Sat-nav upgrades shock

Big differences in cost of latest mapping software

THE cost of updating the built-in sat-nav system in your car varies by hundreds of pounds depending on the make, model and year of your vehicle, Auto Express can exclusively reveal.

Manufacturers across the UK charge anywhere between nothing and £316 for European map updates on their models, even though the majority of them obtain their mapping software from the same data provider, HERE.

Drivers of older cars often pay most. For example, Subarus that use the old 3 Disc sat-navs face an update cost of £300, while the charge for newer Subarus using SD card sat-navs is £100 after the three free updates run out.

Owners of first-generation Jaguar XFS pay up to £316 for updates, while those for Ford SYNC 1 and SYNC 2 systems are £81.90 and £159 respectively; SYNC 3 drivers get free updates for seven years.

New car owners often benefit from free updates, with makers such as Volvo and Volkswagen now including lifetime updates on their latest models.

But not all brands have adopted this policy. Audi, for example, will give MMI Navigation Plus drivers five free updates, after which they will be charged, although the company has yet to work out its prices. The updates are important, too. Nissan, which charges up to £196 depending on the model, says its latest European map software adds 1,439,809 kilometres of roads, new street names, plus better junction visuals.

Manufacturers say the fees are often associated with the software packages they pay for, as well as the amount of work that goes into updating a sat-nav.

However, HERE told Auto Express that while brands receive regular subscription updates on maps, “ultimately it’s up to them to choose the frequency of updates for their individual models and whether they want to offer them for free as part of HERE Mapcare or not”.