Here is a review of the top 10 portable car GPS navigational systems ( or Sat Nav's) as reviewed by a popular UK consumer magazines, by asking average families to try them out.
There is a trend for GPS units to have larger screens so that they are clearer to read and slimmer so that they can easily be hidden away when not in the car.
Each of the families were given Four basic measurements to rate the GPS units.
1) How accurate is the destination information.
2) Speed at which re-routing occurs if a mistake is made.
3) How did it work in built up areas.
4) How easy was it to use
There is a trend for GPS units to have larger screens so that they are clearer to read and slimmer so that they can easily be hidden away when not in the car.
Each of the families were given Four basic measurements to rate the GPS units.
1) How accurate is the destination information.
2) Speed at which re-routing occurs if a mistake is made.
3) How did it work in built up areas.
4) How easy was it to use
What's Here -
- Tips on How to buy a GPS navigational system.
- Top 10 car GPS system in the UK!
- 1) Tom Tom GO 520
- 2) Garmin Nuvi 660 FM
- 3) Garmin Nuvi 610 Regional
- 4) Mio DigiWalker C520t
- 5) Sony NV-U82
- 6) TomTom GO 920T
- 7) TomTom GO 720T
- 8) TomTom One Europe
- 9) TomTom One Regional
- 10) Snooper S600 Syrius Plus
- New Guestbook
Tips on How to buy a GPS navigational system.
- You could opt to have a built in GPS when you buy a new car. The benefit of these are that they cannot be stolen, but they can be an expensive option. Portable GPS's are cheaper to buy but can be easily stolen if not stored out of sight, but they can be moved between cars.
- GPS units have many similar features. It may be that points of interest which is great for holidays, or traffic data which is a god send if you are in the car alot. You will need to decide before you buy what is important to you and what you are likely to use it for. I have listed the major benefits of each product.
- Try before you buy. Ask at the store if you can try the GPS in your car to make sure you like it and can operate it easily.
- Ask the retailer how up to date the mapping software is and check how much buying future updates will cost.
- Buying online will probably be cheaper but prices can vary between £130 - £260. You should go to a store first and get the feel of which one appeals to you more before you buy.
Top 10 car GPS system in the UK!
Now for the top 10
1) Tom Tom GO 520
This was voted the best with impressive voice recognition and allows hands free route planning.
SURVEY SCORE - 73%How accurate is the destination information. Rating - 3 Stars
Speed at which re-routing occurs if a mistake is made. Rating - 3 Stars
How did it work in built up areas. Rating - 4 Stars
How easy was it to use. Rating - 4 Stars
MAIN FEATURES AND BENEFITS
4.3" Widescreen - With a larger screen you can see more and makes instruction entry very easy and fast!
Text-to-Speech - The GPS unit advises you of upcoming street names as well as givng out clear traffic messages allowing safer driving.
Voice Recognition - Allows you to speak instructions to the unit, instead of having to type them in.
Traffic Warnings - Provides warnings of upcoming traffic delays and gives alternative route options.
Hands-free calling - Using Bluetooth technology lets you take calls on your mobile phone with either a tap on the screen or by voice command.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO OR TO BUY - TomTom GO 520 With UK & Ireland Mapping
2) Garmin Nuvi 660 FM
Easy to set up and use although it had a hard time in built up areas.
SURVEY SCORE - 72%How accurate is the destination information. Rating - 4 Stars
Speed at which re-routing occurs if a mistake is made. Rating - 4 Stars
How did it work in built up areas. Rating - 2 Stars
How easy was it to use. Rating - 5 Stars
MAIN FEATURES AND BENEFITS
4.3" Widescreen - With a larger screen you can see more and makes instruction entry very easy and fast!
Text-to-Speech - The GPS unit advises you of upcoming street names as well as givng out clear traffic messages allowing safer driving.
Works straight out of the box so no complicated set up via your PC.
Traffic Warnings - Provides warnings of upcoming traffic delays and gives alternative route options with lifetime subscription to updates.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO OR TO BUY - Garmin Nuvi 660
3) Garmin Nuvi 610 Regional
Simple to programme and shears many of the features of the Garmin Nuvi 660FM
SURVEY SCORE - 71%How accurate is the destination information. Rating - 4 Stars
Speed at which re-routing occurs if a mistake is made. Rating - 4 Stars
How did it work in built up areas. Rating - 3 Stars
How easy was it to use. Rating - 4 Stars
MAIN FEATURES AND BENEFITS
4.3" Widescreen - With a larger screen you can see more and makes instruction entry very easy and fast!
Regional mapping for UK and Ireland.
Works straight out of the box so no complicated set up via your PC.
Traffic Warnings - Provides warnings of upcoming traffic delays and gives alternative route options with lifetime subscription to updates.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO OR TO BUY - Garmin Nuvi 610T - UK Mapping, Widescreen, Traffic, Bluetooth,
4) Mio DigiWalker C520t
Great for re-routing to avoid traffic problems and it has good prompts.
