Top rated
Top rated
- best buy
- Quality of onscreen guidance
- Quality of audio instructions
- Ease of use
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The best sat navs get you from A to B without a fuss, meaning you can drive stress-free when faced with even the most perplexing one-way system. In our expert buying guide, we uncover a selection of Best Buy recommendations, plus offer advice on which sat nav features matter the most.
Without consulting our expert reviews, you risk buying a dedicated sat nav (or sat nav app) that struggles to cope with route calculations – and that means you may drive an unnecessarily long route to your destination.
Below, we take a closer look at how to find the perfect sat nav for you. Browse through some of the best sat navs and discover the top sat nav brands you can rely on.
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All the sat navs in the table below are Which? Best Buys.
These models have been subjected to our rigorous lab tests, so you can be sure they're easy to set up and able to offer clear guidance on the road. Keep scrolling for the details.
Join Which? to get access to all our Best Buys and sat nav reviews. We’ve tested sat navs from brands including Garmin and TomTom, but only the very best become a Which? Best Buy.
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Full Access first month £5, then £10.99 per month, cancel at any time
Table last updated: February 2024
Just want to know which sat navs we recommend? Head to our expert sat nav reviews.
Watch our sat nav video below to find out if it's worth spending your money on a standalone device, or if you can get away with a sat nav app.
A sat nav app is installed on your smartphone. They tend to be cheaper than dedicated devices but might not offer quite the same quality of user experience. On the plus side, it’s easy to download an app, try it and then delete it if you're not satisfied.
Sat nav apps are a mixed bag – some will help you navigate a tricky route with ease, while others are plagued by annoying ad banners.
Keeping your sat nav app up to date should be fairly straightforward, whether you're using an iPhone or an Android smartphone. You'll need to navigate to the App Store if you're on iOS, or the Google Play Store on Android.
To update your sat nav app on iPhone:
To update your sat nav app on Android:
Dedicated sat navs are the traditional sat nav – standalone devices that work out of the box.
The sat nav market has reduced considerably in recent years, with Garmin and TomTom being among the big-name brands that still release new models fairly regularly. But depending on your needs, a dedicated sat nav may be better for you than an app.
Built with navigation in mind, dedicated devices usually have good speakers and matte, non-reflective screens. Most come with free map updates and some also offer live traffic updates. If you have a caravan or motorhome, you can get a sat nav which includes features such as specific routes for larger vehicles.
However, buying a dedicated sat nav means you have an extra device to carry around if you don't want to leave it in the car. Plus, traffic updates often cost extra.
If you own a dedicated sat nav you'll need to ensure it's kept up to date with the latest maps – that way, you won't hit any dead ends when you're on a road trip.
To find out how to update your specific sat nav model, head to the manufacturer's website. There you'll find instructions that'll most likely involve downloading software to your PC.
To update a TomTom sat nav, head to the TomTom website and install MyDrive Connect. Once installed, connect your sat nav to your computer via USB and follow the on-screen instructions. MyDrive Connect is used to install map updates and also lets you browse user manuals.
To update a Garmin sat nav, head to the Garmin website and install Garmin Connect. Once installed, you can use the software to update maps. The tool will automatically notify you when new updates are available.
To make sure you get the most out of your sat nav, consider the following when you're looking to buy:
Standalone sat navs can range from anywhere between £100 to more than £300. Some sat nav apps are free, while others could cost around £20.
A variety of popular online retailers that stock dedicated sat navs:
Find out which retailers are rated highly by Which? members with our expert guide on the best and worst shops.
It's important to be brand aware when buying a sat nav. While there are only a couple of big-name brands on the market, there are plenty of cheap, rebadged models available online.
We've tested a few of these rebadged models and the results have been poor. The lack of aftersales service from an unknown company means it's unlikely you'll be able to keep the sat nav up to date.
Ultimately, you need to be very careful about buying unbranded models from online retailers.
Find out which sat navs you should buy and which you should avoid with our sat nav reviews.
When reviewing sat navs we answer important questions including:
See how we test sat navs for more information on our lab tests.
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