Best UK sat navs to buy in 2013 Get back on track with our favourite sat navs 1. TomTom Go 500 Another addition to the Go line-up, the 500 boasts a 5-inch screen, complete with multi-touch gestures and an updated graphical feel, though the lack of pixels is noticeable. If you’re looking to avoid a jam on your commute, Tom Tom traffic updates you on the roads to avoid, but a smartphone connection is required. Price: £200 2. Garmin Nuvi 3598 LMT-D This system is rather sharp looking, for a sat-nav anyway, with a strong build quality and a chrome bezel. Front-and-centre is a detailed, 5-inch capacitive display that can be used either horizontally or vertically. Stand-out feature though is the always connected aspect that keeps you abreast of queues and speed cams, without needing a smartphone connected. Clever. Price: £300 3. Mio Cycle 505 HC If your heading out on your bike, this nifty Mio device will make sure you don’t end up lost in the forest. Special bike routes are included and it can even alert you on ways to improve. Navigating aside, the Cycle is packed with heart monitors and it’s water-resistant if you’re on for some off-road action. Price: £470 4. TomTom Start 60 At the lowest end of TomTom’s catalogue is the Start series. Toting 6-inch displays, yet a lack of connected features you might find in the higher price brackets. One useful addition though is an integrated car-mount to streamline your set-up, while TomTom offer a lifetimes worth of map updates free to sweeten the deal. Price: £129.99 5. Garmin Nuvi 2447LM Garmin win out again in the design-stakes here, with a classy, yet simple silver and black device. The high-res 4.3-inch screen is good too, showcasing maps in detail, whilst not being overbearing on your dash. A lifetime of free maps is included, so you’ll never again be surprised by a new road that you swore wasn’t there before. Price: £139.99 6. Navigon Europe app While your smartphone may come with in-built navigation thanks to Google Maps or Apple Maps, neither has quite the feature set of this dedicated app. The UI is professional looking, there are 2D and 3D maps and it’ll use your phones data connection to search for places of interest. Just make sure you’ve got your phone plugged it when your using it, as it drains the battery fast. Price: £70 7. TomTom Via 135 The teenager of the TomTom family may not have a classic feature set, yet its low-price and large screen make it a worthwhile car buddy. At 5-inches, the display is clearly visible and readable, even if the resistive touchscreen tech is a tad old-fashioned and finicky. The maps are strong, as with all TomTom devices, though you’ll have to shell out extra if you’re planning on touring Europe. Price: £149 8. TomTom Go Live 1005 A 5-inch crisp screen places the Go Live 1005 at the top of its game for size and clarity. A free year of TomTom’s Live services is included with every device so although the subscription adds to your costs after the first year, this sat nav is certainly worth its initial price tag. Price: £220 9. Garmin Nüvi 3790T One of the only truly great-looking sat navs out there, and slimmer than an iPhone 4, the 3790T even has free traffic updates for life to go along with its great photo-real mapping graphics. Unfortunately a hefty price tag lets the device down. Price: £300 10. Binatone F430 Europe A distinct lack of features means this device is extremely basic but free safety-cam information is a nice touch. The £50 price tag and good core functionality means this is not the best device by far but it’s great if you’re on a budget and looking for something basic. Price: £50
Posted on: Sat, 27 Jul 2013 08:19:35 +0000