Find your way through a fiendish satnav maze

PORTABLE satnav devices have made huge leaps forward, particularly with the option of live traffic updates. In fact, they’re so good, if you’re buying a new car, you might want to think twice about choosing the built-in option. Here’s our pick of the latest gadgets…

TOMTOM GO6100 Map coverage: World Price: £254.99

This bulky 6in device isn’t cheap, but it is the best. In addition to world maps, it comes with traffic updates and speed-camera alerts. The GO6100 spells out clear instructions well in advance and splits the screen to highlight tricky junctions. The voice-command system could be more responsive, but otherwise it’s hard to fault.

GARMIN DRIVESMART 50 Map coverage: Europe Price: £169.99

The Real Directions feature is pretty useful: rather than street names, it uses familiar landmarks, buildings, and even traffic lights to guide you. This device also comes with school-zone warnings.

TOMTOM START 52 Map coverage: Europe Price: £110.49

This is a decent entry-level system but it doesn’t have live traffic updates, so we sat in a few jams. We liked the transparent distance marker to petrol stations and to the destination, while the Start 52 measures average speed and lets you know if you’re going too fast. (All available from halfords.com)