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The RNS 510 isn't just about in-car entertainment, it's also a fully featured satellite navigation system, and again, it puts in a very solid performance. I criticised the system in the Renault Laguna Coupe for having no touch-screen and no postcode support, but VW has ensured that I can't make similar criticisms about the Scirocco.

Equipping the RNS 510 with a touch-screen interface was definitely the right thing to do. No matter how good any other method of menu navigation may be, there is simply no substitute for being able to just stab a finger at the option you want. This is never more true than when you're trying to input a destination into the sat-nav. Simply tapping out each letter of the address is infinitely quicker and easier than using dials or joysticks.

The map display will automatically switch to night view when the sun goes down

Even though the RNS 510 does include postcode support, bear in mind that it only searches on the first five digits of a postcode. This will put you in the rough location of your desired destination, but you'll still need a house number to be completely exact. It is slightly disappointing that you don't get full seven digit postcode support, but to be fair I've yet to see a factory fitted sat-nav that offers it. It's all the more annoying that the vast majority of after market sat-nav units come equipped with full postcode support.

Choose from three routes to your destination

Once you've input the destination address, the RNS 510 will then return three different routes to your destination, overlaying them all on the map in different colours. You'll usually be faced with one route that's potentially the fastest but may be longer, one that's the shortest distance and a third that's, well, just different. What you're usually deciding is whether you want to use motorways to save time or travel the fewest miles. It's a great feature and saves you time when comparing the shortest distance over the shortest time.

Simply touch the map and navigate there

A particularly nice touch is that you can tell the system to navigate to any point on the map by simply touching it. If you know exactly where you need to get to on a map but don't necessarily know the postcode or address, you can stab your finger at the desired location and then tell the RNS 510 to take you there. You can also set waypoints on a route, ensuring that you get from A to D while stopping at B and C along the way. You can even record an exact route and then retrace it at a later date - so if you happen to find a circuit of particularly good driving roads, you can record it and go back later for some more fun!

The 3D map view

The 2D map view

The map view can be switched from 2D to 3D at the touch of the screen. Although 3D views are definitely the option of choice these days, many still prefer the simplicity of a top-down map view. And of course, the map will switch from daytime to night time mode when it gets dark, thus making the display less distracting to the driver.


You also get full TMC functionality built in, so the system should be able to route you around traffic jams dynamically. You can also bring up a list of current traffic blackspots in relation to your location, allowing you to decide whether it's worth embarking on the journey in the first place.

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