The first part of starting your journey as a driver is to make sure you know where you are headed! As you become more and more aware of your local roads, driving to common places like your family member’s houses, the local shops or workplace, will be as easy as riding a bike.
But when you set out to a new area, a sat nav is really handy, especially if you have never driven or been to those areas. A sat nav is important to ensure you have comfort in your head that you’re on the right path, get to that meeting on time or simply feel like you are in control.
When you are fresh out of the driving test centre with your newly earned driving licence or looking to get ahold of an affordable sat nav that won’t break the bank, these choices picked by us will give you the information you need to make an informed buying decision.
Below are some of the most affordable sat navs for under £100. Sat navs don’t have to be expensive nor should they compromise on quality. Take a look below and see which satnav suits you best!
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The Features
- Can provide voice navigation in over 32+ languages for easier use
- Direct support for searching up new postcodes and addresses
- It contains an intelligent error connection if at any time you go the wrong way it will redirect you accordingly
- Prebuilt in HIFI Speaker with FM broadcast function
- And much more!
Pros
- A great alternative to more expensive brands
- Easy to use and configure
What The Reviewers Say
The reviewers from Amazon have indicated many positive and negative aspects of the product. Some buyers have reported that the product has made them feel frustrated but others have stated it is a perfect alternative and easy to use.
Some reports of the Satnav rerouting the intended destination. Other users have mentioned the product is user friendly and is simple to navigate. The touchscreen is responsive too.
A customer has reported that the Sat Nav may experience some map problems and emailed the customer service department. Had the questions resolved regarding the query he raised at the time.
Buy NowTomTom Car Sat Nav Start 52, 5 Inch
The Features
- A lifetime of maps and updates
- 3 months speed camera updates to help identify upcoming speed cameras
- Enhanced lane guidance – helps clearly identify correct lanes
- Free software update
- Touchscreen built to long last for years to come
Pros
- Accurate and reliable sat nav
- Good for other vehicle types such as motorbikes
- Clear screen & display for easy viewing
- Great map detail
What The Reviewers Say
The Features
- 52 maps preloaded in the European continent
- Voice command activated
- Pre-installation – Plug and use
- Speed camera notification feature
Pros
- Great value for money spent
- Simple, cheap and effective
- Good quality to price ratio
What The Reviewers Say
This satnav has over 750 reviews from the globe and has an average rating of 3.8+ from customers who have purchased this product. A user had stated that they originally used a TomTom satnav but due to satellite connection problems and weekly updates they resorted to buying the Jimwey sat nav as an alternative choice.
One user said it has very settings and that you can tailor the satnav to the vehicle of your choice. The speed camera alerts were handy, reported by the user as all of the road signs were surrounded and out of view by overgrown greenery and plants. They also stated the night mode is very clear to see, fast a readjusting your location and the instructions provided are very clear.
Another user left a 5-star review stating the sat nav was a good purchase for the money you get. They did mention that the postcodes may not be always accurate but for the price you paid for it, he had nothing to complain about.
One user has stated that the sat nav did take longer routes to destinations and gave an example of going to his local shop.
Buy Now
The Features
- Includes frequent map updates for UK and Ireland roads
- Easy to use and navigate menus for easy driving
- On the road features including TripAdvisor ratings and lots of foursquare markers for points of interest
- Alerts for school zones, speed cameras
Pros
- “Idiot proof”
- Easy to use for remote places – clear screen
- Good for driving in Europe
- Clear voice instructions
What The Reviewers Say
When it comes to choosing a sat nav or a phone app, it is important to understand the pros and cons of each type. Of course, new drivers may not be able to afford expensive sat navs with the cost of gaining their driver’s licence, and getting on the road. The costs start to add up. Here is a quick guide to their pros and cons.
Better Viewing
When it comes to viewing, the humble sat nav wins hands down. With a bigger screen and a windscreen holder, you are able to position the sat nav in the best place to view the screen whilst keeping your eyes on the road. Mobile phone apps screens are a lot smaller to see and are more fiddly to place within the windscreen area. With smaller screens, drivers are forced to take their eyes off the road to study the directions on the mobile phone device.
Features
Although both sat navs and mobile phone apps have jumped ahead with advanced features in recent years, the humble sat nav is still more advanced than the mobile phone app. Sat navs enable the driver to input their vehicle dimensions into the sat-nav, which in turn enables the driver to avoid restricted roads. For example, if you are planning a route whilst towing a caravan, the sat nav will plan a route that doesn’t have restricted road widths.
Mobile phone apps have come a long way, but their features do not surpass that of the sat nav. Of course, the more money you are willing to part with, will, in turn, produce more features, but, again for the new driver – budget is everything. So, depending on what type of features you require will depend if the sat nav is better for you than the mobile phone app.
Distractions
Sat navs, in general, are less distracting than mobile phones. When using a phone app to navigate, you MUST have your data switched on for the mobile phone app to work. This would mean that you would still get notifications whilst you are driving. This can be very distracting whilst driving and potentially encourage you to look at your phone and your messages.
Sat navs on the other hand, do NOT have this problem. The only beep you are likely to hear is the beep of speed cameras or when you exceed the speed limit.
Loss of Signal & Power
When it comes to mobile phone apps, they are only as good as the amount of power left in the bank. If your phone is NOT fully charged, nor do you have an in-car charger, your mobile phone app is about as good as a wet lettuce. If you are headed out into the countryside, your loss of signal will affect your phones ability to produce a route, or at least continue a route if you get lost.
Data drainage is also a problem for some mobile phone apps. If your phone contract doesn’t have enough data, again your mobile phone app may not be worthwhile. Unlike with the sat nav – this would never be a problem.
So, we conclude that sat navs are better than using mobile phone apps. They are safer, more reliable and less distracting when out driving. But, when the budget is important and when funds are tight – what can you really buy for £100 or less?
