Sony's First GPS Comes Up Short

The Nav-U's touch-screen display and built-in maps of the 48 contiguous states (the included CD offers additional U.S. maps) made initial setup easy. Sony says its database contains 1.6 million points of interest, but it's far from complete: When I searched for a Whole Foods grocery store, the device directed me to one some 15 miles away from my location, even though another store branch was miles closer.

Time and again while I was testing the Nav-U, the routes the device suggested frustrated me. Typically the instructions would get me where I needed to go, but they necessitated more driving time than was necessary. In one instance the device directed me to continue for several miles along a surface street running parallel to a faster-moving freeway that was just 50 yards away. The feature that I missed the most--and one that other GPS devices have--is an ability to designate roads and intersections to avoid entirely. If you specify a road as blocked, the Nav-U automatically unblocks it for the next route you plan in the same driving area.

A bigger problem for me, especially considering that the Nav-U is primarily an in-car navigation device, was the lack of detail in the directions. For example, the device's clear voice would instruct me to exit a freeway, but it wouldn't specify whether I should use the eastbound or the westbound off-ramp. I did like the way the device recalculated my directions when I veered off-course, and I also appreciated the Nav-U's blocked-road feature, which helps you navigate around traffic jams.

Nonetheless, the Nav-U's incomplete directions and questionable route choices put it behind less-expensive and better-navigating products from competitors Garmin and TomTom.

Sony Nav-U NV-U70

The device's small size, bright screen, and clear sound don't fully compensate for its dubious routes and ambiguous directions.
Price when reviewed: $550
Current prices (if available)