AROVA might not be the first name that springs to mind when it comes to the best car navigation system, but it’s a brand that’s forging a good reputation for itself when it comes to budget car GPS devices. This particular model is a bestseller on Amazon and comes in at a very reasonable price. And importantly, people who have bought the AROVA GPS Navigation think highly of it too.
AROVA GPS Navigation review: Navigation
The AROVA GPS Navigation comes with the latest maps of the USA, Canada, and Mexico already installed, and provides ongoing updates free of charge. Should you be travelling farther afield, you can get in touch with AROVA which has free downloads available for more than 40 countries across the world, including UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia.
If you’re driving something larger than a standard car, so perhaps an RV, the AROVA GPS Navigation device lets you select your vehicle type, so that you’ll get a customized route to avoid low bridges and narrow streets. A postcode, address, coordinates or point of interest can be used to find your destination using either the search menu or by touching a point on the map.
AROVA GPS Navigation review: Features
All the standard functions you’d expect of a car GPS system are present in the AROVA GPS Navigation, including estimated arrival time, speed limits, and speed camera detection. Lane guidance will help you navigate intersections and exits by clearly highlighting the driving lane you need to position yourself in, while there’s even the option to have the turn-by-turn guidance delivered in a choice of over 40 languages.
While the top-end features such as live traffic alerts and voice activation that you’ll find in systems such as the TomTom GO 620 are understandably absent here, it is possible to play media through the device. As a result, you have the option to listen to music or an audiobook while driving, or to watch a movie or play a mini game when you’re taking a break.
AROVA GPS Navigation review: Design
The AROVA GPS Navigation has a 7-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, putting it on a par with most car navigation systems. As you might expect, the touchscreen isn’t always as reactive as top-end GPS devices, but it features both 2D and 3D display modes, and is bright in tone to make sure it can still be seen on the sunniest of days. The built-in FM transmitter also means it can provide GPS sound to your car stereo, should you need it.
A suction mount, a back bracket, and a USB cable are all included in the box so that you can attach the AROVA to your dashboard or windshield, and also quickly swap it between vehicles if you need to.
Should you buy the AROVA GPS Navigation?
For the low price you pay - and at the minute, that’s around $70 at Amazon - the AROVA GPS Navigation offers outstanding value-for-money. It delivers all the car navigation basics that you would expect, such as speed warnings and camera awareness, and has a good sized, easy to see screen. The free map updates and additional downloads if you’re leaving the US are an excellent feature too.
Of course, there are better, shinier, more feature-packed car navigation kits out there, but if your main aim is to get from A to B, and to spend as little as money as possible in doing so, the AROVA GPS Navigation is a great option for you.
