Trolleys test: PowaKaddy FX7 GPS vs Motocaddy M5 GPS
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The PowaKaddy FX7 GPS and Motocaddy M5 GPS electric golf trolleys are the leading brands’ top-of-the-range models for 2020. But which is better? We pitted them against each other in a head-to-head test.
Depending on who you listen to, PowaKaddy and Motocaddy own 90-98 per cent of the UK electric golf trolley market. Every year they come up with new tech designed to capture our imagination.
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This year’s big idea is touchscreen GPS with both brands offering the feature in their top-spec models. To find out which is the best, the Today’s Golfer team put the PowaKaddy and Motocaddy head-to-head across several rounds, scoring each out of 10 in four categories that are crucial when considering buying an electric golf trolley.
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PowaKaddy FX7 GPS
PowaKaddy’s top-of-the-range trolley for 2020. There are18-hole and 36-hole battery options, plus an electronic brake (EBS) edition, all with a 3.5in touchscreen and pre-loaded with more than 40,000 worldwide golf courses. The compact CT6 GPS (also from £799) has a 2.8in screen which is not touch sensitive.
Trolley size
It’s easy to mark down the FX7 on size because the Motocaddy folds into a smaller package; the PowaKaddy isn’t huge by any stretch, in fact it’s 20 per cent smaller than its predecessor, but it’s not as small as the M5 GPS. However, we’d only be doing half a job if we didn’t say PowaKaddy also offers the compact CT6 GPS, which beats both our test models hands down for size, at the same price.
Today’s Golfer score: 9/10
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Build quality
PowaKaddy always make great looking electric trolleys, and the FX7 is second to none. They own their IP (intellectual property), which means they dedicate tons of development hours here in the UK into perfecting everything from the multi-piece on/off switch to the trim and wheel design. That attention to detail shows.
Today’s Golfer score: 10/10
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Functionality
Just about every function is controlled by the intuitive touchscreen pad, which has been really well executed. It’s large, bright, responsive and easy to navigate, offering all the yardages you really need to the green, plus hazards. We also love the attention to detail; like the recessed on/off button, so you can’t accidentally catch it with a club and send the trolley off on its own.
Today’s Golfer score: 9/10
Living with the PowaKaddy FX7 GPS
The whole FX family is built on a brand new one-click and fold chassis, which is simpler and more intuitive to set up and fold down. The small, powerful ‘plug-and-play’ battery is a joy to use. A three-year warranty gives extra peace mind.
Today’s Golfer score: 10/10
Overall verdict
The best PowaKaddy trolley ever? Very probably. We really struggled to agree which trolley here was best. Both excel in certain areas, and you really need to decide which aspects are most important to you. For some, yardages to the flag will be a factor, a decision which will favour the Motocaddy. For others, a year’s extra warranty will highlight the PowaKaddy. If your decision comes purely down to size, you need to look at the CT6 GPS, too.
Today’s Golfer total score: 38/40
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Motocaddy M5 GPS
What you need to know
Motocaddy believe compact trolleys are the future, so all their models (bar the entry-level S1) now fold down into impossibly small sizes. The M5 GPS is available with an 18- or 36-hole battery, and a downhill brake model (M5 GPS DHC). It comes pre‑loaded with 40,000 courses and can also connect to the excellent Motocaddy GPS app for smartphone alerts.
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Trolley size
On the surface the M5 wins this head-to-head, as it’s the smaller of the two. And it is impressively compact. But PowaKaddy have a trump card when it comes to size in the even more compact CT6. It’s also worth noting both trolleys need the wheels inverted to get to their smallest size.
Today’s Golfer score: 10/10
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Build quality
The M5 feels really well made, and is a doddle to put up and down. There’s very little between the two models in terms of how sturdy they feel with a bag in place, even for such a compact model. Motocaddy’s previous GPS trolley (M5 Connect) needed a smartphone GPS chip to power up the system, but that’s not the case now. If you want calls or text notifications, the trolley will still happily talk to your phone and relay them to a screen in the handle.
Today’s Golfer score: 9/10
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Functionality
The M5’s 3.5-inch screen is bright, clear and responsive, we had no issues reading it in bright sunlight. If there’s a win over the PowaKaddy, it’s how you can manually drag and drop the pin on a green and get a yardage to that point, which some golfers will find useful. It gives single yardages to hazards.
Today’s Golfer score: 10/10
Living with the Motocaddy M5 GPS
The M5’s two-step folding action is simple to set up. A year’s shorter warranty may be a drawback for some, but a real plus is the ability to buy direct from Motocaddy’s website as well as traditional retailers. Buy direct and if anything goes wrong you get to deal direct with Motocaddy, not a retailer. As an added bonus, Motocaddy are currently offering a free accessory for £9.99 when you buy the M5 GPS.
Today’s Golfer score: 9/10
Overall verdict
All things considered, we’d very happily use either of these two models. The yardage information on both is accurate, easy to access and just what most golfers need. Depending on your ability and accuracy (especially inside 125 yards), you might want a laser, too. Motocaddy’s smaller size and the option to move the flag are useful; but it may have been a different result had we tested it against PowaKaddy’s CT6 GPS. Some buyers may also want PowaKaddy’s longer warranty.
Today’s Golfer total score: 38/40
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WATCH: Zane Scotland explains how a Motocaddy electric golf trolley has helped him
To watch in full screen on desktop, press play and click the YouTube symbol
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PowaKaddy FX7 GPS and Motocaddy M5 GPS electric golf trolleys.
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The folded MotoCaddy M5 GPS electric golf trolley.
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The handle of the MotoCaddy M5 GPS electric golf trolley.
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The MotoCaddy M5 GPS electric golf trolley.
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The folded PowaKaddy FX7 GPS electric golf trolley.
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The handle of the PowaKaddy FX7 GPS electric golf trolley.
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The PowaKaddy FX7 GPS electric golf trolley.
