15 best car navigators

Car navigator - an indispensable device for travel and long trips by car. Navigator greatly simplifies moving around an unfamiliar city, with the majority of software (Navitel, Progorod, etc.) allow you to use fresh maps without Internet access. To update the software in the Navigator, you use the built-in GSM-module or Wi-Fi, by which you can join the smartphone. More expensive models can be additionally equipped with a DVR and radar detector, and even act as a rear-view mirror. Such "combo devices" are designed to significantly save usable space in the car.

We suggest to get acquainted with the rating of the best navigators for the car. The selection of the best navigators was made taking into account

1. Technical characteristics and functionality of the device
2. Navigator Popularity
3. Cost (compliance with price and quality)
4. Customer Reviews
5. Expert opinions

Best cheap car navigators: budget up to 4000 rub.

Choose the best models of navigators in the price segment up to 4000 rubles is not an easy task. Making the selection of the best models, based only on the reviews - not the best idea. The fact is that the lion’s share of what they write is custom texts. This is especially true for budget Chinese models. There are examples when almost 90% of all reviews are written by ordinary managers, which does not allow to evaluate the real quality characteristics of the navigator.

Therefore, we built our rating of budget car navigators based on technical characteristics and cost, and only indirectly took feedback into account. We also selected only those models that could be purchased in 2018.

5 Prology iMap-4800

Not all drivers are chasing the big screen, for someone it is much more important to leave maximum free space on the windshield. For them, Prology has created a miniature (120 x 80 x 12 mm) model with a 4-inch diagonal display. It is relatively new, its technical parameters are standard, but the buyer can be confident in its reliability and stability of communication.

By default, the “Navitel” maps of Russia and 11 closest countries with coverage of 370 thousand localities are loaded into the device, of which 30 thousand are in HD quality. The rest of the mapping can be downloaded free of charge from the Navitel website, using the internal memory reserves of 4GB. If they are not enough (which is unlikely), you can insert a flash card up to 32 GB. At first glance, there is not a lot of RAM - only 128 MB, but we haven’t found any negative reviews about the slow launch and freezes. Inexpensive, simple and convenient device with GPS - this navigator is clearly worthy of its place in the top.

4 Prology iMap-5800

The next place in our ranking is taken by the Prology iMap-5800 navigator. This is an updated version of the well-known navigator Prology iMap-5600, with the only difference that the iMap-5800 does not have a PS / 2 connector. But there was support for the standard NMEA 0183.

Prology is a product of American origin. The progenitor of the brand is Saturn High-Tech. Currently, the company's production facilities are located in China.

In general, this is the most common model with a standard set of functions: built-in map, route calculation, voice messages. It is possible to download maps of the area. You can view graphic files, watch videos and listen to music.

There are a lot of positive reviews about Prology iMap-5800, since the navigator is not new for a long time. The model gained popularity for several reasons:

• GPS works well, satellites catches flawlessly
• Pleases the presence of 3D drawing of the map
• Build quality is good despite low price.
• The display works without glare.

There are some negative reviews regarding the premature breakdowns of the navigator. Apparently, this is due to the appearance of defective parties or frank fakes. How real are these facts, we can only guess.

3 Digma AllDrive 505

About the navigation system "CityGid" in the reviews they write that it allows you to build routes with the highest details. The availability of the Internet on the way to work does not depend on the software, and if you are not interested in information about traffic jams, then you can do without it. Navigator Digma AllDrive 505 comes with this system, which is especially welcome to St. Petersburg people - it works flawlessly in their city. However, the device allows, if desired, to replace the navigation system with an alternative one.

The navigator copes with the main functions adequately: it starts in a few seconds, accurately finds the end point of the route, offers reasonable options for following and provides an excellent overview of the map. The color screen is bright enough not to shade in sunny weather and not to blind the eyes in the evening. There are not many voice prompts, but they will not give the necessary turn. The developers propose to use the device for leisure, integrating into the shell gaming applications, video player, as well as programs for reading books and listening to audio.

2 NAVITEL C500

It's still early to write off car navigators from the accounts, too early! And there is nothing to blame on their slowness either - modern models like the NAVITEL C500 find the right address in a matter of seconds, build the most logical route, report the estimated arrival time, and at the same time open the nearest POI points. With smartness and nimbleness, the device must have a well-chosen component: Mstar MSB2531A processor (800 MHz), 128 MB RAM, and built-in 4 GB. The device communicates with the satellites via the MediaTek MSR2112 navigation chipset, which allows you to receive a GPS signal at a carrier frequency of 1575.42 MHz. In other words, there is not a single complaint about the quality of communication either in reviews or in reviews.

