Mercedes-Benz Map Pilot review

Mercedes' sat nav system, Map Pilot, is available across the C-Class range. It includes Bluetooth telephone connectivity and is displayed on a seven-inch screen. Does it compare well with other built in sat navs? Read our full review to find out.

• Pros and cons
• What is it?
• How easy is it to use? The system is operated by a scroll wheel and touchpad, situated where you'd normally find the gear lever (Mercedes uses a steering wheel mounted gear-shift instead). It's not the most easiest system to use, as the touchpad and wheel can separately perform some of the same functions, but with time, owners will become accustomed to its quirks. The display screen is high on the dashboard, with a high-definition map and bold colours making it easier to read. A secondary display, between the speedometer and rev-counter, complements guidance by displaying bold guidance symbols and a lane assistant. But entering an address is more laborious than it need be because the system is poor at searching for potential destinations. It's also incredibly slow at recalculating routes, should you stray off course. The traffic monitoring doesn't seem to help, as Map Pilot likes to stick to main roads instead of calculating faster shortcuts - something commuters especially could find is a pain. There's also no way to select an alternative route or view the entire journey before starting out. How clear are the instructions? The quality of the display means that visual guidance, especially on motorways, is excellent. Navigating by the map alone is easy and non-distracting thanks to clear symbolic guidance on both screens, and a realistic lane assistant that shows route signs. Audio guidance is also particularly good, with concise, relevant instructions and good text-to-speech for road and area names. Is there anything else I should know? There is some unnecessary duplication in the system's control setup, with some functions accessible through both the rotary controller and the touchpad. This unusual set-up requires some getting used to before it feels anything less than recalcitrant. Should I buy it? The Map Pilot built-in sat nav is standard across much of the C-Class range. It does enough (including live traffic monitoring) and is easy enough to use so that you don't have to consider upgrading or using a portable navigation device. However, if you're buying the entry level C-Class SE model, you'll need to shell out an extra £1,295 for Map Pilot, as it's only available as part of an options pack, along with heated fronts seats and active park assist. In this case we would recommend a Best Buy standalone sat nav instead.
• How clear are the instructions?
• Is there anything else I should know?
• Should I buy it?