The GPS devices are the solution for car navigation the most common. For several reasons: their prices have shrunk in recent years and their use is generally simple and intuitive. All, so far, are not equal.

For a budget of between 100 and 500 dollars, a GPS opens the way for road navigation. In practice, the housing incorporates the four components of a navigation solution, namely a GPS receiver to receive the signal, digital maps, software, information processing and a processor to enable all to function. Just install the device on its support to connect to the cigarette lighter to set aside any issues of autonomy and turn it on. Some relevant details, however, before departure.

Display: day and night

The effectiveness of guidance depends, inter alia, the display quality. The screen size is therefore a first criterion to consider. Currently, the diagonal average is between 9 and 11 cm. In addition, the overall size of the box becomes annoying to regular users, who must constantly leave their equipment in a pocket or bag so as not to tempt thieves. Note that large screen is not always a guarantee of better readability. In fact, some devices only display the map on a portion of the screen, reserving the remaining space to display information (mileage, speed …).

Moreover, a good display is not without an automatic night mode. Far from being routine, but this function is very valuable. It prevents the driver an annoying glare when he enters a tunnel! If that is activated manually, best is to access the function directly from the screen without having to go through the menu of the camera in full action. Ditto for setting the volume: it must be easily accessible for quick adjustment according to the environment.

The major manufacturers offer their GPS Tracking along with a map including France or Europe (starting between 50 and 150 euros extra depending on the brand) and some of North America for the more expensive (this is the case eg TomTom Go 930, the best test of our July-August 2009). They all provide to one or other of the two major players, digital maps, namely the Dutch TeleAtlas, which belongs to the manufacturer TomTom and Navteq American, who is about to be bought by Nokia after it has been endorsed by the European Commission last summer. Our tests revealed greater overall accuracy of the maps of the second supplier.

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