Review: Acer V200 GPS

Can sat-nav devices at this price point really perform?

While it's possible to live without the extra maps, media support and travel guides that are often omitted from entry-level sat nav devices, basic mapping that’s effective and user-friendly menus are essential.

Acer’s V200 is one of the cheapest entry-level devices around and, after taking it out for an extended road test, we were pleasantly surprised by what was on offer.

Perhaps the V200’s biggest strength is its usability, starting with quick access volume and power controls on the exterior. Combine this with a well designed map interface that offers one-button access to an itinerary, various display modes and travel information, and you’ve got something that’s extremely easy to control on the move.

The maps aren’t the most detailed we've seen and there aren’t many additional features on offer, but good overall performance means you won’t have any problems at all with basic navigation.

Features such as 3D maps, night mode, pedestrian mode, POIs (points of interest), a free-map mode that allows you to browse around by pressing and dragging the display and a multi-stop route planner are all welcome additions.

The time to first fix was very fast and route calculations both quick and accurate; our attempts to throw the V200 off its course and mess up a new route calculation failed admirably. You’ll also find the option to upgrade some of the basic features on offer as there’s an SD card slot to allow more extensive maps to be installed, although this does get a bit fiddly.

What impressed us most about the V200 is that it gets the basics right in almost every area. The interface is well designed and, if you’re after an in-car GPS device for the sole purpose of getting from A to B, the V200 is one of the most successful entry level devices we’ve seen.