SURVEY SCORE - 71%How accurate is the destination information. Rating - 3 Stars
Speed at which re-routing occurs if a mistake is made. Rating - 4 Stars
How did it work in built up areas. Rating - 4 Stars
How easy was it to use. Rating - 4 Stars
MAIN FEATURES AND BENEFITS
4.3" Widescreen - With a larger screen you can see more and makes instruction entry very easy and fast!
Has a split screen that is anti glare so you can have multiple views without glare on the screen.
Can navigate in 22 countries.
Traffic Warnings - Provides warnings of upcoming traffic delays and gives alternative route options with lifetime subscription to updates.
Has an MP3 and photo viewer functions so that when you are not using it to navigate you can listen to music or look at photos.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO OR TO BUY - Mio C520T GPS Satellite Navigation (European Maps) inc 7PPC PAY TMC UK - Sat Nav
5) Sony NV-U82
Installing and programming is easy and it gives clear instructions.
SURVEY SCORE - 71%How accurate is the destination information. Rating - 4 Stars
Speed at which re-routing occurs if a mistake is made. Rating - 3 Stars
How did it work in built up areas. Rating - 4 Stars
How easy was it to use. Rating - 4 Stars
MAIN FEATURES AND BENEFITS
4.8" Widescreen - This has the largest screen of all reviewed.
Traffic Warnings - Provides warnings of upcoming traffic delays and gives alternative route options with lifetime subscription to updates.
Map coverage includes UK and Ireland.
Voice Recognition - Allows you to speak instructions to the unit, instead of having to type them in.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO OR TO BUY - Sony NV-U82G Navigation Unit with UK & Ireland Mapping
6) TomTom GO 920T
A competent stylish all rounder with no major weaknesses.
SURVEY SCORE - 71%How accurate is the destination information. Rating - 4 Stars
Speed at which re-routing occurs if a mistake is made. Rating - 4 Stars
How did it work in built up areas. Rating - 4 Stars
How easy was it to use. Rating - 4 Stars
MAIN FEATURES AND BENEFITS
4.3" extra Widescreen
Stylish design with a deep matt finish.
Speeding alert - Advises when you are in a speed zone.
Text-to-Speech - The GPS unit advises you of upcoming street names as well as givng out clear traffic messages allowing safer driving.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO OR TO BUY - TomTom Go 920T With European, USA and Canada Mapping
7) TomTom GO 720T
Fewer features than the 990, but matches it on performance
SURVEY SCORE - 71%How accurate is the destination information. Rating - 4 Stars
Speed at which re-routing occurs if a mistake is made. Rating - 4 Stars
How did it work in built up areas. Rating - 4 Stars
How easy was it to use. Rating - 4 Stars
MAIN FEATURES AND BENEFITS
4.3" large screen
Anti glare screen
Voice Recognition - Allows you to speak instructions to the unit, instead of having to type them in.
Hands-free calling - Using Bluetooth technology lets you take calls on your mobile phone with either a tap on the screen or by voice command.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO OR TO BUY - TomTom GO 720T Westeuropa TMCpro
8) TomTom One Europe
Video and audio device are good, despite the smaller screen.
SURVEY SCORE - 70%How accurate is the destination information. Rating - 3 Stars
Speed at which re-routing occurs if a mistake is made. Rating - 3 Stars
How did it work in built up areas. Rating - 4 Stars
How easy was it to use. Rating - 4 Stars
MAIN FEATURES AND BENEFITS
3.5" screen.
Maps available for countries in Western Europe Includes: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City
Speeding alert - Advises when you are in a speed zone.
Again all the other features including voice activation and text to speak.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO OR TO BUY - TomTom ONE v4 Western Europe Traffic Edition
9) TomTom One Regional
The UK's number one seller but it only comes with Uk mapping.
SURVEY SCORE - 70%How accurate is the destination information. Rating - 3 Stars
Speed at which re-routing occurs if a mistake is made. Rating - 3 Stars
How did it work in built up areas. Rating - 4 Stars
How easy was it to use. Rating - 4 Stars
MAIN FEATURES AND BENEFITS
3.5" screen.
Traffic Warnings - Provides warnings of upcoming traffic delays and gives alternative route options with lifetime subscription to updates.
Map coverage includes UK and Ireland.
Voice Recognition - Allows you to speak instructions to the unit, instead of having to type them in.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO OR TO BUY - TomTom ONE v3 Great Britain
10) Snooper S600 Syrius Plus
Excellent display and a one off payment gets you updates for life.
SURVEY SCORE - 68%How accurate is the destination information. Rating - 2 Stars
Speed at which re-routing occurs if a mistake is made. Rating - 4 Stars
How did it work in built up areas. Rating - 4 Stars
How easy was it to use. Rating - 4 Stars
MAIN FEATURES AND BENEFITS
4.3" anti glare large screen
Multiple route planning allows you to create up to 10 destinations, with or without postcodes.
Quick and easy to use.
2D and 3D maps available.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO OR TO BUY - Snooper Syrius Plus S600 Euro Satellite Navigation System With Speed Camera Detection
by JonnyRae
Hello world. My name is Jonny Rae and I live in a small village in the South of England. Here is a review of the top 10 GPS units in the UK righ... (more)
