Google Maps Beats Waze 4.5/5 to 3.5/5 in PCMag Comparison

Q: Why does Google Maps sometimes suggest dangerous dirt tracks for simple local grocery runs?

Google Maps sometimes suggests dirt tracks or awkward local turns because its routing engine is optimizing from imperfect data, not local driving judgment. The comparison in the news story showed that on short, familiar trips, Google Maps twice chose routes that looked technically viable on the map but were impractical in real driving: a dirt track, a 170-degree turn, and a very tight bend. That usually happens when the app treats a road as usable and potentially time-saving, even if local drivers know it is unsuitable, uncomfortable, or risky. The supporting material points to a broader reason: Google Maps can be less precise in rural or lightly mapped areas, where there are fewer landmarks, less traffic data, weaker connectivity, and less frequent updates. In those places, road classifications may be outdated or incomplete, and small but important details — such as surface quality, turning difficulty, driveway access, or whether a lane is realistically usable for an ordinary car — may not be captured well enough. Google Maps also calculates routes using distance, live traffic, road data, and current movement, rather than common-sense familiarity with the area. So if a dirt road appears shorter or faster in the dataset, the app may recommend it even when a human driver would avoid it. By contrast, Waze performed better in the test because its routing more closely matched practical local choices and benefits from strong community reporting and driver-focused hazard updates.

2 articles · Updated · Supercar Blondie · Aug 3

PCMag writer Jordan Minor rated Google Maps 4.5 out of 5 and Waze 3.5 out of 5 after a side-by-side comparison, calling the gap decisive rather than close.
Offline use and map presentation drove the result: Minor said Google Maps was far more helpful without a connection and its immersive navigation and 3D features outclassed Waze.
Waze's strongest edge remained its driver-fed live updates on accidents and road closures, a feature set Google Maps also offers but, in Minor's view, less effectively.
The verdict cuts against a report a day earlier that declared Waze the winner after four route races, underscoring how the long-running debate shifts depending on whether routing or overall features are prioritized.