The C500 is the most budget-friendly device of all Navitel, but it comes with pre-installed software and detailed Russian cartography, that is, fully ready for use immediately after purchase. The update is absolutely free, but only via the USB cable - wireless is not available. In addition to the basic functions, there is an FM receiver, an AUX output and a media player, there is support for microSD up to 32 GB, so you can always listen to current news or your favorite track list. Navigator is conveniently mounted on the windshield, connects to the cigarette lighter, but it is quite capable of working independently from the built-in battery with a capacity of 950 mA h.

1 LEXAND SA5 +

The first place in the ranking is taken by the model "LEXAND SA5 +" – one of the best-selling car navigators in Russia. This is a very functional device, the cost of which does not exceed 5000 rubles. Among the budget models of our rating only LEXAND SA5 + has Hands-Free, Bluetooth mode. This navigator has the most capacious battery – 1100 mAh There are built-in games for those who like to pass the time in traffic. The navigator is supplied with pre-installed Navitel maps. – One of the best software for Russian roads.

It is a pity, of course, that there is no support for the NMEA 0183 standard (it guarantees compatibility of the GPS receiver with all popular GPS navigation software).

Lexand says in favor of navigators that this is a Russian brand of portable consumer electronics. The company is quite experienced working in the market since 1989. This gives some hope that the support of the car gadget (update) will take place without delay.

User Reviews

Advantages:

• Excellent equipment
• Good functionality for a small price - notes 90% of all users
• Multimedia features - you can watch photos, videos, listen to music
• High-quality assembly

Minuses:

• The screen resolution could be done a little more.
• Despite the stated battery capacity, the battery charge does not last long
• The cord is a bit short (typical for many modern car navigators)

The best navigators for a car with a diagonal of 6-7 inches

It is important for some car owners that the navigator not only performs its main function – route definition, but also had excellent multimedia capabilities and high-quality display. Navigators with screen sizes from 6 to 7 inches allow you to view videos with high resolution. The larger screen size – the more convenient to use a GPS device.

At the same time, the choice of devices with an increased diagonal today is not as great as, for example, in the category of navigators with 5-inch displays.

3 Prestigio GeoVision Tour 4 Progorod

The flagship of the line of navigators for cars GeoVision only had time to appear, as already entered the top consumer sympathies. And this is not surprising, since his younger brother, Tour 3, has proven itself well. He is the first of all the guards of automotive GPS navigators, got rid of the outdated Windows CE and began to work under the control of Android. And the 4th model works with a 1.3 MHz processor based on Android 8.0, equipped with an LCD touch screen, has 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB (of which about 3.6 free) of internal memory. In fact, this is a full-fledged electronic avtoplanet, working without bugs in multitasking mode.

Those who managed to test the device, note the excellent reception of networks, the quick response of the sensor to touch and swipe, good software for navigation. The Progorod software, the popular Yandex Map and Navigator services, a set of 3D maps are preinstalled in the device. The possibility of free replacement and updates is implemented in any convenient way - USB, Wi-Fi, 3G (there is a slot for SIM-cards) or Bluetooth. Through the Internet, you can also update the database of radars and police cameras, key points of POI.The device is powered by a 12V cigarette lighter, but it is fully capable of operating in standalone mode for up to 5 hours - it's not for nothing that a 2500 mAh battery is installed.

2 NAVITEL T700 3G

It is difficult to surprise spoiled users of automotive electronics with something, but Navitel succeeded. It's no joke - to give the customers of the navigator T700 3G a licensed map set of almost fifty countries, which is also subject to a free lifetime update. We immediately see that the device is designed for serious travelers. Moreover, it is quite suitable for use as a phone, tablet, taximeter, video recorder and even a radar detector - you just download and run the corresponding applications, and even the SpeedCam database is available for the anti-radar function.

The next useful feature of the navigator is the ability to install two SIM cards at once with support for 2G / 3G standards, which gives access to the mobile Internet, and that, in turn, provides a wealth of information about weather, congestion, traffic optimization options, etc. Installed Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS modules allow you to receive and transmit data to other devices, keep in touch with satellites and determine the location. And the device is equipped with a main and front camera. There are no miracles to expect from them, but for organizing a video call using WhatsApp or photographing the text of technical indicators of 2 and 0.3 MP is enough.

1 Garmin Drive 61 RUS LMT

The Garmin brand is considered conservative, but its designers clearly approached the design of the 61st model with inspiration: they deprived it of thick, 1 cm, sides and made almost the entire visible surface of the screen working. The device was dressed in a stylish case of durable plastic, while ensuring a high-quality assembly, and as a result received one of the most attractive devices in this category. Of course, any automobile device is rated more “by clothes” than “by mind”, but after switching on the device remains at a height, and the speed of loading and positioning does not depend on external weather conditions.

