Averatec Voya 320

When we reviewed the Averatec Voya 350 late last summer, we gave it a lukewarm reception; it was a decent portable navigation system but it was in need of some refinements in design and usability to really compete with the industry leaders, such as Garmin and TomTom.

Well, it looks as if the company got the message because its new model, the Averatec Voya 320, boasts an improved design and is easier to use. In addition to the standard navigation tools, Averatec also has added multimedia capabilities to the Voya 320, though we think the implementation could have been better. That said, the system performs its main function--navigation--well and at $300, it's a great value. If you're a GPS newbie or want an affordable portable navigation system, the Averatec Voya 320 is a decent choice.

Simple and functional
The Averatec Voya 320 sports a much more compact and refined design than the Voya 350, proving that sometimes less is definitely more. At a mere 4.3x3.x0.8 inches and 5.9 ounces, you will have no problem toting this device around and transferring it between cars. It has nice, basic black-and-silver casing with tapered edges so it won't be an eyesore in your vehicle and replacing the stubby antenna of the Voya 350 is a neater flip-up patch antenna.

Though the Voya 320 is smaller than its predecessor, we're glad to see the company didn't sacrifice the screen size. The unit keeps the same 3.5-inch touch screen of the Voya 350 with a 65,000-color output and 320x240 pixel resolution. The map colors were vibrant, and maps and text were sharp. In addition, we didn't have too many problems reading the display in direct sunlight.

To the right of the screen are four controls: power on/off, volume up and down keys, and a main menu button. They're simple and do what they advertise, so we have no complaints. And thankfully, Averatec got rid of the wobbly and frankly, useless, four-way navigation toggle found on the Voya 350.

Other design elements of the Voya 320 include a SD expansion card slot and a 3.5mm headphones jack on the left spine, and a mini USB port and power connector on the bottom of the system. The unit's speaker is on the backside along with a reset button and the aforementioned antenna.

The Averatec Voya comes packaged with a sturdy windshield mount, along with other accessories.

Averatec packages the Voya 320 with a vehicle mount (windshield and dash), a car charger, a 1GB SD card preloaded with maps and points of interest, and reference material.