For what it is worth, IOS maps has more recent satellite images and more recent road maps from the centre of the city where I live than maps.google.com (the data from maps.google.com will happily show a continuous road that, nowadays, is only an entry to a parking garage)
The IOS 5 app has what looks like the same satellite data as maps.google.com, but even older road topology (it lacks the detour you need to not end up in that garage)
So, from the (tiny) part I checked, IOS 6 has better maps than IOS 5. It may be worse on average, but how would a user objectively evaluate a map app that covers the world?
Happier? No. For my uses, both apps are adequate. I do not use maps apps often, and I if do, it is the old-fashioned way: look at the map before I leave, possibly make a screen dump to make sure I'll have some map avaiable on the road, and use that screen dump if necessary to get where I need to be. I will, at some time, miss street view, though.
Reading discussions, I also learnt and verified that iOS 6 location search is lousy (I think it doesn't know enough about statitics, or doesn't have enough statistical data (yet?). If one searches for, e.g. 'central station', it will happily return hits such as 'Starbucks central station' or 'the X hotel, central station' in favor of the actual train station. It should know that, when in doubt, it should go for the most often sought for hits)
The IOS 5 app has what looks like the same satellite data as maps.google.com, but even older road topology (it lacks the detour you need to not end up in that garage)
So, from the (tiny) part I checked, IOS 6 has better maps than IOS 5. It may be worse on average, but how would a user objectively evaluate a map app that covers the world?