The Drive 51 finds sensible routes, has a comprehensive search function and typically does a great job of getting you down the road, with clear, well-timed visual and voice instructions. Additional, handy features include warnings about upcoming speed cameras, along with hazards such as sharp turns, railway crossings and areas where animals are known to cross the road.
There’s also a whole database of points of interest to search including hotels and restaurants, linked to TripAdvisor and FourSquare. To make the most of those extra features, you need to pair up a smartphone. Doing so adds live traffic updates and parking information too – but doesn’t enable handsfree calling, nor can you plan routes within your smartphone and send them to the Garmin. And, if you have to pair it up to a smartphone to make the most of it, then why not save more than £100 and just use a smartphone navigation app like Waze? It's far more efficient, uncomplicated and helpful when it comes to live traffic updates than any sat nav, plus it's free. If you go for Waze just make sure you don't fiddle with your phone while you're driving.
Alternatively, for £150, you could get a Mio Spirit 8670 LM sat nav. It features a big 6.2-inch touchscreen, maps of Europe with lifetime updates, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free mobile calls, traffic updates, speed limit warnings and safety camera alerts. Review here: kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/mio-spirit-8670-lm-re.../