cityXplorer™ Maps

Nope, you pretty much have it all.

Some time ago I asked Garmin basically the same question. I was going to Europe and buying the Europe map and asked if I shoud also buy the CityExplorer maps for some of the cities I was visiting as well. This was their answer:

"As far as the City Xplorer maps go, those give you the exact same map detail, but also include an Enhanced Pedestrian mode that gives you mass transit information to get to your routes if you are walking. There are no lifetime updates for this though, and unless you plan to walk around and use mass transit a lot, it's not really worth getting this."

Don

So the only real thing you are gaining is Public Transportation added to your GPS. I do take Subway frequently here but there's not much to it, not sure that I require a GPS to navigate the subway; not that the GPS would even work while in the subway.

So to be clear though i will NOT be gaining any turn restrictions, roundabout guidance, speed limits and Lane Assist or POI that I do not already have?

Thank you
Chris

That's Correct

I bought one prior to a trip to L.A. in 2011, but really didn't see much difference. I doubt I will buy another one.

I bought one prior to a trip to Phoenix, but really didn't see much difference. I doubt I will buy another one.

As was mentioned, the only advantage of using CityXplorer (assuming you already have City Navigator covering the area) is the Enhanced Pedestrian Mode to utilize Public Transportation. If purchasing, be sure that the CityXplorer map will adequately cover the area you'll be using it in since it's possible to run out of map coverage...the maps only cover a fixed area.

I downloaded the cityxplorer map for Washington DC onto my nuvi 3590. I wanted to use the enhanced pedestrian mode since I frequently use public transportation. I didn't want it to navigate the subway system, but I did want to have an aid to help locate the closest stop from my current position or help me select the closest stop to my final destination. It wasn't a huge improvement over City Navigator, but it was an enhancement. I went to install cityxplorer on my other GPSr and found that as of 1/1/2014, Garmin is no longer selling it. I suspect that it might have something to do with all the criticism, but wonder if they are improving it, or dumping the idea completely.

As bob20886 mentioned, cityXplorer maps are no longer being sold. According to the following Garmin page, cityXplorer maps have been officially discontinued.

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?...

Scroll down to the bottom of the above page and displayed in red text is:

Glad they discontinued it, they were not worth it anyway. Bought one for Rome and it was of no help at all, actually Google maps were better for pedestrian mode.

Not sure why anyone would be glad that they discontinued selling it. I can understand that someone might be disappointed in their purchase which is why there are reviews. I felt it was worth the price in order to add public transportation to my routing options, and in Washington DC it is pretty handy.

I hope that they work on improving it and start selling it again.

Likely, the reason for discontinuation is the fact that the more recent nuvi units are large screen (5"-7") and the battery life on these units is quite short...maybe an hour or so. Not very useful for pedestrian use. They also have no pedestrian routing mode like the older, smaller units also had. The map series was likely not making the money that was required to keep the product development afloat. Mobile devices like smart phones are likely taking over for pedestrian use...nearly everyone has one and pedestrian navigation is pretty much free or very inexpensive.

The Rome edition did not even have the bus system included. Ended up using Google, NavFree and the Rome bus internet site for getting around and left the Garmin in the hotel.

Since the release of the 2014.20 CN North American map in August 2013, if you had also installed on your Nuvi any CityXplorer maps, the purple route highlighting line disappeared. Once I deselected the CityXplorer maps from "My Maps" on my nuvi 3790LMT, the purple route highlighting reappeared. Since the CityXplorer maps are no longer supported, I have removed these from all my Garmin GPS'.

Well, I certainly enjoyed them in Paris, Venice, Madrid and New York City on my Nuvi 1490. They were fine for trip planning in simulator mode, but not so great in the field. You had to use them in a higher end PEDESTRIAN MODE compatible GPS. They worked better in my 3590 but the map updates after 2014.3 killed them on the units. This probably coincided with the end of support. The NT maps work fine if you are hoofing it, but they do not get you to a Metro or a Vaporetto stop.

When travelling in Europe most folks do not have a compatible smart phone with a data plan. This makes a standalone GPS still a viable product and Garmin should realize this by improving products like CityXplorer and not abandoning them.

The biggest problem was not the maps, but the battery life of the Nuvis. You had to get a satellite lock first - which is hard in the city streets or transportation - then get your directions. You could of course put it into simulator mode, which again is pretty tricky. Once you got those great directions - and they were very good in my experience on buses and trains - you had to keep the unit on for as long as your trip lasted. Not many batteries can.

If Garmin just allowed you to save the directions list in memory it would have made a more useful product.