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Best sat-navs: 2018 group test

With a rise in the use of smartphone sat-nav apps, is it still worth buying a portable sat-nav? We tell you which ones are the best

Graham Scott
Thursday 09 November 2017 11:27 GMT
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John Lewis recently stopped selling portable sat navs, as a sign that they are falling as smartphone apps are rising. Given that you can have all kinds of useful info just on your phone, which you have with you anyway, is it worth still buying a portable device to stick on to your windscreen or dashboard? For those who don’t have sat nav built in to their car, and who don’t want to use a smartphone app, perhaps they still make sense, but which one is the best?

We answered this by trying them all on a broad mix of roads, from urban to country.


TomTom Start 52 (2 stars)

Price £109.99

This is a basic unit, with a 5in screen. The graphics are clear and good quality and you get maps for the UK and Ireland. There’s also a lifetime ability to update maps and three months of speed camera alerts. To get the updates you’ll need to plug in to a computer. There’s no wifi or Bluetooth, but it fulfills a basic function clearly and efficiently.


TomTom VIA 53 (3 stars)

Price £169.99

Another TomTom with a 5in screen, this one comes with not just UK and Ireland but European maps as well, all with a lifetime use. You can get live traffic data but you need a smartphone and mobile data to access that function. Best in cities.


Mio Spirit 5400LM (1 star)

Price £89.99

Proof that value for money and price aren’t the same thing. This Mio unit is the cheapest but you don’t get much for your money. The screen is only 4.3in and the graphics and responsiveness are poor. There’s no wifi or Bluetooth connectivity so it’s not the one if you’re worried about traffic jams. Hard to recommend, even though it is small and light.


Garmin Drive 51 Europe LMT-S (2 stars)

Price £119.99

You get UK and European maps with this Garmin, along with lifetime traffic updates and live parking info, so there’s quite a lot to like in this 5in unit. You can even access Trip Advisor reviews for restaurants or hotels on your journey. A good route planner and decent graphics add to the attraction.


Garmin DriveSmart 61 Europe LMT-D (2 stars)

Price £199.99

The biggest screen here, nearly 7in, gets this Garmin off to a good start. Graphics are slick and clear and you get wifi with it so you can download maps and updates easily. UK and European maps are included as well as lifetime traffic updates.


Verdict

1. TomTom VIA 53

2. Garmin Drive 51 Europe LMT-S

3. TomTom Start 52

As you can see from the star ratings, we weren’t that impressed with any of these portable devices. While smartphone apps have kept moving forward there’s a sense that these portable units have stood still, perhaps with the makers not bothering to invest in a sector they see dying off.

Certainly, if you’re worried about city traffic jams none of these is going to be your best friend. However, of the ones here we’d go for the TomTom VIA 53 as it does the most and represents the best value. The Garmin Drive 51 Europe LMT-S is a decent second place as it does much of what the TomTom does, albeit not quite so well. Third is another TomTom, the Start 52, as a good and steady unit.

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