MGI Navigator AT vs Stewart Vertx Remote Carts

[JohnnyO3478]

MGI Navigator AT vs Stewart Vertx 

 

I now own both.  I bought the Stewart in the early part of 2024 and used it all the way through November when the MGI went on BF sale and I picked up one of those.  Which will I keep?  Let’s look at my experience thus far: 

 

Purchasing 

 

The Stewart is the 45-hole battery version and I paid $1,619 for the refurbished unit.  It came with zero accessories so I ended up buying the water bottle holder, the umbrella holder and the accessory clips and sand bottle - looks like I spent another $125 on accessories. 

 

I got the MGI from Costco – at the Black Friday price of $1,299 and it came with a bunch of accessories – most of which I will not use.  More on that later.  I also bought the umbrella holder extension for $30 on amazon.   

 

Winner – MGI 

 

Shipping and Unboxing 

 

Both seemed to arrive in an expected amount of time – nothing out of line.  The Vertx was in and obviously used box. The MGi was in and obviously new box.  No surprise there.  Both well packed and safe.  The Steward was essentially completely assembled in the box and took no time to sort.  The MGI was not and was kind of a pain in the a**.   

 

Clear winner – Stewart 

 

Build 

 

The Stewart seems to be made of next level electrical components.  The battery is obviously bigger (rated for more holes).  The drive motors look very stout.  The MGI motors are not as visible.  The Vertx frame is completely composite – the MGI has a bunch of metal.  The Stewart seems flimsy – in comparison when just moving the units around by the handle. The wheel connection for hooking the wheels to the motor drive portion of the axel looks more robust on the Vertx.  Fit and finish on both seem genuinely fine. 

 

Winner – MGI – mainly because of how it feels when you have to push it. 

 

Design 

 

Both are very stable with a low CG and appear indestructible. The Navigator has swivel front wheels – the Vertx does not.  The wheelie wheel on the Stewart is always deployed – while it takes an extra effort to extend the wheelie wheel on the MGI.  Unfolding /unfolding the Stewart is easier.  They both have ample mounting points for accessories.  The vertx has only hard point mounts – while the MGI has mounts that need to be screwed in on the handle .  The MGI has a place you can put a seat – the Vertx does not.  The MGI has a better stowage slot for the remote – while the Vertex has a better set up for holding the remote during a round.  There’s a charging port for the remote on the MGI.  The Stewart folds up more compact and has a carrying handle.  The MGI battery is easier to access and comes out easier.  The button for the Stewart battery gets a little sticky.  Both have up/downhill traction control.  The MGI has a gyroscope to keep it on track with where you have it pointed.  

 

Winner – I'd say MGi for the gyro.  

 

Accessories 

 

Both have a bunch available.  I will only use a few.  The cup holder for the MGI seems more versatile than that of the stewart. (SEE REVISED OPINION IN POST ON 12/28/24).  The MGI umbrella holder requires an extension for us taller folk – but that being said – the umbrella set up for the MGI seems more stable than that of the Stewart.  Sand bottle arrangement goes to Vertx over Navigator.  Cooler seems better for the MGI(mine came with the unit) - though I have not tried the Stewart cooler.   

 

Remote 

 

The Stewart remote is more sophisticated – with 2 kinds of stop buttons (immediate and gradual) and 3 pre-set speeds.  The MGI remote is more simple and compact – but apparently that leads people to put it in their pocket when they then proceed to butt dial it into bodies of water.  It has a lock and unlock button – but you have to train yourself to use it. The Stewart remote is so big – i never really felt like putting it in my pocket.  Both have belt clamps – I rarely use that feature.  The Vertx remote comes with a silicon condom kind of thing for use in the wet.   Stewart has a special barrel kind of charger – MGI is USB C.   

 

Winner – you'd get used to either.  I will call this one for MGI because of the charging arrangement/connection.   

