This month is all about in-car tech, and whether you love it or loathe it, it’s hard to get away from it in modern cars! In a recent survey of 371 people, we wanted to find out what bits of in-car tech we use the most, and how important it is to our everyday driving routines. Let’s talk about built in satnavs!
Who wants it more?
Boys or girls – who has the worse sense of direction and needs the built in satnav the most? In our survey, 65% of those who said they wished they had a built in satnav were between the ages of 17-24, and 60% of these were male!
So it seems that girls don’t have the worst sense of direction after all, because only 40% of females in the same age said they wished they had it! Good going girls ;)
What’s the difference?
When you’re buying a brand new car, you may be asked if you want a built in satnav as an extra, but what is the difference between having a satnav built in, and a standalone one, or an app on your phone?
Built in satnav
When you have a satnav built in your car, it’s often much more than a navigation system alone. It can have many other media entertainment system included, so you’ll know exactly where to go and have some great music on your journey, too! Built in satnavs tend to also be pretty straightforward to use and figure out.
They’re convenient because they’re already there – so you don’t have to worry about packing your satnav before you hop in the car. Costs of built-in satnavs can be pretty high, however, as if it’s not included as standard in your car, you can be looking at anywhere up to over £1,000 extra on your car.
Standalone satnav
Standalone or dedicated satnavs have one function and that is to navigate you where you need to go. Simple, right? They’re a cheaper option than having a built in satnav in your car and will get you where you need to go. Most dedicated satnav screens are between 4 and 7 inches, so you can choose the size of the screen that is perfect for you.
There are a few downsides with standalone satnavs, one being that if you forget to pick it up before your journey you may be stuck using the trust road signs! Also, if you’re taking a trip outside of the UK you may need additional maps and these can be an expensive update.
App
Satnav apps are the cheapest on the market in helping guide you from A to B. They’re convenient, simple to use and easy to update. You can buy a satnav app on your phone for very little money meaning this is the cheapest option to get your hands on a satnav in your car – but is it the best option?
The quality of the satnav app can depend on the phone you have, so performance may not always be best with these. Some also need to be constantly connected to the internet and if you don’t have enough data on your plan, this can cost you much more in the long run. You’re also going to drain your phone battery with these, so you’ll probably need to get an in-car charger to keep your phone full of juice when you arrive at your destination.
It's also worth remembering that even if you are using your phone as a satnav behind the wheel, the same rules on using your mobile phone apply. It will need to be mounted and set up before you're on route - so no touching your phone mid journey.
You decide
Whether you want to get your hands on a built in satnav in your car, or you’re happy with an app (or even an actual map… do people still use these?) you should choose the option that is most reliable for you. You definitely don’t want to be worrying about not knowing where to go when you’re driving in a new place, but enjoying the drive and looking forward to your destination!
Correct at the time of publication. Information in this article has been gathered from various sources, therefore Marmalade cannot be held responsible for any view or opinion expressed herein.
