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Navman S30: The All Important Test

part of our review of the Navman S30 on Tuesday 20th May 2008

The all important test! This is where we determine the overall score for the Navman S30.

The Score Sheet

Appearance

Out of a possible 11, the S30 scored 7. It lost points for the following reasons:

• The on/off button is tiny. A bigger button would be better and given the room on the top of the system, this looks feasible from our perspective.
• The screen size is too small for an advanced user thus limiting the S30 to the entry level market.

It did, however, score full marks for build quality and looks. It's a stunning piece of engineering and it feels solid too. We love the shiny black screen surround (shiny is better!)

Packaging

Out of a possible 15, the S30 scored 11. There's no PC dock but there is a USB cable. As an entry level system, it has no mains charger so if you need to charge this up away from your computer or vehicle, you'll have a tough time.

We got incredibly excited when we saw a nice chunky manual in a bag. We took it out to find it was the legal terms and conditions. That depressed us a bit as 186 pages of legal information in 14 languages isn't as useful as a printed manual. Furthermore, we couldn't find a pdf manual on the CD. We found one on the Navman website but that means you need an internet connection to view the manual.

PC Software

The Navman S30 scored full marks on the software front (NavDesk 2008). It installed incredibly easily, picked up the S30 within a minute and was very easy to use.

Support

The S30 scored 3 out of 5 for support. Remember that 'Support' also includes making sure the system is up to date when it is first synced. We couldn't see any option to check if the maps were up to date and in all fairness, we couldn't find any option to upgrade the maps at all. We found the option to buy unlock codes on the Navman website to open up new country maps but nothing to update existing maps to the latest maps.

Speed camera updates are available as a paid upgrade and a set of speed camera locations is included with the product which is a smart move.

The System Itself

Out of 23, the S30 scored 16. It's quick to turn on and has some basic functionality though it lacks advanced features. This in essence is what makes it a budget system but we therefore have to score accordingly.

A bug bear is with toll roads. We have two choices - a) warn of toll roads and b) avoid toll roads. The system can't warn of them then re-route if we want. We would have preferred a third option of c) warn of toll road and ask whether a re-route is necessary. We may not want to avoid all toll roads, just some.

The Road Test

Scoring 26 out of 30, the S30 performed well on the road. Everything is a breeze to use and the mapping is accurate.

It was slow on the re-route taking 21 seconds where our target is 15.

It told us the overall journey would take 24 minutes and 16.3 miles. In reality it took 32 minutes and 16.5 miles. We cannot fault the distance but the time difference is too large to go unnoticeable. As it stands there's only a 8 minute difference on a 32 minute drive but that's an extra 33% on what the S30 predicted. This appears to be quite a big flaw in the planning algorithm though it is important to state the distance was correct.

With regard to test specifics, the system failed to get us to Castell Coch correctly using the built-in POI location, leaving us to fend for ourselves a mile away. Given it's an important historic tourist attraction in the area, we would have expected the same level of mapping quality as the postcode mapping and the Tesco test (though we only found that as a petrol station and not a shop).

Would We Recommend It?

We scored the Navman S30 8 out of 10. It's a contentious score but to understand why we have rated it as such, you need to put the S30 into context. It's an entry level sat nav system targeted at potential sat nav owners, those who are after a system on a budget or even those who just want a system that does the basics.

Looking at it from this perspective, it ticks all the boxes. The screen size is a bit on the small size but is the standard entry level size.

If you are after a system that does everything you could possibly think a system could and should do, this won't satisfy you. However, if you've never owned a sat nav system before or you are simply not sure what your needs are, grab a Navman S30 as it will suit you perfectly.

The Totals

Given everything that we have discussed, the Navman S30 was been awarded 77% in our thorough test. It's a budget system with nothing in the way of bells and whistles. But for the beginner, it's an ideal system that's great for all round mapping.

Additional Navman S30 Review Pages

• Appearance
• Drawstring Bag
• Explanation of the Screen
• Packaging Photographs
• Product Photographs
• Quick Summary
• Screen Photographs
• Specifications
• Windscreen Mount