Solid Satnavs In-Car GPS: Five Fresh Units for Under $300
COULD SATNAVS GO THE WAY OF THE DODO soon? GPS apps for phones come with data costs, sap your phone’s battery and often just aren’t very good, but they arc convenient and cheap. However, dedicated devices can fight back by bringing highly reliable navigation at a reasonable price. This is how the latest wave shapes up…
BINATONE G430 – Best Avoided
The Binatone G430 tries to catch your eye with its red case – an oddity in a sea of black and silver satnavs – but maps are lackluster and re-routing is the slowest on test. Sharp bends in the road are occasionally labelled as turns, making for confusing journeys.
The 4.3-inch touchscreen is bright and responsive, with a good anti-reflective coating and safety camera alerts come as standard, but the lack of real-time traffic info and Bluetooth just adds to the list of complaints with this satnav.
(+) Quick to set up. Anti-reflective screen
(-) Slow to re-route. Inaccurate, confusing maps. No Bluetooth. No real-time traffic updates
Price $160
MIO SPIRIT 475 – Best Map Coverage
The Spirit 475 is aimed at holiday makers, offering them maps to rent rather than buy -European maps cost £6.50 for three days use. or £17.38 for a month. You at so get a free 12-month trial of safety camera info. Learn Me which adapts to your driving habits, avoiding motorways or favoring roads with higher speedhints as you see fit, and real-time traffic updates.
Start up is swift and the interface is intuitive with easy to follow directions shown on the 4.3-inch screen. There’s also the option to switch to 30 mapping. No Bluetooth, however.
(+) Simple user interface. 3D mode
(-) No Bluetooth. Expensive map rental
Price $170
NAVIGON 70 PLUS – Extra Features
This has the biggest display on test: live glorious. wide screen inches. Maps look stunning in either 2D or 3D and are easy to follow,with lane assistance and accurate road markings.
The 70 Plus has a wealth of other features. Including real-time traffic updates. Clever Parking, which tries to find you as pace in packed car
parks and motion sensor controls that give an overview of your directions when you wave your hand near the screen. The 70 Plus is them cost expensive satnav on test, but with speedy mapping and EU maps Pre-installed its worth it.
(+) Massive screen and motion sensing controls
(-) The mount isn’t the best we’ve ever seen
Price $265
GARMIN NUVI 1310 – Best Overall
Setting up the NUVI 1310 is very simple lust a few taps on the 4.3-inch touchscreen and you’re away. Latching on to a satellite signal takes but moments, too.
The automated voice can be a little too softly spoken to be heard in noisy conditions. but commands are accurate and easy to follow. Extra features, such as Where Am I? which helps you locate your car. Eco Route which aims to reduce your fuel intake and real-time speed camera updates are a welcome addition. Traffic updates aren’t included, but with Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, this is still great value.
(+) Simple interface. Helpful extra features
(-) USB charger costs
Price $170
TOMTOM XL IQ ROUTES EDITION 2 – Best Interface
Simplicity is the key to the TomTom XL Edition 2. TomTom’s customary sleek interlace, coupled with a bright 4.3-inch screen makes it easy to use, with great maps.
TomTom’s IQ Routes do a stellar lob Of finding the quickest route for different times of the day. Speed camera info is pro-installed and you get a three-month trial of safety info and fuel prices. Help Me is onboard to give you a hand in an emergency too. Bluetooth and real-time traffic updates are odd exclusions, but for $12 you can get DarthVader to read your directions. So that’s nice.
(+) Easy-to-use menus. Accurate IQ Routes
(-) No Bluetooth means no hands-free
Price $225
COULD SATNAVS GO THE WAY OF THE DODO soon? GPS apps for phones come with data costs, sap your phone’s battery and often just aren’t very good, but they arc convenient and cheap. However, dedicated devices can fight back by bringing highly reliable navigation at a reasonable price. This is how the latest wave shapes up…
BINATONE G430 – Best Avoided
The Binatone G430 tries to catch your eye with its red case – an oddity in a sea of black and silver satnavs – but maps are lackluster and re-routing is the slowest on test. Sharp bends in the road are occasionally labelled as turns, making for confusing journeys.
The 4.3-inch touchscreen is bright and responsive, with a good anti-reflective coating and safety camera alerts come as standard, but the lack of real-time traffic info and Bluetooth just adds to the list of complaints with this satnav.
(+) Quick to set up. Anti-reflective screen
(-) Slow to re-route. Inaccurate, confusing maps. No Bluetooth. No real-time traffic updates
Price $160
MIO SPIRIT 475 – Best Map Coverage
The Spirit 475 is aimed at holiday makers, offering them maps to rent rather than buy -European maps cost £6.50 for three days use. or £17.38 for a month. You at so get a free 12-month trial of safety camera info. Learn Me which adapts to your driving habits, avoiding motorways or favoring roads with higher speedhints as you see fit, and real-time traffic updates.
Start up is swift and the interface is intuitive with easy to follow directions shown on the 4.3-inch screen. There’s also the option to switch to 30 mapping. No Bluetooth, however.
(+) Simple user interface. 3D mode
(-) No Bluetooth. Expensive map rental
Price $170
NAVIGON 70 PLUS – Extra Features
This has the biggest display on test: live glorious. wide screen inches. Maps look stunning in either 2D or 3D and are easy to follow,with lane assistance and accurate road markings.
The 70 Plus has a wealth of other features. Including real-time traffic updates. Clever Parking, which tries to find you as pace in packed car
parks and motion sensor controls that give an overview of your directions when you wave your hand near the screen. The 70 Plus is them cost expensive satnav on test, but with speedy mapping and EU maps Pre-installed its worth it.
(+) Massive screen and motion sensing controls
(-) The mount isn’t the best we’ve ever seen
Price $265
GARMIN NUVI 1310 – Best Overall
Setting up the NUVI 1310 is very simple lust a few taps on the 4.3-inch touchscreen and you’re away. Latching on to a satellite signal takes but moments, too.
The automated voice can be a little too softly spoken to be heard in noisy conditions. but commands are accurate and easy to follow. Extra features, such as Where Am I? which helps you locate your car. Eco Route which aims to reduce your fuel intake and real-time speed camera updates are a welcome addition. Traffic updates aren’t included, but with Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, this is still great value.
(+) Simple interface. Helpful extra features
(-) USB charger costs
Price $170
TOMTOM XL IQ ROUTES EDITION 2 – Best Interface
Simplicity is the key to the TomTom XL Edition 2. TomTom’s customary sleek interlace, coupled with a bright 4.3-inch screen makes it easy to use, with great maps.
TomTom’s IQ Routes do a stellar lob Of finding the quickest route for different times of the day. Speed camera info is pro-installed and you get a three-month trial of safety info and fuel prices. Help Me is onboard to give you a hand in an emergency too. Bluetooth and real-time traffic updates are odd exclusions, but for $12 you can get DarthVader to read your directions. So that’s nice.
(+) Easy-to-use menus. Accurate IQ Routes
(-) No Bluetooth means no hands-free
Price $225
