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Navigating whilst driving can be a really stressful and unpleasant experience at times. Thankfully help is at hand and gone are the days of having to finger trace your way around a giant A-Z map. A GPS navigation system can transform your driving experience and make navigating to new and unknown places a breeze. Whilst most modern smartphones offer some sort of map based navigation ability, a dedicated windscreen mounted GPS navigation system offers a much easier and safe user experience with just a brief glance at the screen needed.
Verdict
1. TomTom Car Sat Nav Start 52 Lite
The TomTom smart 52 lite is an impressive navigation system featuring a 5 inch touch screen display. The display is sharp and crisp making it easy to see and understand. Whilst the smart 52 lite doesn’t have as many features as many other sat nav systems, it does offer superb essential navigation abilities.
If you’re looking for something with a few more handy features such as speed camera detection, real time traffic alerts etc, you may want to step up to a one of the better spec models below.
If you’re looking for an easy to use sat nav, from a reliable brand that you can trust, the TomTom Start 52 lite will not dissapoint.
The key features of the TomTom Start 52 lite are;
- 5″ Screen Size
- Touchscreen
- Enhanced Lane Guidance
- Integrated Reversible Mount
- Free Software Updates
2. Garmin Drive 51LMT-S
The Garmin Drive 51LMT-S offers an impressive lifetime map update service for UK and Ireland and also free live traffic information. It sports a 5 inch LCD touch screen display which is rich in colour and detail. An impressive feature of this model is it’s Drive Awareness set of features. Driver awareness features include alerts for dangerous curves, speed changes, railroad crossings, school zones, speed cameras and more.
The key features of the Garmin Drive 51LMT-S are;
- 5 Inch Display Size
- Touchscreen
- Easy to Use
- Free Lifetime Map Updates
- Real Time Traffic Information
- Live parking information for on and off street parking at your destination
3. TomTom Car Sat Nav Start 52
The TomTom Start 52 features the same 5 inch touch screen display as the “Lite” version. The benefits of this model are that it includes UK map updates which provide the ability to download free map updates with the latest road changes. This model also features a 3 months speed cameras trial which provides advance warnings when you’re approaching a speed camera.
Another useful feature is TomTom’s Advanced Lane Guidance. This feature clearly highlights the correct driving lane when needed.
The key features of the TomTom Car Sat Nav Start 52 are;
- 5″ Screen Size
- Touchscreen
- UK Map Updates
- 3 Month Speed Camera Alert Trial
- Free Software Updates
- Integrated Reversible Mount
4. TomTom Car Sat Nav GO Basic
The TomTom GO basic is a feature rich sat nav system. It’s powered a 5 inch crisp touch screen display which has excellent clarity. It has built in Wi-Fi which makes updating the unit a breeze. TomTom Real Time Traffic is also included which is an extremely useful feature.
Other features include 3 months speed camera alerts, last mile navigation, smartphone notifications and destination prediction.
The key features of the TomTom Car Sat Nav GO Basic are;
- 5 Inch Screen Size
- Touchscreen
- TomTom Real Time Traffic
- 3 Months Speed Camera Alerts
- Last Mile Navigation
- Free Map Updates
- Built in Wi-Fi
- Smartphone Notifications
- Integrated Reversible Mount
5. Garmin DriveSmart 55 MT-S
Powered a 5.5 inch display, the Garmin DriveSmart 55 MT-S features a raft of impressive and useful features. It’s display is an impressive 5.5 Inch edge-to-edge, high-resolution display which makes using the DriveSmart 55 MT-S extremely easy. This particular mode includes regular map updates of the UK and Ireland, with simple menus and maps – featuring 3-D buildings and terrain which result in a stress free driving experience.
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows for easy map and software updates without the need for a computer. Pairing with a phone allows for real-time features such as hands-free calling, smart notifications and safety cameras/parking/weather.
