Our constantly updated list of the best sat navs in the UK.
Could the car sat nav boast the shortest lifespan of any technology yet? Surely our GPS-supporting phones are more than capable of handling our daily car sat nav needs?
Not so fast - there's still plenty of life left in dedicated devices. Apart from offering the kind of focus that is only available from a dedicated device, true sat navs offer proper mounting systems that aren't fiddly plastic nightmares and also pack voice options that entertain and inform.
That's not to say that you should leave your phone at home. Phone apps are catching up quickly, and they don't cost the earth either. In fact, some of the most interesting projects are only on phones right now.
Also, consider this: if you're set on using iOS devices for the foreseeable future, pay for the TomTom iPhone app today, and you'll never need to buy a sat nav ever again...
So settle down, buckle up and get ready for a whizz around the current state of the sat nav industry. Here are the top 13 options to help you get from A to B, arranged in order of their market prices.
Android phone / tablet
Why pay for a dedicated sat nav when your phone can direct you?
There's a variety of sat nav apps available for Android phones and tablets, and the great news is that on this platform there's absolutely no need to spend any money - the best ones are free.
Google Maps doesn't need much introduction, but surprisingly few have tried Navigation, its linked sat nav app. The driving guides offered by this tool are powerful and accurate, although we'll admit that some of the pronunciations can be clumsy.
You'll have to get used to constant updates, and the interplay between maps and navigation isn't always smooth, but it is free. And it does work. And those constant updates mean it performs well. Plus it takes into account live traffic data, so this app does better than many of the more expensive options at times.
Apple iPhone / iPad
Sat navs for the iPhone don't have to cost you a fortune
The iPhone has had some incredible sat nav apps since day one, but unfortunately they've tended to attract the kind of price tags that could secure you a dedicated device. Thankfully developers are picking up on the fact that there's a place for advert-supported apps too.
NavFree is just such an app, that offers up voice and screen navigation with the option to buy safety camera locations, different voices and additional maps for a mere £1.99. This app is only possible thanks to the work of the OpenStreetMap project, which we'll discuss in a moment.
Skobbler ForeverMap - Android and iPhone - Free
The perfect answer if you're not happy with the route your phone suggests
If you don't get on with the previous apps for your particular smartphone, then it's worth checking out Skobbler's offering, which is available in both iOS and Android guises. This app may not boast all of the features you'll find on high-end sat nav devices, but it does pack a punch, thanks to the power of its underlying technology - OpenStreetMap.
Akin to Wikipedia, but for maps, OpenStreetMap enables you to correct any problems that you see in your journeys. It does mean that some areas are a little patchy, but you can add in information yourself to bring it up to date.
Binatone F350 UK and ROI - £49.99
This budget option is light on thrills, but delivers when getting from A to B
Binatone, as a brand, isn't as recognisable as some others. But even so, the company has put in plenty of years propping up the budget end of the sat nav market. There's nothing obviously missing from the F350 when it comes to the core functionality of planning a route and keeping you on it.
It's true that the interface is a little crude, and the suction mount isn't as flexible as some, but it's surprisingly well designed and the package is certainly complete. The 3.5-inch display is clear, boasts 2D and 3D views and even comes with safety camera alerts. It also doesn't require a subscription.
Navman EZY - £59.99
The most affordable Navman, but is it worth your cash?
Navman is a much more recognisable name in the world of sat navs, and the EZY rolls in at only £10 more than the Binatone offering. The extra cash doesn't get you much more in the headline-grabbing specifications - both have 3.5-inch screens, 2D and 3D displays and simple mounting systems - but it's the subtleties that matter.
The lane guidance of the EZY is a welcome addition for this much money, as is the speed warning feature. This alerts you with a couple of beeps if you go over the current speed limit, and while the voice is a little fuzzy, this a great value package.
Garmin Nuvi 1200 UK & ROI - £69.99
Find the route that is easiest on your petrol tank
On the surface, this entry for Garmin doesn't seem too different from what has gone before, but there are a number of extras on offer here that lift it above previous Garmin Nuvi sat navs such as the Garmin Nuvi 3790T.
