Is in car navigation still worth paying extra for?

My step-daughter has just been quoted £130 for an SD card to update the built-in navigation in her 2013 Vauxhall Corsa. My son-in-law was quoted even more for a DVD to update his BMW. How do the manufacturers justify these sums for a one-off update when a new, separate sat nav with lifetime updates costs less? With update costs like these, is it ever worth buying a car with built-in navigation? Which manufacturer(s) have the most reasonable update costs (ideally free)?

Asked on 25 April 2019 by David Cottom

Answered by Andrew Brady

Navigation updates are indeed expensive. It's worth shopping around - prices can vary between dealerships. Personally we prefer to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto - this is now standard on a wide range of cars, and allows you to use your phone's navigation apps through the car's infotainment system. Google Maps or Waze are regularly updated, have live traffic information and - importantly - are free to use.

Tags: sat nav new cars

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