The C172 with a G1000 setup was around $20/hr more at the local flight school than a C172 with a six pack. Def not needed for X-country but I always felt safer flying it through busy airspace. Garmin really does make fantastic avionics.
At our place they were the same price (though the steam gauge one was a newer type). They still had to have it because some exams require it.
Where I flew was all VFR territory.