Apple has long been striving to enhance its navigation app, with much of its efforts concentrated on features integrated into Apple Maps. However, the company is now taking a different approach, aiming to establish Apple Maps as the primary navigation app for both car manufacturers and CarPlay users.
It’s no secret that many iPhone and CarPlay users have opted for Google Maps over Apple Maps due to perceived shortcomings such as the absence of satellite maps for navigation and, until recently, offline maps. The latest iOS update introduces another compelling reason to stick with Apple Maps.
iOS 17.4, now available for all supported iPhones, enables turn-by-turn guidance directly on the instrument cluster via CarPlay. While previous versions of Apple Maps supported navigation on the instrument cluster, they offered only basic route display, with the full navigation experience confined to the larger infotainment screen.
With iOS 17.4, turn-by-turn guidance is now extended to the instrument cluster, eliminating the need to divert attention from the road to the infotainment screen for upcoming navigation prompts.
However, access to this feature depends on whether your vehicle supports Apple Maps on the instrument cluster. While many assume that having CarPlay and Apple Maps installed automatically enables this feature, the update’s functionality is contingent upon the vehicle’s compatibility with Apple Maps in the instrument cluster.
Apple has collaborated with select car manufacturers to enable Apple Maps navigation directly in the driver’s line of sight, ensuring crucial information is readily available without requiring the driver to glance away from the road. The seamless integration of turn-by-turn guidance on the instrument cluster represents another step toward enhancing driver safety.
iOS 17.4 is accessible to all iPhones compatible with iOS 17. Users can download the update by navigating to Settings > General. Apple is putting the final touches on the next-generation CarPlay, which is expected to debut with initial adoption by Aston Martin and Porsche, with further details anticipated at WWDC in the summer.
