Sat-navs Tested

We test eight of the latest sat-nav units to see which has the best mix of route planning and useful extras.

Auto Express Car Reviews

February 2010

With dozens of sat-navs now on the market, many boasting a host of advanced features, it’s easy to get lost and go for the wrong one. So what should you be looking for when buying? We put eight best-sellers through their paces to give our verdict.

The Test

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Our route took us in and out of a busy town in Surrey. We were looking for simple instructions, clear mapping and comprehensive point of interest (POI) information as basics. Lots of new services have been made available since our last test, so we wanted to see how well integrated these features, such as traffic updates and safety camera warnings, were. An easy-to-use mount and value for money were our final criteria.

Contacts
Garmin, 023 8052 4000, garmin.co.uk
Medion, 0871 376 1020, medionshop.co.uk
Navigon, 0871 288 0154, navigon.com
TomTom, 0845 161 0009, tomtom.com

Verdict

The follow-up to last year’s winner and our Product of the Year, the TomTom Go 950 Live packed an impressive array of features, and scored highest in our test. Buyers on a budget will appreciate the well specified Garmin nüvi 1240, which claimed second spot. Vexia’s EcoNav 380 completed the top three, thanks to its value for money price tag and emissions-saving credentials.