Security pin function; TMC; safety camera database; route performance
Recessed screen; no Bluetooth; input interface; maps; price
A unique product in as much as its circular in shape rather than the traditional square design. You get solid navigational performance coupled with European maps, a security pin function and a TMC aerial supplied in the box as standard. Still, we feel you are paying more for its design than its features
6.8 Good
Reviewed by Brett James
With its circular design, the Blaupunkt TravelPilot Lucca 3.5 Edition is said to harmonise with the round components of the Mini, Audi TT, Fiat 500 and Citroen cars. However, once the initial gawping sessions have passed, the Lucca will offer you European maps alongside a handy TMC option for around £230.
Strengths
The Blaupunkt Lucca 3.5 Edition's most appealing feature is the unique circular design, which is relatively small in comparison to what the product images portray. The 89mm (3.5-inch) screen is housed in the centre, with volume controls and a cool blue neon light at the front that doubles for the main on/off switch. No setup of the Blaupunkt is required, so you can start driving with it immediately.
Like the exterior, the interface continues the round theme, with large circular icons on offer for movement between the menus.
All the important POI, route simulations and planners are included, but delving into the settings option reveals a handy anti-theft system. Upon activation the user is required to enter a four-digit code in order to unlock and use the device -- thus preventing unlawful access in case of theft.
During our tests, the Blaupunkt performed pretty well, with the device picking up our location in good time and its initial route and re-route calculations were both completed quickly.
The supplied safety camera database gave you ample warning of approaching cameras, with a small audibly noise and a warning notice at the top of the screen -- informing you of the distance to the camera and the direction it's facing.
Its TMC was not the fastest at acquiring traffic info (about four minutes) but it was useful nonetheless. A verbal warning is given before embarking on your journey, with the option of listing the traffic problems and planning accordingly.
Weaknesses
Though the circular theme of the interface is a nice touch, we felt the menus were not as polished as its exterior and its slightly recessed screen made it harder to press the bottom buttons.
The map detail was not as graphical in detail as its competitors, with the maps themselves looking slightly basic.
All the options for inputting destinations were placed in one screen, but the process did not feel as fast or fluid as it could have been. The absence of a Qwerty keyboard option did not help maters either.
The lack of a Bluetooth handsfree option may also put the purists off. It would have been better to have this option included instead of the basic picture viewer and MP3 player.
Voice directions were loud and well spoken, but the unit does not have full text-to-speech for pronouncing road names, but it does pronounce major A-roads such as "turn left on to the A5127".
Conclusion
Blaupunkt have certainly caught our attention with their circular design, but we feel that you are paying primarily for its looks rather than its features. While performance was pretty good, its destination input screen could be more fluid. Still, though the lack of Bluetooth may put the purists off, the included TMC option makes up for this.
Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Shannon Doubleday
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