The big sell of the Garmin Nuvi 1200 is the inclusion of the ecoRoute software, which attempts to help you find the most fuel-efficient route for your journey and for your driving style. The ability to pinpoint your location and find all the local services around you make it an ideal companion for holidays. The inclusion of safety camera locations and speed limits warnings are also welcome.
RAC 5000 UK & ROI - £69.99
Why not try something a little more dramatic, like a widescreen
At a penny under £70, the big excitement of the RAC 5000 is the fact that it boasts a 5-inch widescreen display at an incredibly low price. In fact, you'd have to look very hard to find a widescreen sat nav even vaguely in the same ballpark as this.
The obvious benefit of having more screen space is that you can see more of the roads around you, and get more information about your journey on that screen. The great value of the RAC 5000 extends to the free safety camera updates for life, as well.
TomTom Start 20 - £85.30
Quality costs that little bit more
TomTom overhauled its Start range last year, and this, the Start 20, received a good amount of love in the process. While this is a little more expensive than some of the budget offerings out there, the general feeling of quality is incredible. While it lacks some of the features you can find higher up the food chain, such as bluetooth connectivity and traffic jam updates, it does boast a solid interface and a clear, bright screen.
You also get detailed junction views and road names on your maps, and an impressive number of points of interest to peruse in your idle moments. Overall, this is the budget sat nav that defines the market.
Navman Panoramic UK, ROI & Full Europe - £149.99
Tired of squinting at tiny sat navs? Try this whopper
The Navman Panoramic has one clear advantage over its peers - its size. While cheaper sat navs wander around in 3.5-inch guise, and even mainstream widescreen models are a mere 5-inches, the Navman Panoramic is a huge 7-inches of GPS-powered joy. The touchscreen is bright and clear, and boasts large buttons for easy access.
You also get four different routing options for your journeys - ranging from the most economical to the fastest possible. The included car-mounting kit is incredibly versatile too, which means that despite the Panoramic's size, it won't obscure your view.
TomTom GO Live 820 Top Gear Edition UK & ROI - £179.99
Need a little light entertainment while out on the road?
What better way to ease along a boring journey than by having the dulcet tones of Top Gear's opinionated front man tell you which way to go. Despite the name, this compact 4.3-inch model only features Jeremy Clarkson and The Stig (who is silent), but there are some entertaining lines to keep it rolling along nicely.
There's a little problem in the value for money stakes, particularly for such a small screen, but the core functionality is there. There's the option to change the voices if you get bored with the xenophobic Top Gear presenter, as well.
Read:TomTom GO Live 820 Top Gear Edition review
TomTom GO Live 825 Europe - £199.99
Stay connected while travelling around Europe
TomTom splits its sat nav lines into connected and non-connected models, with the Live 825 falling firmly into the first category. These Live devices are for those that drive a lot, and need the latest road and traffic information wherever they go. Beyond this difference, which incurs an annual subscription after the first year, the delta in features is actually quite slight.
Even so, for the target audience, where time wasted on out-of-date maps is money, knowing where there are traffic jams and speed cameras is worth paying for. Factor in the 5-inch widescreen display and the maps for the whole of Europe, and this isn't bad value at all.
Read:TomTom GO Live 825 Europe review
Garmin nuLink! 1695 LMU UK, ROI & Europe - £199.99
Keep your maps up to date without digging too deep
When you reach the upper echelons of the sat nav market, there are a number of givens about the devices and their capabilities. Displays tend to be of the 5-inch widescreen variety and live updates are an integral part of the package.
Garmin's nuLink ensures that you have the latest traffic information for your journey, although as with TomTom's Live service, this requires a yearly subscription. The good news is that the 1695 LMU comes with a lifetime of map updates (that's the LMU bit), which helps ensure that even if you don't sign up to the nuLink service, you at least know your maps are current.
TomTom GO Live 1005 World - £299
For the driver with sights set a little further afield
The 5-inch TomTom GO Live 1000 series includes plenty of variations, defined mainly by the areas covered by its maps. This model, as you can hopefully guess from the name, boasts maps not just for a specific area, but for the whole world. This does come at a fairly hefty premium, but if you want one sat nav that you can take with you anywhere, it makes a certain type of sense.
Alternatively, you can buy extra maps for most of the sat navs here as and when you need them. The TomTom GO Live 1005 comes with a year's worth of Live services as standard.
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