Customer Reviews

A Feature Rich GPS Device
I recently purchased the Navigon 5100 GPS device after some research. I went to some retailers and tried the devices out physically as I wanted to get a good idea of the interface they provided.

First of all the Navigon is loaded with functions, this might overwhelm some, but of course remember that changing these are optional. The default settings are good enough, but it is great to have the choice and freedom to alter certain settings.

Let me first start with the things I am not too happy about, or feel could be better.

- Device periodically lags (doesn't happen often but I would like it to be more responsive during those few times)
- There were also a few times that the route had to be recalculated and it took longer than I expected
- Takes a while to display the turn by turn list (only seems to happen when you have lengthy directions e.g. those spanning multiple states)

These weaknesses really for me was not enough for me to be dissatisfied with the unit, especially with all of the positive attributes it had going for it.

Here are some of the features I love:
- Multiple Transport Settings (Car, Bicycle, Pedestrian)
- Displaying the speed limit (quite accurate too, I was amazed at how the Navigon changed the speed as I was driving past the sign)
- 3D Reality View (HUGE PLUS - it really helps, especially in metropolitan areas)
- Says the name of street in addition to distance from the turn e.g. "In 1/2 mile, turn left onto Omaha street"
- Multiple Route Settings (Fast, Optimum, Shortest, Scenic)
- Night and Day views (contrast/brightness settings can also be adjusted)
- Option to Allow, Avoid, or Forbid toll routes
- Can allow or disallow U-TURNS (great to enable if you do not like taking U Turns.)
- Free Lifetime Traffic Information - It was amazing to see these traffic information popping up, alerting you to an accident ahead or construction on your route - then prompting you to avoid, after which it will automatically reroute you around the traffic. Oh, did I mention FREE for life!!
- Smooth user interface, other GPS devices simply can't come close to how beautiful this interface and user experience is - could almost pass for an Apple product.
- Speed dependent volumne - Wow, this will increase the volume depending on how fast you are traveling. Some users may have said it automatically reverts to a lower audio setting, if you wish turn this feature off and keep it on high volume.
- Points of Interests (POIs) - So many POI, and very accurate. It may be overwhelming, but what is great about the device is that you can select what POI categories you want displayed. Initially all 31 categories are selected, I went in and cut the list in half - I really didn't care to see Car or Motorcycle Dealers in the area.
- Accuracy, it gives great directions, and also allows you to block certain roads if you prefer to take another route.
- Tells me which side of the road my destination is on (pretty helpful)

The Windshield Mount:
Something else I should mention - the Navigon comes with a windshield mount that at first I thought was extremely distasteful. I didn't know why it had to be so long. But after using it I realized that it allowed me to mount the device and have it come out closer to me, so it was easier to reach and see, and it gave me some more flexibility with where to mount it. Though it lacks the ability to tilt UP and DOWN, it does rotate and turn.

The Navigon 5100 also has a "Route Planner" which allows you to plot multiple destinations - this is great, but I think this could be improved by optimizing the route - meaning tell me where to go 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc.

Overall, I am more than satisfied and quite pleased with the device. I would highly recommend this as a GPS device to invest in - especially for those new to GPS and are not fixated on the interface functions of other GPS devices. This is an important point to note, if you are used to using a Garmin, then pressing the screen will bring up different options than what happens when you press the screen of the Navigon.

A friend of mine had a Garmin nüvi 350 and we actually tested both products side by side in the city. The only thing I would say that the Garmin had over the Navigon was that it allowed users to connect their phone to the device via bluetooth. Other than that the Navigon excelled in some many ways. The Navigon gave better directions from the start, whereas the Garmin had to recalculate after forcing a different route. The Navigon interface was way better, with 2D/3D options. I also loved how the address and POI entry operated, it was similar to "Google Suggest" where as I typed, matching responses would appear.

I am currently more than happy with the product, it's not perfect, but in sure comes close, with innovative features not found in other devices.

Looks Much Better Than It Performs
I'll admit, I saw the ad and thought it looked nicer than my TomTom GO 910. And when it arrived, it did look nicer.

I really love the windshield mount. It's difficult to tell in pictures, but you can rotate the GPS unit and change the angle, and the "arm" design puts it nice and close, so you don't have to reach too far to operate it. And it's also nice that it will tell you what side of the road your destination is on (something woefully absent from many GPS models).

And that just about sums up everything I like about this unit. I was expecting MUCH more for the price, and the Navigon simply doesn't deliver.

