Top-of-the-range sat nav options

While the maximum £300 price point that we set for the products in this round-up may seem like a lot of money to some, it’s still a fraction of what you can spend on a navigation system for your car. So, what can you get for extra money, and is it worth it?

One of the most useful options is wider coverage. That means you can buy map data for other countries or the whole of Europe. The price depends on the system you bought originally; we’ve shown in the features table how much European mapping will cost for the different products, where available. If you drive a lot on the continent, it’s often worth buying a package that includes maps at the outset.

Larger screens of five or more inches are available on some of the more expensive units; with a widescreen display like the ones on some high-end products, you can see both the details of your next turn and an overview of the route, without things seeming cramped.

The makers of those products gives a clue about another key element of high-end navigation systems – integration. Blaupunkt and Pioneer are both known more for their in-car audio than navigation products and at the top of the range, you can expect both to be part of the same system.

That immediately gives an advantage – instructions can be fed through the car speaker system. And it can also provide a more professional-looking product, with everything integrated into the dashboard.

Another big advantage is better storage, with many systems now relying on a DVD or hard drive to store map data. Some more expensive models such as Navman’s ICN 550 (about £500) also feature miniature hard drives for increased map storage.

And just how much can you spend? A standard car radio with built-in GPS starts at around £350; Avmap’s Geosat 2.5 portable GPS with a 5.6in screen will come in around £600, while Blaupunkt’s top-of-the-line CD-based Travel Pilot DX-V with a 6.5in monitor weighs in at £1,200, without maps, and Pioneer’s European AVIC-800DVD will come in at about £1,000 for the controller – allow £600-£800 for a display on top of that.

Such prices mean you may need to think long and hard. But remember that, as long as you have the right map coverage, all the systems will get you there in the end.

This article is part of a group test of satellite navigation systems. Others are:
Intro and Editor's choice
Blue Media BM6380GPS
Evesham Nav-Cam 7000
Garmin Street Pilot i3
Magellan Roadmate 300
Medion Go Pal PNA350
Mio 268+
Navman ICN520
Novogo A30
Tom Tom One
Viamichelin X930
Top-of-the-range options
The choice between all-in-ones or PDA add-ons
Europe's GPS constellation