Tata Sierra and Kia Seltos’s built-in navigation: Here’s how it is different from Google Maps or Apple Maps

Navigation

The new Tata Sierra and the newly announced Kia Seltos offer drivers with two navigation choices: Factory-fitted, built-in systems and smartphone projection through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. While both aim to guide users efficiently, their strengths differ in integration, connectivity dependence, and update cycles. The question is which one you should be using for better navigation support. We've explained that in details. Read on.

Native navigation systems in the Tata Sierra and Kia Seltos are designed as part of the vehicle’s core software. In the Sierra, the built-in Mappls MapMyIndia navigation system can extend directions to the digital instrument cluster and, in select variants, the head-up display. This allows turn-by-turn guidance to stay within the driver’s direct line of sight, reducing reliance on the central touchscreen.

The Kia Seltos’ built-in navigation, accessed through Kia Connect, is similarly integrated with vehicle systems. It can align routing data with driving modes and provide contextual alerts linked to the car’s sensors. This level of integration is typically unavailable with Google Maps or Apple Maps when projected via a smartphone.

A key advantage of built-in navigation is offline usability. Map data is stored locally, ensuring continuous GPS-based routing even in areas with weak or no mobile network coverage. This makes native systems more dependable on long highway drives or in remote regions. Although you can do the same with Google Maps but saving the map data on the device -- but that's limited.

In contrast, Google Maps and Apple Maps rely heavily on mobile data. While offline maps can be downloaded, real-time rerouting is limited without connectivity. However, when data is available, smartphone apps offer more accurate traffic information by using crowd-sourced inputs from millions of users and the data is more real-time compared to the built-in systems.

Smartphone-based navigation benefits from frequent updates, with map changes, new roads, and interface improvements rolled out automatically through app updates. Built-in systems depend on over-the-air updates or service-centre refreshes, which may be less frequent.

The key difference is that built-in navigation systems are directly linked to a vehicle’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Android Auto and Apple CarPlay only offer visual directions as separate software layers, but native systems in models like the 2025 Tata Sierra and Kia Sonet supply real-time road data to the car’s safety modules, allowing the vehicle to make predictive, not just reactive, decisions.