Hello,
Driving a C220 from 2024.
When using the MB navigation i often get taken on a longer ride than when I use Google maps navigation from the phone.
Sometimes when the MB navigation tell me to make a turn, and i disgard the instruction because I do not believe it, the route is recalculated and now much shorter..
I do not find any settings in the menu that are wrong.
The car dealer says that the map data that MB use are the same as for Google maps, but I do not think it is correct, since if I use both, they often suggest different routes to the same destination.
Easy fix is to use Google maps instead, but I think that the MB navi has a better presentation, so that would be preferable, if I only could trust the information given.
Anyone knows a solution or have information about this behaviour?

Best regards,
Pär

 

nope, it uses here maps.

 

The maps and routing algorithms are different. As said above, MBUX uses maps from HERE. Also, the thing to understand is that built-in navigation systems use a top down navigation hierarchy. They deliberately keep you on main arteries for as long as possible, as those roads are designed to handle through-traffic. Google Maps and Waze are known to be indiscriminate and route through neighborhood roads, often to the frustration of the residents living there. It's long been a thorn in the eyes of residents and city planners that those apps have caused commuter traffic to be redirected through residential neighborhoods onto roads that were never designed to handle the traffic.

Google Maps etc. have their own issues. There was a recent prominent incident where somebody drove off a collapsed bridge to their death, because Google Maps didn't have the road as closed, and there are numerous cases where Google Maps does some really dumb routing. People have driven into lakes and such by blindly following Google Maps. So it's all relative. You will find that depending on your area, Google Maps may navigate you through roads that MBUX generally avoids due to the type of the road. MBUX will generally only route you on smaller residential roads for the last mile.

Lastly, shortest route doesn't necessarily mean fastest route. I believe MBUX still has options to configure the type of route you want. That should normally be set to fastest route and not shortest route or economic route. Don't recall from the top of my head what specific options MBUX has. Similarly, Google Maps nowadays opts for the most fuel efficient route by default if it's not much slower than the fastest route. That can also be changed in the settings. So when comparing routes, make sure you compare apples to apples. Before I set off for a trip, I often check Google Maps and compare it to the MB route. Google Maps in my area rarely has a much different or better route. In fact, I've ended up on slower routes with Google Maps as it ended up navigating me through a supposedly faster route, but I just ended up being stuck at traffic lights and stop signs. One of the things no navigation system currently takes into account are traffic lights and stop signs. You can often be slower on a supposed shortcut, because you end up having to stop every block vs staying on the main road with timed traffic light cycles. Traffic is very dynamic and lots of factors can slow you down, even if the navigation apps makes it seem that one particular route may be faster than another.

 

I just double checked using Microsoft Copilot and it confirmed that Mercedes now has partnered with Google and is using their maps. When we purchased our 2023 GLC the sale associate told us it was Google based.

Here is what COPILOT found - group.mercedes-benz.comYes, Mercedes-Benz has partnered with Google to integrate Google Maps into their navigation systems. In February 2023, Mercedes-Benz announced a long-term strategic partnership with Google to create a next-generation navigation experience. This partnership allows Mercedes-Benz to use Google Maps data for features like real-time traffic information, automatic rerouting, and detailed place information1.

So, while Mercedes-Benz primarily used HERE Maps in the past, they have now integrated Google Maps into their latest navigation systems2.

 

The only part of that that has been rolled out is Google Places information in the current MBUX system. The rest is planned for the upcoming MB.OS. Current production cars are not using Google Maps for traffic and routing. Don't trust AI w/o doing your own research.

https://media.mbusa.com/releases/rel...ion-experience

 

Interesting. So I will take delivery of a 2025 C300 in late April that has the new MBUX. I will see if there is much difference in the navigation features between the 2023 GLC and the new 2025.

 

There won't be any difference. MB.OS is only vaporware at this point. All current and upcoming models will still run MBUX. No timeline has been announced for the first cars using MB.OS.

 

I rather have here maps to be honest, it is way better imho.

 

Speaking of MB OS. I guess the first vehicle to have it is the all new CLA (2026?2027?), will be interesting if facelift W223 S-Class also gets it or it might take another year or two.