OUR FAVOURITE:TOMTOM ONE IQ ROUTE EUROPE EDITION
Price: €199
Buy: Halfords and motor factors
Sometimes simple is best, and the TomTom One has improved and is a much neater package. It is much easier to attach to the windscreen, something you couldn’t really say about previous versions, and these new versions also get the new iQ routes and advanced lane guidance.
Depending on the time of the week or hour of the day drivers plan to set off, the most efficient route will be calculated for that particular moment. It takes into account any factors that can affect or delay drivers’ journeys, based on facts derived from years of gathering anonymous historic speed measurements.
This is really straightforward to use and works excellently.
PIONEER AVIC-F500BT
Price: €399.99
Buy: avi.ie
The AVIC-F500BT is a hybrid portable communication and entertainment system (5.8” screen) with accurate navigation features and extended entertainment options for your car, without you having to change your existing audio system. It is iPod-, USB- and SD card-compatible and has a Parrot Bluetooth phone interface. The system can be linked to your PC via a freely downloadable NavGate Feeds software, enabling you to create and add your own points of interest via SD or USB covering 33 countries in 3D map coverage.
It may be expensive, but it is loaded with functions.
GARMIN NÜVI 860
Price: €259
Buy: pixmania.ie
The latest satellite navigation systems might be very clever but they’re still a pain to programme, particularly if you have to change or update your destination on the move. But with Garmin’s Nüvi 860, you now get full voice recognition and a steering wheel-mounted remote control to activate the system so you don’t have to take your hands off the wheel.
You can operate the icons on the touchscreen display using your voice, but it’s also capable of understanding expressions, such as “find nearest Italian restaurant”, bypassing a lot of button-pushing and menu searching. It will even allow you to operate your Bluetooth-linked phone, for totally handsfree calling, too.
There is also an FM transmitter, MP3 player, stereo speakers, 4.3” colourscreen, alarm clock, picture viewer, currency converter and games to pass the time. It will even read your text messages to you if your phone has Bluetooth.
MEDION GOPAL P5235
Price: €266
Buy: medion.co.uk
Medion is a brand you will often come across in Aldi, but don’t let that put you off as its sat-nav systems are very well thought of. The P5235 is loaded with a host of features, including an enormous 5” TFT colour screen, and it includes maps for Europe on the 2GB integrated memory.
It has a fingerprint sensor for security, as well as things like an MP3 player, FM transmitter and lots of other features. You will come across these in Aldi from time to time, but they can also be bought directly from Medion’s website.
NAVIGON iPHONE MOBILE NAVIGATOR BRITISH ISLES / EUROPE
Price: €69.99 / €99.99
Buy: Apple iPhone App Store
With the Navigon Mobile Navigator, you can transform your iPhone into a fully functional mobile navigation system that works as well as purpose-built systems.
It offers a fully comprehensive set of navigation features directly inspired by Navigon’s extensive range of systems, such as Reality View Pro, Lane Assistant Pro and Speed Assistant.
The software has also been specifically adapted to ensure full use of the iPhone’s functionality – for example, the display switches from portrait to landscape view, depending on which way the iPhone is being held at the time.
There is also the intelligent address entry system, which allows you to navigate directly to an address already saved in your contacts, making it quick and easy to use.