Vantrue Pilot 2 review: The clever new dashcam that sees in the dark

It's really not unfair to suggest that dashcam innovation has reached something of a plateau of late. We've got 4K, we've got Sony Starvis 2 sensors, we've got trick night vision, and more driver safety features than we've ever strictly needed.

It does make one wonder, then, what might come next in terms of innovation. At least, I had been wondering, until I encountered the Vantrue Pilot 2.

On the face of it, the package comes with a forward-facing camera, a rear-facing interior camera, and a rear camera for the view behind. Nothing unusual there, then.

But then you see the display. Rather than tuck away behind the rear-view mirror, this one sits on the dashboard, and it's a large 6.25" screen, with its own operating system. That gives you a hint towards this new unit's unique capability. And I'll come back to that.

The fundamentals of a top-tier dashcam are all present and correct in the Pilot 2. There's no 4K, but there's decent 2K resolution from the front with Sony Starvis 2 sensor, and a wide field of view from all cameras, and it has parking mode, collision mode, microSD storage, and a beefy processor.

And then there's the dash-mounted display. It looks like an old iPhone from the front, but it has decent resolution - and that's a good thing, because it doubles as an Android Auto/Apple CarPlay unit.

This goes some way to justifying the Vantrue Pilot's price. Because, at an RRP of £899.99 you could start to question where the money's spent.

But then it plays a trump card. The Vantrue Pilot 2 has a thermal imaging system. This uses another, external camera, to pipe you a live view of the road ahead even in pitch black. It means in poor visibility conditions, you can pick out a bright thermal signature of anything that gives off heat.

That could be an animal or a person, but it could be the difference between spotting a hazard, and a nasty accident.

Thermal imaging is something a few car manufacturers have played with before, but it hasn't quite made the mainstream yet. And it's a fabulous technology, so to see it make it to aftermarket products is very refreshing. Innovation is happening, after all.

As a dashcam, then, the Pilot 2 is a pricey product given its specs. You can order it solely as a display and dual camera pack for £529.99 RRP, or as just a thermal camera system for £649.99 RRP, but the full package with all the cameras is £899.99.

It's worth pointing out that it's only just launching, so there's a very decent pre-launch deal saving you around £200, depending on the package.

That might make it more appealing, or it might still seem expensive, it'll depend how much you want its pioneering features.

What I like about the Vantrue Pilot 2

The most obvious charm to fall for with the Pilot 2 is the fact that someone's had the balls to come up with something so innovative and feature-packed.

I love the fact there's Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integrated into the display. I wasn't able to test this in my pre-production sample, but it's going to be useful to anyone who doesn't already have this in their car.

The dashcams themselves are strong, with clever number plate recognition, and a superb field of view, and it's very easy to connect and get set up.

And then there's that thermal imaging. Far from being a gimmick, this could be a genuine life-saver. Think about foggy days. The camera has a range of 330ft, and it highlights and tracks anything with a heat signature.

I'm often pootling around the Peak District in my cars, and the sheep have a habit of coming out of nowhere, so to have a system that can spot them on a foggy day way before I do is such a bonus. Every car should have something like this, and I don't understand why they don't. Bravo, Vantrue, let's hope this is the start of a new tech trend.

What I didn't like about the Vantrue Pilot 2

As you might imagine, when you've got four cameras, you've got a lot of cables. There's nothing Vantrue can do about this, but it's a serious challenge getting the Pilot 2 installed neatly.

That's true of any dashcam, but the Pilot 2 adds a fourth dimension, so there's a fourth cable running out of the car. It's not an easy job.

It's also hard not to touch on the price. The launch offers are really decent, but it's still a lot of money for a three or four-channel dashcam.

And while the addition of a smartphone screen is a great idea, it won't help to justify the outlay for people who already have that in their vehicle.

I can see the Pilot 2 being appealing for professional drivers in vans and lorries, but so many motorists already have smart tech in their cars now.

Vantrue has been very clever in offering it as a thermal system only, but even if you catch the launch offer, £450 is a serious investment.

Overall verdict: Should you buy the Vantrue Pilot 2?

If you're an early adopter, a professional driver who has to take to the road in all conditions, or someone who's in the market for a CarPlay screen and a high-end dashcam, this will definitely appeal.

If you've already got a decent smartphone mirroring setup, if you're not fussed about the thermal imaging, and if you just want a decent dashcam, you can get much better tech for your money. Vantrue themselves will sort you out with some nice kit.

But this is a safety innovation, first and foremost, and I love it for that. You can't put a price on safety, after all.