GPS car navigation review March 2009

GPS test results for both city and country driving.
 
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  • Updated:1 Mar 2009
  • rateraterateraterate: Member rating
 

03.Product profiles

Profiles - what to buy

Tomtom GO 930 (Whereis)

Price $849

City Good Country Good

Good points

  • Equal best range of POI.
  • Excellent route display.
  • Excellent screen visibility during daylight.
  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Names the upcoming streets.
  • Pre-loaded maps of New Zealand, North America and Western and Central Europe.
  • SUNA capable, but separate kit has to be purchased.

Bad points

  • Quick-start guide and instructional CD only, no printed user manual.
  • Vibrates a little.

Tomtom XL (Whereis)

Price $399

City Good Country Good

Good points

  • Equal best range of POI.
  • Excellent route display.
  • Excellent screen visibility during daylight.
  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Excellent voice quality.
  • SUNA capable, but separate kit has to be purchased.

Bad points

  • No removable memory support.
  • Difficult to attach the mount to the windscreen.
  • Quick-start guide and instructional CD only, no printed user manual.

Uniden Trax 436 (Whereis)

Price $400

City Good Country Good

Good points

  • Equal best range of POI.
  • Names the upcoming streets.
  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Pre-loaded map of New Zealand.
  • SUNA capable, integrated in the unit but subscription needs to be purchased to enable the feature.
  • Quick to recalculate the trip after a missed turn.

Bad points

  • Spoken street names (TTS) only available when using American voices.
  • Difficult to attach the mount to the windscreen.

Garmin 265WT (Whereis)

Price $549

City Very good Country OK

Good points

  • Excellent route display.
  • Excellent screen visibility during daylight.
  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Names the upcoming streets.
  • Pre-loaded map of New Zealand.
  • SUNA capable, integrated in the unit.

 Bad points

  • Quick-start guide only, no printed user manual.

Garmin nuvi 5000 (Whereis)

Price $799

City Very good Country OK

Good points

  • Excellent route display.
  • Excellent screen visibility during daylight.
  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Names the upcoming streets.
  • Pre-loaded map of New Zealand.

Bad points

  • Quick-start guide only, no printed user manual.
  • No internal battery means it cannot be used away from 12V supply.

Garmin nuvi 500 (Whereis)

Price $549

City Very good Country OK

Good points

  • Excellent route display.
  • Excellent screen visibility during daylight.
  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Pre-loaded map of New Zealand.
  • SUNA capable, but separate kit has to be purchased.

Bad points

  • Quick-start guide only, no printed user manual.

Navman S-Series S45 (Whereis)

Price $349

City Good Country Good

Good points

  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Names the upcoming streets.
  • SUNA capable, but separate kit has to be purchased.

Bad points

  • Quick-start guide and instructional CD only, no printed user manual.

 

Product profiles - the rest

Mio Moov 300 (Navteq)

Price $299

City Good Country Poor

Good points

  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Names the upcoming streets.
  • Very good voice quality.
  • SUNA capable, but separate kit has to be purchased.

Bad points

  • Quick-start guide and instructional CD only, no printed user manual.

Mio Moov 370 (Navteq)

Price $499

City Good Country Poor

Good points

  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Names the upcoming streets.
  • Very good voice quality.
  • SUNA capable, integrated in the unit.

Bad points

  • Quick-start guide and instructional CD only, no printed user manual.

Magellan Maestro 5310 (Navteq)

Price $699

City Good Country Poor

Good points

  • Excellent route display.
  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Names the upcoming streets.
  • Pre-loaded maps of US, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Bad points

  • No full-route display.
  • Quick-start guide and instructional CD only, no printed user manual.
  • Very slow to recalculate the trip after a missed turn and coming out of a tunnel.

Magellan CrossoverGPS (Navteq)

Price $649

City Good Country Poor

Good points

  • Excellent route display.
  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Pre-loaded maps of US, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
  • Built-in marine and outdoor navigation applications.

Bad points

  • No full-route display.
  • Quick-start guide and instructional CD only, no printed user manual.

Navigon 2150 Max (Navteq)

Price $399

City Very good Country Poor

Good points

  • Full-route display automatically before each trip.
  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Lane assistance display.
  • Quick to recalculate the trip after a missed turn.
  • SUNA capable, but separate kit has to be purchased.

Bad points

  • Quick-start guide only, no printed user manual.
  • Very slow to recalculate the trip after coming out of a tunnel.

Tevion (ALDI) 3.5" Touch Screen GPS Navigator 7342* (Whereis)

Price $130

City OK Country OK

Good points

  • Cheapest model in the test by a significant margin.

Bad points

  • No full-route display.
  • Quick-start guide and instructional CD only, no printed user manual.
  • Vibrates a little.

*An update to the software has been released since our test and there is evidence of an improved performance. Call 1300 886 649 for information. 

Navman S-Series Platinum S200 (Navteq)

Price $699

City Good Country Poor

Good points

  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Names the upcoming streets.
  • 3D lane guidance and 3D landmarks.
  • Quick to recalculate the trip after coming out of a tunnel.
  • SUNA capable, but separate kit has to be purchased.

Bad points

  • Quick-start guide and instructional CD only, no printed user manual.
  • Glide touch screen is difficult to use.

Navman S-Series Platinum S300T (Navteq)

Price $599

City Good Country Poor

Good points

  • Automatic change from day to night screen.
  • Names the upcoming streets.
  • SUNA capable – integrated into the unit.
  • 3D lane guidance and 3D landmarks.
  • Quick to recalculate the trip after coming out of a tunnel.

Bad points

  • Quick-start guide and instructional CD only, no printed user manual.
  • Glide touch screen is difficult to use. 

Hema Navigator (Navteq)

Price $920

City Good Country Poor

Good points

  • Pre-loaded topographic map of Australia.

Bad points

  • No full-route display.
  • Quick-start guide and instructional CD only, no printed user manual. 

Navig8r M43 (Navig8r)

Price $340

City OK Country Poor

Good points

  • Names the upcoming streets.
  • Very good instruction manual.
  • SUNA capable, but separate kit has to be purchased.

Bad points

  • Very limited range of POI.
  • Voice is too low in volume and it’s hard to understand, even though it sounds pleasant.
  • No full-route display.
  • Shakes and vibrates a lot even on good quality roads.
 

 

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