The key features of the Garmin DriveSmart 55 MT-S are;
- 5.5 edge to edge high resolution display
- Touchscreen
- Regular updates of UK and Ireland Maps
- Built in Wi-Fi
- Real Time Services
- TripAdvisor traveller ratings
- Realtime Traffic information
6. TomTom Car Sat Nav GO Premium
The TomTom Car Sat Nav GO Premium is feature rich and delivers a superb navigating experience. This TomTom’s top of the range system and features all of their best offerings such as TomTom Realtime Traffic, Built in Wi-Fi, Lifetime speed camera alerts, last mile navigation, IFTT functionality, world map updates, smartphone notifications, hands free calling and much more.
The key features of the TomTom Car Sat Nav GO Premium are;
- 5 inch display
- Touchscreen
- Built in Wi-Fi
- Real time traffic updates
- Lifetime speed camera updates
- Last mile navigation
- IFTT functionality
- Worldwide map updates
- Smartphone calling
- Active magnetic mount
7. Aonerex 9 Inch GPS Navigation System
The Aonerex GPS Navigation system sports a whopping 9 inch screen with integrated sun shade. The integrated sun shade ensures that the screen is visible at all times and isn’t affected glare from the sun. Impressively, lifetime map updates are included and the unit comes pre installed with maps of 52 European countries.
It also has 8GB of internal memory to store additional maps and data on. A host of useful Apps are also pre installed such as games, music, video, e-book, calculator, unit converter, etc.
The key features of the Aonerex 9 Inch GPS Navigation System are;
- 9inch screen with integrated sun shade
- Touchscreen
- Resolution of 800 x 480
- Lifetime Maps Inlcuded
- Multilingual
8. OHREX GPS Navigation for Car
The Ohrex GPS navigation system comes with a 7 inch screen and a list of impressive features. Pre-Installed with the latest 2020 Europe UK Ireland maps. Maps of Australia,NZ,USA or Canada are also available to install for free at anytime.
It supports postcodes, address, coordinates & POI, driver alerts, Active Speed Camera Detection, Street name Broadcasting, Current Speed, Lane Guidance & Estimated Arrival Time, Intelligent Route Planning Fast & Economical, Turn-By-Turn Real Voice Broadcast in over 40 Languages and automatic day & night mode switching.
The key features of the Ohrex GPS Navigation System are;
- 7 inch screen size
- World maps and free lifetime updates
- 56 country maps pre loaded
- 3000mah battery
9. Navpal GPS Navigation System
A bluetooth slimline GPS Navigation System featuring a 7 inch display, the Navpal offers extreme value for money. It comes pre-installed with latest 2020 Europe Maps Edition, Including UK, Ireland etc. It also features an impressive 3000mah battery.
The Navpal GPS navigation system features Postcodes navigation, Address, Coordinates & POI, Driver Alerts, Active Speed Camera Detection, Street name Broadcasting, Current Speed, Lane Guidance & Estimated Arrival Time, Intelligent Route Planning Fast & Economical, Turn-By-Turn Real Voice Broadcast in over 40 Languages, Automatic Day & Night Mode Switching, Fast & Accurate GPS Tracking for Exact Positioning.
The key features of the Navpal GPS Navigation System are;
- 7 inch display
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Free lifetime updates
- 52 maps pre installed
- Lane Guidance and POI
- Speed alerts
10. Garmin DriveSmart 65 MT-S
The Garmin DriveSmart 65 MT-S is an extremely easy-to-use sat navigation with a 6.95-Inch edge-to-edge, high-resolution display and Amazon Alexa. With Alexa built-in, you can ask Alexa to play music from Amazon Music, Spotify etc. You can also use Alexa to create to-do lists, check your calendar, weather and traffic, control smart home devices and play interactive games
Additionally, Ask Garmin voice control for directions, POIs along the route and more, all whilst keeping your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
The key features of the Garmin DriveSmart 65 MT-S are;
- 6.95 inch edge to edge high resolution display
- Touchscreen
- Built in Amazon Alexa
- Ask Garmin voice control
- Ability to pair with a Smartphone
What Are The Benefits Of A GPS Navigation System?
