1- Is the Ford navigation option worth having??
I have not used it. My only experience is with my wife's Acura MDX. I researched her system in an attempt to update it and found out her system was 5-6 years out of date. The newest update available from Acura was at least 2-3 out of date and required a $130 CD (required for each Acura update). Basically....... you were much better off using your phone apps than trying to use the Acura system.

2- Are phone apps a better alternative??

I did a few searches here and came up with little or nothing. I just hate paying for options that have little or no value.

NOTE: I mostly use traffic functions on Goggle Maps or Waze currently. I also use them occasionally for directions when traveling.

 

My 2017 XLT came with navigation and sync 3 which has apple car play and android auto. I would not have ordered it (came with the truck I found at the dealer) if I had a choice as the apple and android auto programs allow you to use their maps app. Since all Ford products now come with the apply/android auto app I would not order if you have a choice. Redundant

 

But if you do order it, when you connect your truck to wifi at home, it will automatically upload updates to the firmware and maps. I find it useful having never had it, but in the more congested US citys perhaps updates are not as fresh. I would switch to Waze in those situations, but we don't bother with that up north. I prefer the in-bedded Nav over iPhone Maps, but there are advantages to using either in certain situations.

 

It sucks. Use Android Auto and Waze/Gmaps. Always up to date, the traffic and cop notifications are heaven. Factory navs will never rival either of Googles map apps.

 

I really like the factory Nav. Voice commands to find an address work very well. The graphics are pretty "blah" particularly during the day screen, but the system is reasonably fast. It is not DVD-based like your Acura and hence is considerably quicker. The additional graphics provided on-screen as to which exit on a roundabout or even interstate exits are helpful. I like how you can select "midpoint" on a street where you don't have an exact address.

If you have the 8" instrument cluster screen, you can also display the Nav info on that screen while using the Sync3 screen for something else like music or climate control. It accurately displays speed limits, and when your low gas light comes on, it displays gas station icons as POI's on the screen.

All in all, it adds to the upscale feel of the vehicle (luxury vehicles always have a factory navi system) and the updates are wireless and no longer require expensive discs from the dealer.

Is it possible the phone nav system is more up to date? Sure, but then you have to use a crappy phone screen or the corded CarPlay / Android Auto connection.

 

I guess it's probably different strokes.

I plug my phone in everytime out of habit. And I really enjoy the Google Assistant voice prompts over the factory ones.

Hop in, plug in, turn on the car.

"Take me to Staples Center"
"Add a stop at Mike's house"
"Text Mike, I'm on my way ******"
"Who's favored to win the Lakers game tonight"

It just has so much more functionality and usefulness to me.

 

I had a chance to get a truck with bliss and a tailgate step, but I pass it up for the factory navigation option. I so regret that choice. The truck automatically defaults to my iPhone map when my phone is plugged in and the carplay feature works seamlessly.

 

I have factory navigation in my 2017 Super Duty F-250 Platinum and I like my Garmin Nuvi 5000 navigation better. You can hook up a backup camera to it.

 

I don't believe map updates are delivered over WiFi. You've got to pay for those...

 

I agree -- No map updates over wi-fi at home.....

 

I have the nav in my '17 F350 Platinum, but I don't use it. I use Android Auto and Google Maps currently. Waze is beta-testing with Android Auto and when/if it works out I will use Waze exclusively...or at least until something better comes along.

 

...so I had never heard of Waze... I searched it in the play store. The read the "permissions"...
Holy crap! I might as well let them wiretap my phone!

 

It's owned by Google... They have you by the ***** anyways

 

Waze is by far the best in my opinion. I travel virtually every day and use it extensively. I have the nav system in my 17 F250 and still go to Waze first.

 

How does this work? I checked the manual and nav settings and didn't find a setting to allow the instrument cluster to display nav settings. This would be very cool to have!

Thanks!