Navon GPS N485

It doesn’t just announce the next turn, it even zooms in on it so you won’t drive past

The way our cities are growing, GPSs are becoming a necessity. And while there are many brands available in the market now, finding a really good one is still a challenge.

Till now, Navon was available only with Volkswagen cars. The company has recently launched a retail strategy, and now anyone can buy it.

While the N485 is an entry-level model, it is definitely not a dumbed-down version. It has a 4.3 inch touchscreen, a rubberised grip and a one-year subscription for updating the maps. Its GPS boots up quickly, although the software takes its own sweet time. Once the GPS and software are up, everything works fine.

You can choose between 2D and 3D maps, and between a faster or greener route. The green route reduces your carbon footprint. The N485 does this using algorithms and historical traffic data. It knows that roads are clogged on Monday mornings and can suggests alternatives. Another nice feature is the Junction View. The moment you approach a turn you have to take, not only does the GPS announce it, it also zooms into the junction on-screen and shows you exactly where to turn. It is so much more convenient than the GPS announcing: “Take the second exit.” To better orient you with the on-screen map, landmarks such as India Gate in New Delhi and the Gateway of India in Mumbai come up in 3D on the screen if they are on your route.

Overall, this GPS has the best interface I have seen so far. It could have responded faster at times, but I was happy with its build quality, maps and interface. The Navon also lets you plug in a microSD card and watch movies or listen to music. With its Bluetooth, you can connect it to your handset and use it as a speakerphone. The touchscreen can also be used to dial numbers off the GPS.

directionsGPSmap