MGI Ai Navigator GPS+ Life-Tested Review
Are Motorized Push Carts the Future? We tested the MGI Ai Navigator GPS+ for this life-tested review
What’s the deal with motorized push carts? Technically they’re not push carts since you don’t actually have to push them, but surely by now, you’ve seen what I’m talking about, whether it’s on social media or out on the golf course.
We wanted to get the scoop on these nifty push carts, so we took one of the latest and greatest products in this category, the MGI Ai Navigator GPS+ out for a spin for this life-tested review.
How We Tested the MGI AI Navigator GPS+
I tested the MGI AI Navigator GPS+ exactly how I would expect any buyer to use it – I took it to the golf course and let it do its job while I played golf.
Before teeing it up, I reviewed the (lengthy) owner's manual, assembled the cart, charged the battery, and familiarized myself with how to operate it to ensure my on-course experience would be as seamless as possible.
So how did that on-course experience go? Let’s check it out.
MGI AI Navigator GPS+ Quick Takeaways
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Typical Price: $1,895
Warranty: 3-Year Manufacturer's Warranty
My 30-second takeaway from the hours I spent on the course with the MGI AI Navigator GPS+ is that this motorized push cart is more of a distraction on the golf course than a convenience. I left the course feeling like it created more problems than it solved.
I used the caddy on a hillier-than-most golf course, which proved to be a test the AI Navigator was not up for. The cart actually tipped over on just the second hole of my test, spilling my clubs while trying to navigate the kinda-sorta steep walking path connecting the second green to the cart path.
After I learned that the cart couldn’t be trusted to remain vertical on its own, I paid closer attention when maneuvering it uphill, and managed to keep it from tipping for the rest of my round. However, the caddy tipped back – front wheels helplessly in the air – and spun out on almost every hill it tried to climb.
Before I dive into what this motorized cart did well – and don’t worry, there are plenty of bright spots – I have one more gripe. Somewhat related to babysitting the cart going uphill, I couldn’t get it to roll straight through normal terrain either. Instead, like a breaking putt, the cart steered itself left or right with the lay of the land. Perhaps this should be expected, but it only adds to the babysitting element. You really need to constantly steer the cart, which I found to be a much bigger distraction during my round than simply pushing a traditional push cart.
Since I value a push cart that, like a great referee, goes mostly unnoticed, I can’t see myself using a motorized cart on a regular basis.
What is the MGI AI Navigator GPS+?
Okay, now is probably a good time to zoom out and tell you more about the MGI AI Navigator GPS+. On the surface, it’s a motorized push cart that you control with a handheld remote. A built-in GPS on a hi-res 4” color display separates this model from most other motorized push carts in the game.
It’s powered by a lithium battery, charges via USB, and can easily convert into a manual push cart in case the battery dies, or for some other reason fails, out on the course.
Motorized push carts are best for players who appreciate walking the golf course rather than driving a cart, but don’t want the strain of carrying their clubs or even pushing them in a traditional push cart.
While this product does address that demographic, those folks should consider just how heavy the AI Navigator is. I weighed the unit at 33.8 pounds. That’s a heavy load for somebody who already struggles to push their clubs on a push cart to be loading and unloading from their trunk before and after every round.
MGI AI Navigator GPS+ Life-Tested Review
Let’s go beyond the top takeaways and take a deeper look at the MGI AI Navigator GPS+ motorized push cart.
Take a quick look at the most important pros and cons that I think you should consider when deliberating this type of purchase, then I’ll expand on some of my biggest findings.
Pros:
- Eliminates the need to carry or push your own clubs
- Great control on downhill slopes
- GPS is accurate and constantly updates
- Handheld remote connects to cart automatically
- 36-hole battery life on one charge
- Easily converts to a manual push cart if needed by adjusting the wheels
- Folds easily and the wheels can invert when folded to minimize the cart’s footprint
- 30-day trial period to return a used cart for a 30% restocking fee
Cons:
- Cart often tips back going uphill
- User must constantly steer even on relatively straight stretches
- Overall the cart requires a lot of attention throughout your round
- 33.8 pounds is too heavy for people who need a cart that they don’t have to push
Less Strain
Even though I found the MGI AI Navigator GPS+ to be mentally tiring, I can confirm that it successfully accomplishes its mission of lightening your physical load. When navigating benign terrain, I could send my cart to its destination using the handheld remote with little effort.
If manually pushing your clubs on a push cart is physically challenging or leaves you worn out at the end of the day, then a product like this can certainly help.
Obviously this comes with the aforementioned caveat that you still need to load and unload the 33-plus pound cart before and after every round.
Manual Mode
If you’ve never been stranded on a golf course by an electric cart with a dead battery, you probably know somebody who has. That’s a fear you’ll never have to worry about with this motorized MGI cart, because it can convert to a manual push cart in about 30 seconds.
All you have to do is slide the rear wheels up a notch on the axle, then it operates just like a regular push cart.
Steering and Navigating
My biggest complaint about the MGI AI Navigator, which I’m sure applies to similar products, is that you always have to pay attention to it. Whether it’s finding the safest line up a hill – no matter how flat your course is, there will always be hills – or keeping it from veering into an adjacent fairway, you can never just forget about it. It requires pretty constant attention.
Return & Warranty Info
Whether I’m hesitant or all in on a product purchase, I always want to know what the return and warranty policies are. This gives me an idea of how long the manufacturer expects the product to last, and whether or not I can change my mind about the purchase, before or after taking it to the course.
Overall, I’d rate the AI Navigator’s warranty and return policy as favorable. It’s covered by a 3-year Manufacturer’s Warranty, which inspires confidence.
You also have the option to return a used product within 30 days if you try it and decide it’s not what you want, although you must pay a 30% restocking fee if you return it after use, which comes out to almost $600.
Still, if you’re attracted to the upside of a GPS-enabled motorized push cart, but somewhat hesitant about some of the drawbacks I’ve mentioned, that return policy is an opportunity to alleviate some of the risk associated with such a high-priced item.
The Future or Just a Fad?
After all the stats, facts, and figures I’ve uncovered throughout reviewing the MGI Ai Navigator, my final takeaway can be summed up with one fact: this motorized push cart comes with a 54-page user manual.
I want my push cart to be as intuitive and user-friendly as possible. If it takes 54 pages to explain how to use it, it’s probably not for me.
Yes, this motorized push cart does succeed at its primary objective: to give golfers an option to walk without carrying or pushing their clubs. However, I believe that most golfers who can walk the course can also push their clubs in a traditional push cart without taxing their bodies too much more, and I worry that even those who can really benefit from the ability to walk without using a push cart will encounter other frustrations with a motorized push cart that offset the advantages.