Major Annoyances:

1) The speaker is impossible to hear, even at max volume with the windows up.

2) The interface is seriously convoluted. Tapping the screen in the map mode lets you change between day/night (which essentially means "bright or dim") and 2D/3D. If you want to change anything on your route, you have to hit a tiny back arrow, then go through a series of menus.

3) The maps are difficult to read, and you can't change the color scheme. Unlike the image in the description, you get grey roads on an off-white background in the daytime, and dark grey roads on a light grey background at night. If that's not bad enough, the view arbitrarily zooms in and out, though I can't determine why this is. It doesn't seem to be speed or distance related.

4) The interface is S-L-O-W. Once you overcome the miniscule letters you get to type with, you'll find that the OS can't keep up with anything faster than hunting and pecking. Maps are similarly slow to update while you're driving.

5) The POI system is very random. It knows about obscure drug stores and car dealerships, but not national big box retailers or auto part stores -- while at the same time, McDonald's logos pop up all over the place. The interface itself is fairly bad, too. It would be faster to pop your head out the window and ask someone where the nearest post office is, than navigating through the Navigon's labyrinth of menus.

That said, the Navigon 5100 isn't a terrible GPS. The routes tend to make sense, and the included maps appear to be very current. But for the price you'll pay, there are many better options out there. I think I'm going to stick with my 910.

EDIT: 12/10/2007 -- It is probably worth mentioning that when I originally bought this, it cost nearly twice as much as the current price (after rebate). At $250, I'd be far more accepting of the Navigon's shortcomings.

Best for the price: update
Update of my original review (which is below) after 1+ months of use in 3 different cities:
-I really appreciate the traffic info. I thought it was a gimmick, but it has saved me twice from major backups (best save: truck had hit an overpass, the gps told me of it, took me out at the exit right before the accident, and returned me to the freeway just past the accident. I was impressed!). I use it all the time. Check on the Navigon website to see if your city is covered -- most are.
-I also really like the Zagat ratings. In new cities, I search near my hotel for zagat rated restaurants, nightlife and attractions. The full reviews are included, and I use it whenever I travel. Very useful.
-Also good: maps are excellent, gps tracking is very accurate, text-to-speech is fine, the menu is intuitive and POIs are pretty complete.
- Some negatives: voice should be louder, text is on the small side, and the button presses can be annoying. Lastly, the website is very basic (Garmin has a great website).
-Overall, I still stand by my original review. No gps is perfect, but I truly like this one and enjoy using it.

Original Review (October 2007):
This is by far the best gps for the price. All else being equal (routing, rerouting, POIs, etc.), three things are paramount for me in a gps: Accurate Maps, the ability to Plan Routes, and Style. By the way, before choosing a gps, I downloaded and read the manuals of Garmin 660/680/750, Magellan 4040/4050 and Navigon 5100/7100 (see below why I skipped TomTom).
1. Accurate maps. This means Navteq maps rather than TeleAtlas maps. Since TomTom uses TeleAtlas, I eliminated TomTom products;
2. Planning Routes. I need to be able to plan a route using a starting location other than where I currently am. Most gps units start navigation to a destination from the current gps location. I need to be able to input into a gps a destination AND a starting point so that I can be on a plane, for example, and be able to figure out how long a drive takes, when I get in, what time to leave, etc. No Magellan 4000 level products do this. This ruled out Magellan.
3. Style. The 5100 is small and elegant, and the maps are beautiful. Garmin/Magellan maps look like a kid drew them with crayons. I could have bought the 7100, but I wanted portability, and with the smaller screen, I figured the processor would be faster also.
Everything else is as good in the 5100 or better than in any other GPS, plus you get free traffic information and zagat. There are some minor quirks (the keys are small, and sometimes you have to press twice), but these are truly minor issues with this many features at this price. And price is a concern if for no other reason than that this industry is changing so quickly (over 10 new units introduced this year) that anything you buy now is likely to be dated by newer and better units very soon -- so why spend too much? (this rules out the completely overpriced Garmins). Altogether, I have used used 5 different gps programs/units, and the 5100 is excellent at any price, and a bargain at what it's at.
NOTE: a few reviews have noted how it takes long for the gps to lock on to satellites. I think this is due to the erroneous instructions that come in the box which instruct you to hold the "on" button for 6 seconds to turn the unit on. This actually resets the unit. All you need is to push the button once to have it turn on, and satellite fix is almost instantaneous.