STUFF ESSENTIALS – Big-screen sat-navs

Route 66 Chicago 9000 £210www.66.comThis debut sat-nav offering is not too shabby with its clear, wide screen and speedy navigation. Fiddly on-screen buttons and infuriating voice commands are likely to annoy though. Not bad for a first try.ViaMichelin X980T Europe £300www.viamichelin.comThe sleek and classy look of the X980T is unfortunately not matched by the software underneath. Slow and ugly menus make using the X980T a bore. Looks nice on your dashboard, though.Garmin nüvi 350 £420www.garmin.comThe inclusion of an FM transmitter for playing out directions through your car speakers may be unnecessary for most users, but it doesn’t stop this being a great little unit. Easy to use and with clear directions, but then at over £400 it’s not cheap.Mio C520t £300www.mio-tech.comPretty much all you want from a sat-nav. The clear design makes this easy to use and the C520t even comes loaded with Bluetooth for hands-free calling. An impressively smart little unit.Sony NV-U92T £350www.sony.co.ukA huge 4.8inch screen may make this Sony offering stand out, but unfortunately so do the annoying voice instructions and the painfully slow processing. Maybe the biggest, but certainly not the best available.Becker Traffic Assist Pro Ferrari £350www.mybecker.comThis may have the Ferrari logo, but it doesn’t have the speed or style. A clumsy navigation system and unclear maps make this unit a waste of money, even if it is the closest you’ll come to owning a Ferrari.