 

Operation 

 

You activate the Stewart by pressing a button on the battery and flicking a switch on the body.  You then have to push a button on the remote to turn it on.  The MGI turns on when you install the battery – or by pressing and holding a couple of buttons on the top box.  The MGI can be operated from said top box or by remote.  The Vertx – only by remote.  With the MGI the gyro is engaged only when using the remote.  I like that – because there are times when I am maneuvering the unit by the handle – and the gyro would just be fighting me.  In remote mode – you only have one speed option when you start the MGI  - while with the vertx – you can pick one of 3 pre-sets or the up/down arrow.  To go backwards with the MGI – you have to hold the down button.   

The Stewart will veer one way or another with the terrain. The gyro keeps the Navigator pointing where you pointed it with the remote.  You can see the terrain corrections.  It’s the real deal.   The MGI has a wider range of speed – with more divisions.  One weird thing that I hate with the Vertx – is the responsiveness of the remote-control changes when the top speed is engaged.  If you want it to turn or slow down at that speed – you have to mash the remote buttons longer.    

The front swivel wheels on MGI make it easier to maneuver.  The fenders on the Stewart become rather effective noise generators by snatching up and capturing wet leaves and sticks.   

Battery life for the Stewart kicks butt.  The 45-hole rating is no joke. MGI says to recharge the batter after every single use – even though it’s rated for 36 holes.   

 

Winner – MGI (landslide) 

 

Stand Bag Support 

 

Neither are great.  Stand bags can rotate in either.  When they do – it is easier to fix with the MGI.  The Stewart has a couple of nubs in the top bracket that line up almost perfectly with the legs on my stand bag – making me have to rotate the bag some – one way or the other.  The MGI has no such nubs and has better bottom support.  The bands on the Stewart are more robust rubber than the bungee based straps on the MGI.   

 

Winner - MGI 

 

Customer Support 

 

Stewart USA never answers the phone and only sometimes responds to email.  While I have no direct experience with MGI – my buddy (who ordered one through Amazon – and got the non- AT version by mistake – said that MGI did answer the phone when he called and made good on his order.  Another of our friends also said that MGI answers the phone.  

Winner – I am a big fan of folks who pick up the freaking phone when I call.  MGI. 

 

At this moment – I'd say that the Stewart will be for sale this spring. I’m in no hurry.   

 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by JohnnyO3478

[Archimedes65]

No idea about the Vertx, but I owned a Stewart Q Follow before the MGI and I couldn’t wait to kick it to the curb.  Felt like I got taken by Stewart, given how bad it performed.  Heavy, shiny, piece of garbage IMO.

[596]

Cool write up.  I have the Vertx and an X9. Love them both. 

 

fYI the Vertx does have straight line technology.  The electronics reads the motors thousands of times per second and keeps the cart, via the motors, in a straight line. Just different technology from gyro. 

 

A friend and I have learned through trial and error that the follow mode is definitely affected nearby blue tooth.  If you are connecting your phone to any app, like Apple watches for GPS or Arrcos, etc, it will affect the follow feature.  Without nearby blue tooth connections they run perfectly.  

Edited December 20, 2024 by 596

[Archimedes65]

1 hour ago, 596 said:

Cool write up.  I have the Vertx and an X9. Love them both. 

 

fYI the Vertx does have straight line technology.  The electronics reads the motors thousands of times per second and keeps the cart, via the motors, in a straight line. Just different technology from gyro. 

 

A friend and I have learned through trial and error that the follow mode is definitely affected nearby blue tooth.  If you are connecting your phone to any app, like Apple watches for GPS or Arrcos, etc, it will affect the follow feature.  Without nearby blue tooth connections they run perfectly.  

 

I wasn’t running any apps and the follow feature worked like a toddler on Red Bull.  Its best use was for a little comedy on the course, when I would be ready to take a shot and it would creep towards me until it was literally touching my foot.  😂

 

In addition to that, it turned so poorly and abruptly that it looked like either me or the cart was having a seizure anytime I tried to navigate it.  Smooth it was not.

 

Oh yeah, and it was big and heavy and the last thing you want to be lifting in and out of the trunk of car all the time.

 

Positively hated it.  The fact that it’s way more expensive than the MGI, which is a way better cart, is beyond me.

