Navigon 2410

The compact and lightweight Navigon 2410 is designed for urban navigation, both in the car and on foot. In fact, the pedestrian mode and car park information are sure to prove useful for city slickers. There's no shortage of route guidance features either though, with TMC traffic information, speed camera warnings, text-to-speech and more.

Hardware: minimalist

The Navigon 2410 is barely larger than the average smartphone, the main competitor for this type of compact GPS unit. It can be easily slipped into a pocket or handbag and its small 3.5-inch matte screen is easy to read even in bright sunlight. The touch-screen reacts quickly to commands and uses resistive technology, which means you have to press on the screen to make your selections. The product has a nice finish too, with a black and silver plastic frame. OK, so, it's not metal, but you can still tell it's well made. The GPS fits easily in your hand and comes complete with a wrist strap.


Connections are the usual basic stuff with a mini-USB port and microSD card reader, which is good for adding new maps. All that's missing really is a headphones socket (see the inset section on the pedestrian mode, right).

The suction-mount is relatively compact. However, it's not very practical to carry around and you're better off leaving it your vehicle most of the time. Attachment to the windscreen is good and uses a classic lever system. On the other hand, loading the GPS into the stand could be simpler. The trickiest bit is actually removing the unit from its stand, as you have to push on a lever while pulling the GPS towards yourself in a movement that takes a bit of getting used to.

Handling: simple and practical, but the small screen makes data entry fiddly

This PND takes 42 seconds to get to the main menu. It's also worth mentioning that the start-up jingle you'll hear after around 15 seconds is anything but discreet. It would have been nice to have the option of switching it off.
Otherwise, the Navigon 2410 finds the satellites quickly and is generally fast to react.

The predictive text function works well. Letters that can't feature in the place name you're entering are greyed out, which makes it easier to spot the remaining options. The automatically completed section is displayed in the text entry box so you can accept suggestions without having to type out the whole word. There's also an ABC input mode if you prefer. Plus, the Navigon 2410 uses the comprehensive ViaMichelin points of interest database.

The internal menus are easy to use, even though the names of some functions and options aren't that easy to understand at first glance. The interface is pretty plain, based mainly on a black background with orange text. Some users might find it a little on the austere side.

A useful feature, however, is direct access to volume controls and other options during navigation.

Route guidance: clear and effective

Route guidance is surprisingly comprehensive considering that the Navigon 2410 is an entry-level GPS. The instructions are accurate and a text-to-speech function is on hand to read out street names. A diagram shows you where to go at the next junction, and a warning system for dangerous bends means you won't be in for any nasty surprises. The 2410 was perhaps a little bit over-keen with its warning messages though, some of which were completely unnecessary, but at least they'll help keep you and your passengers awake. This PND will warn you if you break the speed limit (customisable), displaying the relevant signs as a reminder. Lane guidance is on hand too to help you stay on the right track at complicated junctions and interchanges.

The TMC traffic information service is included to make up for the absence of web-connected services. I did notice that information on traffic jams wasn't updated as quickly as it could have been, so you could still find yourself caught up in a recently formed jam. Incidents picked up by the TMC system are also spoken out loud, which is much more practical and less dangerous than looking at the screen while you're driving. Alternative routes are suggested to help you beat traffic jams, and you'll be given an approximate time of arrival so you can see whether it's worth clocking up a few extra miles to get home quicker. Similarly to the IQ Routes function already found on TomTom units, the MyRoutes function lets you calculate alternative routes in relation to the day and time of travel. In fact, for every route it calculates, this GPS suggests two alternative routes shown in different colours. This quick and easy function saves you having to faff around in the internal menus to re-calculate routes until you find the best one.

Fixed but not mobile speed cameras are shown, and although it's not possible to share information on the position of speed cameras, you can make changes to other road features (a new roundabout, for example). Just enter the changes on your PND, and then once they've been validated by Navigon, the updates will feature on the next downloadable edition of the map. What's more, with a 24-month subscription to Navigon's FreshMaps service included, you can keep the internal maps up to date with new versions available for download every three months.

Other functions: pedestrian mode and, well, that's all actually!

With no Bluetooth hands-free mode, no FM transmitter and no audio/photo/video playback, the Navigon 2410 is designed strictly for navigation.


There is, however, a Clever Parking function to help you find a parking place near to your current location. This will save you the hassle of driving round and round and round the busy town centre on a Saturday afternoon, for example. Once you've parked, the pedestrian mode is on hand to take over (see the inset section on the pedestrian mode, top right).