Traditionally, the display is enlarged to 6.1 ”: the size of the diagonal adds solidity to the gadget and greatly simplifies its management.Drive 61 can be safely recommended to people who value their time - no suspensions and lags in the work of the navigator are noticed. The same can be said about voice control: the transition to the menu is instantaneous, and a working radio tape recorder is not a hindrance. Separately, it is necessary to note the performance of voice prompts: they supplement the names of streets with notable landmarks, such as a traffic light or a restaurant. Thanks to them, there is no need to peer at address labels, it is enough just to listen to the instructions of the electronic assistant.

The best navigators for the car 2 in 1 and 3 in 1

The combination of automotive devices - the established practice of recent years. More and more automotive gadgets appear on the market, in the 2 in 1 and 3 in 1 format. Combining the navigator with the DVR can be very useful for saving space on the windshield (and in some combo models a radar detector is also added). In addition, there will be no problems with the power of two devices from one cigarette lighter.

We offer you to get acquainted with the three best combined navigators that can be purchased in 2018.

4 XPX PM-718

We admit that this device entered the top of the best only because of its low cost. Find a gadget with a 7-inch display and video recording function is cheaper than 3.5 thousand rubles. - agree, that is another task. But the manufacturer, judging by the description, also laid out a good functionality: the presence of the built-in Bluetooth allows you to turn on the hands-free phone mode, the color TFT-display provides automatic brightness control, there is support for all popular audio and video formats, as well as some graphic (gpeg , bmp, gif, png) and text (txt). In the technical specifications, there is no information about the software for navigation, but two programs are mentioned in the reviews (very worthy, I must say) - Navitel and iGo.

Screen resolution is standard for 7-inch model - 800x480. This is quite enough for comfortable viewing of maps in 3-dimensional space. The stated battery capacity of 1200 mA ∙ h should also suffice for standard operation. The quality of video registration is not known, as well as the type of chipset, the amount of operating memory. In general, if you believe the data collected indirectly, the navigator from a young Chinese company is able to display remarkable talents as a multimedia player, but as a combo it still remains a “dark horse”.

3 Prology iMap-580TR

The model of the American brand “Prology” is one of the three leaders in the ranking of the best navigators with a DVR. Prology iMap-580TR will not please you with rich functionality, however, and the price for a combo device is one of the lowest.

The model can be described as: minimum of functions - maximum efficiency. And indeed, as a navigator and as a DVR device works on a solid four. There are two slots for memory cards: one for the navigator, the other for the DVR. Video is recorded with sound at a resolution of 1280x720. The device can also transmit traffic data via GPRS communication. Works Prology iMap-580TR on software "Navitel" – The most popular software on Russian roads. The processor, however, is the weakest in the top (only 500 MHz), so you should not expect super-speed from the navigator.

2 Eplutus GR-71

Well, what could be the DVR in the navigator? - someone from skeptics will ask. We would not have believed it ourselves, but after becoming acquainted with the Eplutus GR-71 combo device, we assert that the best is the best. To begin with, when the ignition is turned on, the device starts recording with Full HD resolution in avi format, which means it is convenient to view it on a TV or PC. Due to the use of high-quality optics, the video files shot are distinguished by excellent detailing, includingif the shooting was done at night or the object was away from the car. In the case of sudden braking, non-standard maneuver or impact, the G-sensor saves the record to a separate folder and blocks the ability to delete it.

With the "direct responsibilities" device copes effortlessly. The advanced GPS system allows you to maintain communication with up to 32 satellites at the same time and jewelly determine the location of the vehicle. True, the device comes with a trial version of the Navitel program, which has no time limit, but when you try to update it, it will require a license key. As for radar detection, the device is able to catch signals from the most common radar complexes and velocity meters on the territory of the Russian Federation: Strelka, Robot, Iskra, Amata, etc. Not bad, as for a navigator, right?

1 Garmin DriveAssist 51 RUS LMT

Garmin has earned an excellent reputation and has long been among the top manufacturers of navigation systems. It is logical that its navigators accurately route and allow you to reach your destination without any problems. Much more interesting is the hybrid model Garmin DriveAssist 51, which on the auto panel replaces both a GPS navigator and a video recording gadget. The video is recorded with reference to the coordinates of the car in the resolution of 1920 × 1080, the numbers are read from a distance of up to 3 m, the viewing angle is sufficient to track the traffic situation along the entire perimeter of the shooting. Recording is displayed on a 5-inch screen with a sensor and pinch-to-zoom zoom function.

But “Garmin” would not be “Garmin” if it were not for nosing their offspring with a mass of additional “buns”. For example, the device will always tell you when you need to slow down - the lion’s share of radar detectors will envy the volume of its database of fixed cameras. Traffic on the streets can be monitored using the proprietary Smartphone Link application. If the driver did manage to get into a traffic jam, he could be distracted by his business, and when the flow of cars moves forward, the gadget will inform him about it. The Forward Collision Warning function warns you of a dangerous approach to neighboring cars, and Lane Departure Warning warns you about leaving the lane.