[596]

1 hour ago, Archimedes65 said:

 

I wasn’t running any apps and the follow feature worked like a toddler on Red Bull.  Its best use was for a little comedy on the course, when I would be ready to take a shot and it would creep towards me until it was literally touching my foot.  😂

 

In addition to that, it turned so poorly and abruptly that it looked like either me or the cart was having a seizure anytime I tried to navigate it.  Smooth it was not.

 

Oh yeah, and it was big and heavy and the last thing you want to be lifting in and out of the trunk of car all the time.

 

Positively hated it.  The fact that it’s way more expensive than the MGI, which is a way better cart, is beyond me.

We'll agree to disagree.  I love my Stewart's and have no problems with them.

[JohnnyO3478]

16 hours ago, 596 said:

Cool write up.  I have the Vertx and an X9. Love them both. 

 

fYI the Vertx does have straight line technology.  The electronics reads the motors thousands of times per second and keeps the cart, via the motors, in a straight line. Just different technology from gyro. 

 

A friend and I have learned through trial and error that the follow mode is definitely affected nearby blue tooth.  If you are connecting your phone to any app, like Apple watches for GPS or Arrcos, etc, it will affect the follow feature.  Without nearby blue tooth connections they run perfectly.  

I thought the Vertx was supposed to have straight line tech - but half the time, not all the time, mine would veer noticeably right on flat ground, and it never really corrected itself on any kind of side hill.

 

You can see and feel the MGI corrections. 

[596]

34 minutes ago, JohnnyO3478 said:

I thought the Vertx was supposed to have straight line tech - but half the time, not all the time, mine would veer noticeably right on flat ground, and it never really corrected itself on any kind of side hill.

 

You can see and feel the MGI corrections. 

Mine was also veering to the right. I had to adjust the straight line running.  Now it runs straight and stays there.  Both my Stewart's had to be adjusted to run straight. Most of the veering is due to off center bag weight.

[JohnnyO3478]

48 minutes ago, 596 said:

Mine was also veering to the right. I had to adjust the straight line running.  Now it runs straight and stays there.  Both my Stewart's had to be adjusted to run straight. Most of the veering is due to off center bag weight.

Cool. Send me a link to the straight line running adjustment procedure and I'll try to fix mine. I followed the directions in the manual about repositioning the bag and then calling customer support. That didn't work and Stewart never answered the phone or email. 

 

 

[596]

11 minutes ago, JohnnyO3478 said:

Cool. Send me a link to the straight line running adjustment procedure and I'll try to fix mine. I followed the directions in the manual about repositioning the bag and then calling customer support. That didn't work and Stewart never answered the phone or email. 

 

 

I will as soon as I can find it.  The little card is somewhere in my garage! 😂 

[596]

1 hour ago, JohnnyO3478 said:

I thought the Vertx was supposed to have straight line tech - but half the time, not all the time, mine would veer noticeably right on flat ground, and it never really corrected itself on any kind of side hill.

 

You can see and feel the MGI corrections. 

Here ya go. 

 

 

[clinkinfo]

I love when someone writes an unbiased review!

 

Thank you for taking the time to be honest.  Too many people here justify their purchase instead of really reviewing the actual products and pointing out the downsides (which ALL products and companies have)

[JohnnyO3478]

28 minutes ago, 596 said:

Here ya go. 

 

 

Thanks. I looked for something like that on the internet and found nothing. No card with that info came with my unit. I wonder why they don't even mention it in the manual. 

[JohnnyO3478]

27 minutes ago, clinkinfo said:

I love when someone writes an unbiased review!

 

Thank you for taking the time to be honest.  Too many people here justify their purchase instead of really reviewing the actual products and pointing out the downsides (which ALL products and companies have)

Yeah - neither of these products are perfect. My main gripe about the Stewart was that it didn't mesh well with my Vessel stand bag. The thing I like best about it is the compact size and lifting handle and ease of stowage.

 

I play most of my rounds with a Navigator owner and I always seemed to be fidgeting more with my cart than he ever did with his.

[Archimedes65]

3 hours ago, JohnnyO3478 said:

I thought the Vertx was supposed to have straight line tech - but half the time, not all the time, mine would veer noticeably right on flat ground, and it never really corrected itself on any kind of side hill.

