If you’ve got an iPhone but don’t want to shell out the cash for a Garmin or Tom-Tom GPS navigation unit, you may want to take a look at the XRoad G-Map apps. The Kicking Tires auto blog recently reviewed the XRoad G-Map US West ($19.99, iTunes link) and US East ($19.99, iTunes link) apps, using the same review criteria they would for a Garmin or Tom-Tom device. Overall, they found the apps to be a good value, noting some lacking features and assigning them an overall rating of 80 out of 100.
Due to the size of the apps–almost 900MB–they had to be split into two separate applications. It may leave Midwesterners out in the cold, as Illinois is split in half. It also lacks voice navigation, an important feature for anyone who doesn’t want to take their eyes off the road.
In terms of maps and directions, Kicking Tires found that XRoad delivered some impressive performance:
Very clear, accurate and understandable directions were displayed on the screen. Best of all, when coming to a highway interchange G-Map displays a 3-D rendering of it. In all the GPS systems I have used, I have never seen such an accurate depiction of the road. In a few instances, this was able to route me into the lane I needed to be in to head the right direction, averting one of those scary moments you sometimes encounter when traveling somewhere new.
They also liked the accuracy of the iPhone’s GPS:
This app is as accurate as the iPhone can be, and therefore it’s just as good as most TomTom and Garmin units I’ve tested, but not in line with automakers’ own navigation systems
At only $20 a piece, the apps provide a pretty good value over buying a separate navigation device. But there are a few other downsides noted in the review, such as some missing street names and lack of integration with the iPhone’s address book.
Links:
Review of XRoad G-Maps at KickingTires.
Official XRoad G-Maps website.
Download XRoad G-Map US East in iTunes.
Download XRoad G-Map US Westin iTunes.
