You can still use google maps via the web browser which at the moment is looking better than using the new maps app. Hopefully google will release an app soon.

For the moment I'd say stick with ios 5. iOS 6 actually seems faster on my iPhone 4S but the maps app, while showing potential, is definitely not ready for mainstream use. Perhaps they should have kept Google as default for iOS 6 and made Apple maps an optional download for those interested in testing it out. Then maybe in the future these maps may be good enough to be the default.

Is it any better in the US?