Product Reviews: Delphi NAV200

Anyone who has recently shopped for a GPS is likely very well aware of the fact that although there are an almost unlimited number of united out there to be had, most of them come with fairly expensive price tags. Indeed, if one can find a GPS for a lower price, it is likely that the overall quality of the unit will be significantly lower. However, recently, Delphi, a company known for it's other electronics, has taken a shot at producing a low priced, but still powerful GPS navigation device, and perhaps the greatest mystery is why exactly the NAV200 is so low priced.

In terms of features, the NAV200 doesn't really offer anything to differentiate itself from the rest of the market. All of the standard features that one would expect to find in a GPS are here, and the unit comes with inboard speakers, MP3 capacity, the ability to load a SD card, and a headphone jack, which one can use for various purposes. However, while the bells and whistles are a nice part of owning a GPS, perhaps the thing that is most important is how exactly the unit works, a GPS that does not give proper direction to it's owner definitely isn't worth the price, no matter how cheap it may be.

Thankfully, and surprisingly, the NAV200 delivers on every level. Tested alongside a more expensive Garmin unit, the NAV200 performed identically well, and navigated flawlessly. Even more so, the simple display and backlit buttons give it an edge over some of the more expensive models, which operate on touch alone. Not only did the NAV 200 operate flawlessly in terms of directions, all of the included features of the unit worked great as well.

While cannot expect the two tiny speakers in the unit to give great sound, they do produce loud and clear directions, even able to cut over music that may be playing in the vehicle. Another attribute that makes the NAV200 such an excellent choice is how simple it is to operate. All of the buttons are clearly marked, and it takes only a push of a button to select a different route or engage other options. Ironic, the more expensive Garmin unit took far longer to perform the same tasks, and many of those same functions became overly complex or convoluted. Remember, this is a unit that you are likely going to be operating while driving, so the quicker and more efficiently you can get it to do what you want, the safer it is going to be.

One more thing that makes the NAV200 superior to the Garmin is the lowered brightness of the screen. The Garmin was nearly blinding at nght, and turning it down resulted in a screen that was nearly impossible to see. Thankfully, the Delphi manages to stride the line here, and consumers are given a screen which is easy to see at any brightness setting, without blinding the driver or causing a distraction inside the car.

Even the simple exterior of the unit works to it's advantage, the Delphi does not look out of place in older cars, and because of the smaller size as compared to some of the more expensive units, mounting and finding a place for it in the vehicle is a breeze.

True, there are more expensive units out there that can provide more features, but we have to ask ourselves, "What are we actually buying the GPS to do?" The answer should be, "navigation". In terms of the desired function for a GPS, the Delphi performs excellently, comparing to units which are easily twice the cost. The Delphi NAV200 may not be the first product on the minds of those who are shopping for a GPS, but is an incredibly functional unit, and a great surprise, for a fairly low cost.