Pioneer VREC-H320SC Dashcam Review: When Safety Comes First

When it comes to staying safe on the road, there are essentially two ways to go about it, if we’re keeping things simple. One is by following the best practices prescribed by law and going above and beyond to protect yourself and your loved ones. The other is staying safe from others on the road – something far less within your control. People are becoming conscious of road safety, at least in theory. It’s no surprise, then, that crash test ratings have surged in popularity online. But even if you own a well-built car, one crucial layer of safety often goes overlooked – having visual proof in the event of an incident. That’s where dashcams come in.

Renowned car accessories brand, Pioneer has entered this space with all guns blazing. Last month, we reviewed their entry-level offering – the VREC-H120SC and found it to be a great option if you are looking to buy your first dash cam, in a budget. This month, we’re looking at their next model – the VREC-H320SC. Priced at ₹11,399, it more than doubles the H120SC’s price. But is it really worth the price tag?

In simple terms, yes. The build quality of the product is a notable step up, with a soft-touch finish and a design that evokes a vintage camera – solid, stylish, and well put together. On top, you’ll find two ports – one for power (thankfully USB-C, making cable replacements easy), and one for connecting a secondary camera. Pioneer also includes everything you need in the box to install the cam yourself, except for a pry tool. The setup is plug-and-play and fairly straightforward. Do note that you’ll need to buy a high-speed memory card separately – it supports storage up to 512GB, which is great.

Another highlight is that the dashcam doesn’t use a lithium-ion battery, which is a smart move for Indian summers. Cities like Delhi are known for extremely hot summers, and this design choice reduces the risk of battery swelling – something that adds to your peace of mind.

Once installed, the unit connects easily to your smartphone via the ZenVue app. The app’s layout is intuitive, and it allows you to view live footage, browse stored clips, and download videos directly to your phone over Wi-Fi.

As for footage quality, it’s right on the money. The dynamic range is good, clarity is decent, and nighttime performance shows minimal ‘bloom.’ The camera also offers GPS logging, audio recording, a 139-degree field of view, and a helpful 3-inch IPS display, which makes navigating various camera settings a breeze. It does come with ADAS-enabled features too, but take it with a grain of salt, for it is more a marketing feature than anything actually helpful – it simply alerts you in certain conditions and does not actively intervene to prevent a crash. Lastly, the dashcam comes with support for a hardwire kit, which essentially means, that it will be able to continue recording even after you turn the ignition off. As is the case with most dashcams, you will have to buy this kit separately and in doing so, your camera will be attached to your car's battery directly.

To sum it all up, the Pioneer VREC-H320SC nails the basics and then some. For its price, it offers great value and is well worth considering if you're in the market for a reliable dashcam with a screen.