RAC220 Review

A lightweight and portable unit this is not! At a hefty 520 grams it has to be one of the heaviest GPS systems around today. This is in part due to the really huge 5 inch wide touchscreen. There are arguments for and against such a large display - on the one hand you do not need your glasses to read it, on the other it is liable to obscure a large wedge of driving vision. It is hard not to have your eyes drawn to the moving pictures, much as you do in a sports bar when your eyes keep roaming to the TV in the corner.

Having said that, the unit does sport the highly sensitive SiRF star III GPS receiver and maps are provided by NAVTEQ which is probably number 1 when it comes to electronic mapping. The Route 66 Navigation software is also hard to beat with its user friendly interface. Like its counterpart the R200, this system comes with Fuzzy Search™ - a great software searching tool that will select the best fit for the data you have input, even if it is incomplete or spelled incorrectly. Be careful not to be too vague though as you will be given options all over Europe from the database.

Useable straight from the box, the unit comes with an FM antenna for TMC data, a mains power and vehicle charging cable and a mini USB cable for interface with your PC. It also comes with a drawstring bag which is nowhere near big enough to carry all the accessories, including the windshield mount, so it is more as a protection for when you store it in the glove compartment than as a carrying case.

Bluetooth™ connectivity is included so you can use the module with your mobile phone. There is also a music player and, get this, an AV-in connection! If you have an immediate need to watch a DVD and do not have a TV available then all is not lost - you may be though! There seems very little point in adding a feature that has no connection with navigation or at least travel enjoyment or safety - using your 5 inch screen to watch a DVD seems somewhat irrelevant.

As in the previous models, the voice directions are clearly given by a human (a nice change from other manufacturers).

The music player is a little under contention though as the MP3 format files can be downloaded onto the SD card for use in the GPS, but the SD card is already almost full with maps and information. This is really no substitute for a dedicated MP3 player or iPod and is certainly not portable.

RAC have put together a nice navigation system with great searching capability, but the size of the whole thing does not make for a good choice if you like to use your Sat Nav in and out of the car, and the additional features do not warrant the added weight out of your pocket either.