A GPS navigation system is a superb addition to any vehicle. Put simply, there will be no more instances of getting lost and frustrated whilst on the road.
Never Get Lost Again – You can have complete peace of mind that you can go anywhere without getting lost. There’s nothing more frustrating, and sometimes dangerous, than getting lost whilst driving to a destination. We have all taken a wrong turn at some stage during a journey which has then resulted in the journey becoming much more stressful and prolonged. This situation would be completely avoided as a GPS navigation system would simply find the easiest and quickest route to getting you back on track and on your way to your destination. Gone are the days of scouring a gigantic paper map or asking passers for directions.
Increased Safety – Using A GPS sat nav system results in less driver distraction, something which can unfortunately be fatal whilst driving. Sadly, thousands of people die on UK roads each year due to driver distraction. A GPS system can avoid this with clever systems such as voice recognition, voice commands and smartphone integration.
Avoid Traffic Jams – Some GPS Navigation systems feature real time traffic information and will actively navigate you away from heavily congested areas. In some instances, this feature could save you hours upon hours of sitting in gridlocked traffic. When navigation to a destination, a GPS navigation system will actively avoid all areas of traffic and work out alternative routes.
No Phone Signal Needed – GPS Navigation systems work completely independant of your mobile phone so therefore, if your phone doesn’t have cellular signal, your sat nav will still work. There are lots of remote locations in the UK which don’t have any or very limited mobile signal, A GPS sat nav would be completely unaffected.
Easily Find Near Amenities – You’ll be easily able to locate and navigate to near amenities such as restaurants, cinemas, shopping centres, parking locations etc. Even if you’re in a location that you’re unfamiliar with, you’ll easily be able to navigate to somewhere for a bite to eat etc. Some Sat Nav systems also link to TripAdvisor so that you can make an informed decision based on user reviews.
Never Run Out Of Fuel – If you’ve ever ran out of fuel in a location that you’re unfamiliar with, i’m sure you’ll agree that it’s not a pleasant experience. A GPS sat nav system can locate near fuel stations and on some models, display the latest fuel prices. You’ll never have to worry about running out of fuel again.
Conserve Phone Battery – Using your mobile phone as a navigation device can be extremely draining on your phone’s battery. This can be dangerous for a couple of reasons. If your battery runs out before you’ve reached your destination, you could become lost and unaware of how to get to your destination or back home. Secondly, if your mobile phone battery runs out, that could be extremely dangerous in the event of an emergency. A GPS sat nav system avoids this and completely takes the strain off your mobile phone allowing you to use it for it’s intended purpose.
Considerations When Buying A GPS Navigation System
Purchasing a GPS navigation system can be slightly confusing with a lot to consider. We think your key considerations when purchasing should be;
Screen Size – GPS Navigation Systems differ in shape and size and will feature different screen sizes. If your eyesight isn’t the best, you may want to purchase a Sat Nav with a larger screen size. You’ll also need to consider where you’re likely to mount the unit in your car in relation to the screen size.
Ease of Use – It’s important to choose a GPS Navigation System that’s easy to use and understand. Nowadays, most systems are all extremely to use but it’s certainly something to bare in mind.
Battery Life – Whilst it’s important to consider battery life, it’s not particularly the most crucial of specs. Almost all GPS Navigation systems offer charging via a car 12v power outlet so if the sat nav runs out of battery, you can simply plug it in to the 12v power outlet to get going again.
Real Time Traffic – Whilst not an essential feature of a GPS navigation system, real time traffic is an extremely beneficial feature. It’ll actively avoid any areas of traffic and congestion and find an alternate route. This can be extremely useful when driving in an area that you aren’t familiar with.
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