In the city, I don't really check my speed at all (or any instruments, really). The only time in an urban area I check is when I'm in a school zone or when I see a cop; otherwise no one cares if you're going 30 or 35 in a 25. It's intuitively obvious if you're going much faster or slower than that.

My car tells me "next left" or "second left" (and "onto streetname") in addition to distance. That seems ideal for most situations.