Sony NV-U93T review

Sony's widescreen monster is the Chelsea tractor of this month's Labs. It has a huge 4.8in screen - a good half inch larger than any other device on test - and the thick surround makes it look even bigger. To be fair, this makes it the most readable of all the satnavs here, but it won't be for everyone; in a small car like a Nissan Micra or a Mini, its formidable dimensions would eat into your field of vision.

In addition to the large screen, the build quality is superb: it really feels as if you're getting your money's worth, despite the fact that it's one of the more expensive devices on test. And there are premium features under the hood, too: the U93T boasts acceleration and pressure sensors, the idea being to supplement GPS data when the signal is lost or weak.

And it works well. It certainly didn't suffer the position-lag that the Medion P4225 did on our test route, despite that device being based on the same Navigon mapping engine and Navteq map data as the Sony. We also preferred the Sony's interface and map display screen, which is very clear and sensibly laid out and, again, more responsive than the Medion's.

Disappointingly, the screen update chugs a bit, and on our test journey it chose a more motorway-heavy route than the other satnavs, but it made up for these minor failings in other areas. Voice instructions were clear and timely, and we loved the large next-turn icons that display up to two junctions ahead.

Two permanent touch-sensitive buttons to the left of the display are just as useful: one allows you to repeat the last voice instruction at any time; the other lets you cycle through POI views. Tap the latter once and up pops a simple (configurable) list of, for example, nearby petrol stations and car parks; tap it again for an overview of your route and where those POIs fall.

On top of this it boasts all the features you'd expect from a high-end satnav, from Bluetooth phone compatibility to built-in TMC for traffic information. It's clearly a very capable device: we love the big screen, the interface and the slick map display, all of which make it a viable alternative to the TomTom 720. But the TomTom's superb performance and bargain price give it the edge.

Author: Jonathan Bray