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Navman N40: The All Important Test

part of our review of the Navman N40 on Friday 23rd May 2008

The all important test! This is where we determine the overall score for the Navman N40.

The Score Sheet

Appearance

Out of a possible 11, the 520 scored 8. It lost points for the following reasons:

  • The screen size is too small for an advanced user thus limiting the N40 to the entry-mid level market.
  • The system isn't as stylish as it's competitors

It did, however, score full marks for build quality and button sizes. It's a solid product and the buttons are all nice and chunky though we would rather the on/off button was move far away from the camera button to avoid accidental photographs.

Packaging

Out of a possible 15, the N40 scored 11. There's no PC dock but there is a USB cable. It has a mains charger which is great news if you need to charge this up away from your computer or vehicle.

The box is of medium size though it is perhaps a little too big for the product. The manual is downloadable from Navman which restricts access to the manual to those with an Internet connection.

PC Software

Our N40 didn't come with the software disc so we couldn't test it out. Nevertheless, given Navman's track record in previous tests, we can only assume it's of good quality and easy to use.

Support

The N40 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. Due to the lack of software, we couldn't check if the maps were up to date. We checked the website and couldn't find any option to upgrade the maps at all. We found the option to buy new country maps but nothing to update existing maps to the latest maps. We did notice a software upgrade but we're not sure if that is an upgrade for the PC software or for the N40's firmware.

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 N40 scored 17. It's quick to turn on and has good functionality. It has aspects which suggest it belongs in the budget system category and other features which belong to the big brothers of the pro range, leaving the N40 comfortably in the mid-range category, perhaps swaying closer towards the budget end with the 3.5 inch screen.

The Road Test

Scoring 27 out of 30, the N40 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 31 minutes and 16.9 miles. In reality it took 30 minutes and 16.3 miles, which is too close to fault.

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 N40 9 out of 10. It deserves an 8 as it's a great system, if a little on the ugly side. The camera feature won it an extra point from us purely because it is a great feature from a security and insurance perspective. Every car should have a disposable camera in it as a basic requirement should you need photographic evidence. We suspect a lot of cars don't have these so a sat nav system that can also double up as a camera is a smart feature.

In the safety aspect, if you are feeling threatened in any shape or form, you could take photos to use as evidence when contacting the police. It should be noted that you shouldn't use the camera whilst driving however.

The Totals

Given everything that we have discussed, the Navman N40 was been awarded 81% in our thorough test. It's a budget mid range system with features usually seen in more expensive models. It looks ugly but performs very well indeed. Remember, looks can be deceiving!

Additional Navman N40 Review Pages

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