More than one way to enjoy a journey

Typically, when you do a daily drive you are focused on getting from A to B as fast as possible, particularly if it involves a commute or an errand. You want to minimise turns or take the roads that move fastest – no time for dawdling. You simply plug into your GPS where you want to go and up comes the result. Simple.

But not all journeys are alike. Sometimes the fastest route may also have more turns than another route. Perhaps it requires more petrol. Maybe it involves tollways and you don’t have a toll pass. In short, it may be that you need to have a choice of routes so you can work out what suits you best.

The best GPS give you this kind of control, allowing you to select from four route options before making a final decision.

If you choose Fastest, you will get the route that should get you fastest to your destination. If you opt for Economical, it will be the route with the least number of stops, turns and urban areas which should save on fuel usage.

Easiest provides the simplest route with the least number of turns and favours motorways where appropriate. And Shortest details the route with the shortest physical length. When you are abroad where Navman maps are available, these options can certainly minimise headaches and put you on similar footing to local drivers who know all the twists and turns, both literally and figuratively.

There are plenty more options available.

You can tailor routes for your type of vehicle, you can make selections on the type of roads you want to use, and using advanced options, take advantage of historic traffic speed data, driving speed records and learned driver behaviour to tailor your route to the finest specifications.

You can tailor routes for your type of vehicle, you can make selections on the type of roads you want to use within settings, and using the advanced routing option, take advantage of historic traffic speed data, driving speed records and learned driver behaviour to tailor your route (this is done through algorithms).

So far, we have focused on driving journeys with one clear objective – your destination. But being a driver is not just about getting to your destination as fast as possible. Cars are also one of our primary tools of leisure. Think of the Sunday drive, the holiday trip, the situation where you have a destination in mind but also the twin objective of seeking new sights and sounds and relaxing.

And Navman has that covered as well. Using the Trip Planner feature on models including Navman MY580LMT, MY690LMMT, DRIVE DUO 2.0 and DRIVE DUO SUV you can add in multiple stops and waypoints you are keen on and let your device determine the route that will let you see it all at your own pace.

So, there’s no reason why you can’t get off the beaten track or factor in stops at some of the key landmarks you want to see as part of your trip. Sometimes you do want to take the scenic route, laze over lunch and smell the clear mountain air, with a refreshing dose of serendipity thrown in - all the while knowing that you are going to get where you need to go with the minimum of stress.