support and improvements to Google Maps’ turn-by-turn interface. What Google Maps hasn’t always been so good at is the simple task of navigation. It’s more accurate than Apple’s Siri for nav input, though with iPhone rather than an Android handset, voice control is only available within the app itself. Google Maps can also leverage Google’s voice recognition capabilities to input destinations and search locally. Take that information, combine it with the mapping data and Google’s broader search prowess including local data and you have a preposterously powerful combo. Since Google snapped up the competing Waze app, Google Maps has also benefited from the latter’s user-driven traffic and incident data.

Save money by fixing your car yourself with our wide range of manuals, in both digital and print Its biggest advantage involves the intergalactic sums of money Google has spent on physically mapping the world with satellites and via a fleet of car with cameras, sensors and scanners.Īpple has recently been trying to catch up, but Google has been at it for years and for now no other app comes close. Let’s deal with that 800lb gorilla and also the elephant in the room.