 

You can see and feel the MGI corrections. 

 

Funny fact.  I wasn’t aware that the gyro only worked on the MGI when it was in remote mode until I read something on here a couple of days ago.  I use it almost solely in remote mode and I was wondering why it was so hard to turn manually some times when I was using it.  Doh!

[Archimedes65]

1 hour ago, JohnnyO3478 said:

I play most of my rounds with a Navigator owner and I always seemed to be fidgeting more with my cart than he ever did with his.

 

This.  The first time I used my Navigator, I was about 12 holes into my round and I couldn’t put my finger on what I was loving about it.  And then it hit me.  It was just doing exactly what it should do without me having to mess with it at all.  It didn’t require me to expend any energy dealing with the cart.  It tracks straight, turns smoothly, doesn’t tip, and my bag doesn’t move an inch on it.  Battery comes in and out simply and it folds in about five seconds.  I also love the remote storage clip location under the handle.  Goes in and out quickly and easily.  Never have to have the remote in my pocket or clipped to me.

 

Exact opposite of my experiences with Stewart and QOD carts that I owned.

 

Edited December 21, 2024 by Archimedes65

[JohnnyO3478]

46 minutes ago, Archimedes65 said:

 

Funny fact.  I wasn’t aware that the gyro only worked on the MGI when it was in remote mode until I read something on here a couple of days ago.  I use it almost solely in remote mode and I was wondering why it was so hard to turn manually some times when I was using it.  Doh!

I knew that fact going in, but my muscle memory with the Vertx had me putting my hands on the cart to manually get it going in the direction I wanted to start off with it.   Took about half the round to change my habit.

 

I leave the remote out of the equation when navigating tricky or tight areas. Nice to have the option. 

[Archimedes65]

1 minute ago, JohnnyO3478 said:

I knew that fact going in, but my muscle memory with the Vertx had me putting my hands on the cart to manually get it going in the direction I wanted to start off with it.   Took about half the round to change my habit.

 

I leave the remote out of the equation when navigating tricky or tight areas. Nice to have the option. 

 

Our club has a creek that winds through the entire course, so there are multiple wooden bridges that you have to negotiate throughout the round.  This is the first electric cart that allows me to easily navigate those bridges using just the remote.

 

Literally the second time I was using my MGI, I was playing a round at my club and one of the guys in the foursome in front of me caught me after the round and joked that it looked like I was controlling the cart with my mind because it was moving so smoothly with me.  He asked me if I had to practice to get so good with it.  I laughed and told him it was the second time I’d even used it.

[JohnnyO3478]

8 hours ago, Archimedes65 said:

 

Our club has a creek that winds through the entire course, so there are multiple wooden bridges that you have to negotiate throughout the round.  This is the first electric cart that allows me to easily navigate those bridges using just the remote.

 

Literally the second time I was using my MGI, I was playing a round at my club and one of the guys in the foursome in front of me caught me after the round and joked that it looked like I was controlling the cart with my mind because it was moving so smoothly with me.  He asked me if I had to practice to get so good with it.  I laughed and told him it was the second time I’d even used it.

My course has the same. The bridges are not much wider than the cart. To be fair, I never had an issue with the Vertx on any of the bridges. 

 

I'm in manual mode with either cart on all of those.

[backspace1]

Not sure how I missed the Black Friday sale on the Costco on the MGI I was looking. If you guys see another sale please give me a heads up
thanks 

[teedub21]

Love my MGI, non AT version.  Only complaint I have as do two of my friends that own them is there really needs to be a 4.5 speed setting.  Wish you could adjust the speed settings.  Also $180 for a replacement remote is insane.  

[JohnnyO3478]

6 hours ago, teedub21 said:

Love my MGI, non AT version.  Only complaint I have as do two of my friends that own them is there really needs to be a 4.5 speed setting.  Wish you could adjust the speed settings.  Also $180 for a replacement remote is insane.  

Supposedly, MGI has made adjustments to the speeds on this latest version of the Navigator AT.