The best premium car navigators and new items

3 TomTom GO PROFESSIONAL 6200

It seems that the navigators began to win in the fight with smartphones for a place in the car. The friendly telephone fray faltered after the latest GPS navigation systems appeared, when TomTom launched the Go line with the flagship 6200. Among its features are unlimited internet throughout Europe (this feature is not supported in all countries), unlimited free update subscription cartography and access to the database of high-speed cameras, synchronization with the previous navigator through the cloud storage, provision of traffic information by TomTom Traffic service.

The device can be synchronized with your Siri smart assistant (iPhone) or Google Now (Android) to request all the necessary information using voice. In addition, the device is equipped with a route prediction system, thanks to which it remembers the most visited places and offers the best options for movement. GPS-navigator is particularly popular in Western Europe, while in Russia it is still considered exotic.

2 Garmin DezlCam 785 LMT-D

This is the first car navigator, designed for professional truck drivers. It integrates a 7-inch display, video recorder and information system about the current traffic situation. So that the driver does not have to be distracted and take his hands off the wheel, the ability to control the voice is implemented in the gadget.Listening to logical and detailed tips, orientation in unfamiliar terrain is much better and faster, while the navigator offers routes taking into account the dimensions of the vehicle, the nature of the cargo being transported, road weight restrictions, the need to visit several address points, etc.

The database of the gadget contains information about service points: gas stations, maintenance, weight stations, parking places. In the process, there is an automatic recording of data on distance traveled, fuel consumption, number of working hours - all that is needed to provide a report. In the case of processing the device gives a warning signal and offers several locations for recreation nearby. When moving to another time zone, it switches the clock on its own and displays the time of sunrise and sunset. These and many other features make driving much easier and safer.

1 Garmin DriveLuxe

The DriveLuxe GPS-navigator series belongs to the premium segment with the corresponding price tag - up to 45,000 rubles. They are difficult to find in stock, and even on the official website they are available on pre-order. Belonging to the "elite" is recognized instantly - by the noble shine of the metal case, the dead grip of a powerful magnetic holder with a built-in power connector, the richness of the picture on the display and a wide range of IQ services in real time. The presence of Bluetooth allows you to instantly turn the navigator into a headset, and third-party integration of useful services like TripAdviser or Foursquare give you the opportunity to get valuable advice about a particular tourist location.

If you connect the car gadget to the smart watch of the same name, the navigation can be monitored directly on the wrist, even after the car is parked. By the way, you can forget about finding a car in a crowded parking too - the clock will show you the way. Another useful collaboration of devices is with a wireless rear view camera that broadcasts a picture on the navigator display. Finally, a completely unexpected feature of the car navigator is the control of children in the backseat. For its implementation, you need an additional device BabyCam.

How to choose a good car navigator

The choice of a good, functional, and, most importantly, reliable navigator - is very difficult. In order not to be mistaken with the purchase, we recommend to pay attention to a number of the following parameters:

• operating system. The most widespread navigators working on the Android system. In addition to them, there are a number of alternative operating systems such as Navitel, Windows, etc.
• Card type. Similar to operating systems, the navigator can work on the basis of various maps. The most famous are maps from Navitel - the percentage of navigators with them "on board" exceeds 50% of the total number of models. There are also more "exotic" options: Garmin, Avtosputnik, Progorod, Navteq, iGO and many others.
• Traffic jams. Visualization of traffic jams in real time is a very important function of the navigator. If the question of time for you is very relevant, feel free to sweep aside navigators without the support of this function.
• Availability FM-module. A very useful feature of the gadget, since the radio is not only an opportunity to stay in touch with civilization, but also a way to learn important information about weather conditions and traffic conditions (one type of warning about traffic jams).
• Display size. Since the driver is forced to concentrate on the road, it is often simply impossible to view the information on the display. If you are accustomed to navigate by visual indicators, rather than by voice assistance, then prefer a gadget with a large screen (about seven inches).
• GPS or GLONASS. The answer is simple: both that and that. The fact is that GPS is a system developed in the USA that provides worldwide coverage of 32 satellites. GLONASS is a domestic system, on account of which 24 satellites are located exclusively over the territory of Russia.
• Hybrid. On the market you can find a large number of navigators with built-in functions of the DVR or radar detector, or both. The reliability of such devices (due to a larger number of functions) is lower than that of standard navigators, but if necessary (and saving space and money), you can opt for hybrid models.

Popular vote - who is the best manufacturer of car navigators?
We vote!

Garmin

LEXAND

Navitel

Prology

Dunobil

GlobusGPS

Mystery

Prestigio

SUPRA

Tomtom

Xpx

Eplutus

Digma

Total votes: 236

Vote results