Affiliate disclosure: RoadGearLab is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This never affects which products we recommend.
The short version. The Vantrue E2 is a dual-channel dash cam that records front and rear at matching resolution, uses Sony STARVIS sensors, and runs on a supercapacitor rather than a battery. For a mid-range front-and-rear setup it is well specified — but there is a recurring heat complaint from owners in hot climates that you should read before buying.
This is a research-based review. We have not physically tested this camera — the assessment below draws on the manufacturer’s published specifications, retailer listings, and reports from published reviews and verified owners. Where owners disagree with the spec sheet, we say so.
Specifications
| Channels | Front + rear |
|---|---|
| Resolution | Marketed as 2.7K + 2.7K. Several independent reviews describe it as dual 2.5K — see the note below |
| Sensor | Sony STARVIS (both channels) |
| Field of view | 160° front, 160° rear |
| Display | 2.45" IPS |
| Power | Supercapacitor |
| GPS | Built in |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, voice control, remote control |
| Parking mode | 24-hour, buffered motion detection with pre-record |
| Storage | microSD up to 512GB |
About that “2.7K” number
Vantrue markets the E2 as 2.7K + 2.7K. Several independent reviews of the same camera describe it as a dual 2.5K device. This is a common area of marketing looseness across the whole dash cam category — “2.7K” and “2.5K” get used for resolutions that sit between 1440p and 4K, and manufacturers round in the flattering direction.
Practically it makes little difference: both are a clear step up from 1080p for reading plates, and well short of true 4K. But if you are comparing spec sheets across brands, treat the headline K number as marketing rather than measurement.
What stands out
The rear camera matches the front. Most front-and-rear kits pair a sharp front camera with a 1080p rear one. The E2 records both channels at the same resolution, which matters because rear-facing footage is what you need in a rear-end collision — the exact situation where you are least at fault and most in need of a clear plate.
Supercapacitor, not a battery. Lithium batteries degrade and swell in heat, and they are the usual failure point in cheap dash cams left on a windscreen in summer. A supercapacitor is the right choice for a camera that lives in a parked car.
Genuine parking coverage. Buffered motion detection with a pre-record buffer means the clip starts before the impact, not after it. Without buffering you often get footage that begins once the other car is already leaving.
The problems owners actually report
Three complaints come up repeatedly and are worth weighing seriously:
- Overheating. Multiple owners in hot climates report the unit rebooting or stopping recording after a period of operation in warm weather. One report describes physical distortion of the housing after roughly a year of use in ambient temperatures around 37°C. A dash cam that stops recording in summer is not doing the job you bought it for, so if you park unshaded in a hot region, treat this as the deciding factor.
- SD card fussiness. A number of owners report cards between 32GB and 256GB failing to format or being rejected outright. Use a high-endurance card from a known brand, format it in the camera, and check footage in the first week rather than discovering the problem after an incident.
- Night vision has limits. The STARVIS sensors and WDR produce usable colour footage in low light, but this is not thermal or infrared imaging. In genuinely unlit conditions you are relying on whatever ambient light exists.
Who it suits
Good fit: drivers who want matched front and rear coverage with GPS and proper parking protection, in a temperate climate, without paying 4K prices.
Look elsewhere if: you park unshaded in a consistently hot region — the heat reports are too frequent to dismiss — or you specifically need 4K front footage. Vantrue also sells an E2 Pro that pairs a 4K front with a 2.5K rear if you want more resolution from the same family.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Vantrue E2 include the rear camera?
Yes — it is a dual-channel kit, and the rear camera records at the same resolution as the front rather than dropping to 1080p.
Does it need to be hardwired?
Only for parking mode. On the supplied 12V adapter it records while the car is running. Continuous parking surveillance requires a hardwire kit that draws from the fuse box with low-voltage cutoff to protect your battery.
What SD card should I use?
A high-endurance microSD card designed for continuous recording, formatted in the camera. Given the reported card-compatibility issues, stick to a major brand and verify recording works before you rely on it.
Does it have GPS?
Yes, GPS is built in, so footage carries location and speed data — useful in an insurance dispute.