 

Agree on the remote price. FTR - the Stewart replacement remote is $200.

[teedub21]

2 hours ago, JohnnyO3478 said:

Supposedly, MGI has made adjustments to the speeds on this latest version of the Navigator AT.

 

Agree on the remote price. FTR - the Stewart replacement remote is $200.

Should be able to do a firmware update for the speed control.  Can buy a 40” smart TV with a remote for $149 but this stupid basic plastic remote is $180.  Silly.

[JohnnyO3478]

4 minutes ago, teedub21 said:

Should be able to do a firmware update for the speed control.  Can buy a 40” smart TV with a remote for $149 but this stupid basic plastic remote is $180.  Silly.

Have you called and asked?

[RSinSG]

13 hours ago, backspace1 said:

Not sure how I missed the Black Friday sale on the Costco on the MGI I was looking. If you guys see another sale please give me a heads up
thanks 

I got mine from Kaddymart in Oceanside, CA several years ago for around $1100. The owner would get the Costco returns, clean them up and resell them. I think mine had 18 miles on it so basically brand new. 

It looks like he sold the business as the original website and contact info is no longer good, but the physical store is still there with a new website. If the new owners run it like the previous one it’s a great way to get a MGI AT at a good price. I’ve referred 3 friends who bought from the previous owner.

 

https://thecaddymart.com

[teedub21]

54 minutes ago, JohnnyO3478 said:

Have you called and asked?

I have not. 

[JohnnyO3478]

That didn't take long.  I knew I'd eventually have my tip over because I didn't extend the 5th wheel before I started the round.  It takes a surprisingly small hill for the Nav AT to tip backwards without the wheelie wheel deployed.  No harm.  There's a feather in the Stewart cap.  There's no extra step for the ant-tip wheel deployment.  

 

Also had the first pocket dial with the remote.  I don't usually put it in my pocket - but when the cart tipped - that's where the remote ended up while I was recovering.  Fortunately, the cart didn't get very far.  

 

During my second outing with the MGI - i was free to put it through it's paces as I was alone on a sparsly populated course.  I may have already said it - but that gyro is the real freaking deal.  My favorite display was driving it along a side hill ridge with the left wheel up on the flat and the right wheel on the slant.  Straight as a freaking arrow.  

 

With the Stewart - i was always more concerned with the direction the cart was facing when I hit a remote button.  Or I'd have my hand on the handle and manually point it on the start line.  The navigtor changes direction so much easier that now I hit the start button on the remote and then adust the direction.

 

Going over curbs is a way better experience with the MGI - mainly because the handle is not so flexible.  

 

Little differnces like that.

 

Niggle with the Nav - is the hard point accessory mounts don't have enough space for the water bottle holder to rotate freely enough.  At some point the whole thing rotated and my water bottle fell out.  I'll probably take the dremel to the bottle holder mount.  It won't take too much effort.  

[Archimedes65]

19 hours ago, teedub21 said:

Love my MGI, non AT version.  Only complaint I have as do two of my friends that own them is there really needs to be a 4.5 speed setting.  Wish you could adjust the speed settings.  Also $180 for a replacement remote is insane.  

 

Yikes, I’m gonna keep an eye on my remote.  My only wish is for the ability to get odd number speeds out of the remote.  I typically use speed 8 or 10, but a lot of the time I’d prefer 9.

[JohnnyO3478]

If you're wondering what changed in the latest AT iteration, speed wise:

 

 

[teedub21]

4 hours ago, Archimedes65 said:

 

Yikes, I’m gonna keep an eye on my remote.  My only wish is for the ability to get odd number speeds out of the remote.  I typically use speed 8 or 10, but a lot of the time I’d prefer 9.

Either we have very different MGI’s or you’re full out running behind your golf cart.

[Archimedes65]

49 minutes ago, teedub21 said:

Either we have very different MGI’s or you’re full out running behind your golf cart.

 

I have the non AT version.  When it starts on the remote it starts at 4 and it’s slow.  I run it at speeds from 8 to 12 usually, depending upon the terrain, but I’d say I’m typically on 10 walking briskly down the fairway.  No running at all.