Review: Navman EZY40 GPS

Navman's $328 EZY40 GPS unit. Photo / Supplied

A GPS unit in the car is a useful thing indeed. Not only is the addition of an expert navigator conducive to improved in-car matrimonial bliss, it also frees both driver and passenger from the fraught process of fiddling with inadequate fold-out maps, allowing both to enjoy the journey. At least that would be the case if the GPS unit didn't require a PHD in advanced rocket science to operate.

Having heard the frustrated howls of many a lost GPS owner, Navman has completely re-designed its GPS range from the ground up, resulting in the new EZY range.

Fiddly and finicky multi-layered on-screen menus have been replaced with a simplified front end made up of several big finger friendly buttons to access key GPS functions.

Looks-wise, Navman's EZY40 GPS unit is a tasty wee beast, with its glossy black front and contrasting with a silver rear separating may give it a generic look, but it definitely doesn't look cheap and plasticky. As with most other in-car GPS units, the EZY40 also comes with a suction cup window/cigarette lighter charger mount that's dead easy to install and adjust.

About the only fly I found in the EZY40's design ointment was its top-mounted slider power switch, which also acts as a reset button. As I discovered several times, this allows you to accidentally reset the EZY40 instead of switching it on. This wasn't biggie though as the EZY40 only takes a few seconds to power up either way.

The EZY40's 4.3" touch screen's matte finish and proved to be easily readable in direct sunlight for both driver and passenger. Unlike many other GPS units the EZY40's simplified interface was so intuitive that using it was a manual free process.

Take entering in addresses for instance. Destinations are quickly found using the EZY40's big "find" button and Its on-screen keyboard uses a form of predictive text to quickly narrow down potential addresses.

As with previous Navman units, the EZY40 also includes a comprehensive list of points of interest plus a "near me" feature, which uses your current location to pin-point close by ATMs, petrol, parking, etc. Frustratingly, using the postcode feature also required you enter a specific address rather than letting you quickly get to a specific suburb.

The EZY40's 3D map screen also proved easy to read and now features a lane change feature that displays a lane change diagram at complex intersections to ensure you pick the right on-ramp, off-ramp or exit.

Tapping the EZY40's screen pops up an options menu allowing you to tweak volume, zoom in or out of the current map or cancel the current route.

The EZY40 Voice guidance is available in either male or female UK or Aussie english. We chose the Aussie female voice and promptly christened our EZY40 "Sheila". Whilst she managed to amusingly mangle many of the UK and Italian placenames we visited whilst travelling, Sheila's pronunciation otherwise fared surprisingly well and was perfectly clear.


Navman EZY40
RRP$328

Tech Specs
Screen Size: 4.3" LCD Touchscreen
Size: 127mm(H) x 82(W) x 15(D)
Memory: 2GB Internal Flash Memory
Memory Expansion: Micro SD