Garmin improves on its Editors' Choicewinning nüvi 700 series by adding new features, including free live traffic updates.

Subscription-free live traffic alerts. Lane-assist view. 3D landmarks.

Advertisements in traffic and map views.

It used to be that 4.3-inch WGVGA-resolution widescreens were reserved for premium GPS devices, with entry-level models getting 3.5-inch, 4:3 screens. Not anymore: The top tier manufacturers now sell value-priced units with bigger, broader displays. ...

4.3-inch widescreen display. Built-in traffic receiver. Text-to-speech conversion. Multi-segment routing. Helpful Reality View and Lane Assistant features. Optional FreshMaps update service

Slow route calculation. Small POI database. Speed and trip data displayed in small fonts

Navigon's 2100 max entry-level widescreen GPS unit proves that you get what you pay for. While the device does come equipped with some of the same fancy features offered by its higher-end sibling, its effectiveness is hindered by a small POI database ...

There's no shortage of consumer electronic devices vying for space on your car's windshield. GPS navigation devices and satellite radio receivers are the most common, but for the dedicated road warrior, a radar/laser detector is also an important ...

Sensitive receiver. Fast satellite-acquisition time. Provides additional functionality to supported premium radar detectors.

Separate module makes for messy installation and removal. Web site doesn't show distribution of enforcement cameras, so it's hard to tell if you'll benefit from the device.

If you've got a Cobra radar detector in your car, this GPS add-on will also warn you when you're close to red-light and speed cameras.

Get the big picture and big features for a small price with nüvi 265WT. This widescreen navigator takes you there with preloaded maps and turn-by-turn directions that call out streets by name. It adds a crisp, widescreen display to the nüvi 265T and ...

In these competitive times when GPS manufacturers constantly vie to offer features that differentiate their products from all the others, it's hard to believe that the crossover GPS market has remained largely untapped. Well over a year ago, we ...

Rechargeable, user-replaceable battery. IPX7-rated waterproof. Integrated with geocaching.com, a Web site that tracks geocaches. Topographic maps are included

Lacks text-to-speech conversion in automotive mode. Poor track log handling. Distance to destination didn't work in compass mode. No Bluetooth phone integration

The Garmin nüvi 500 is good crossover choice for those who don't want or can't afford separate dedicated automotive and outdoor enthusiast GPS devices.

There are plenty of good reasons that GPS manufacturers have sold tens of millions of personal navigation devices: Many of us are directionally challenged, and guys like me love our gadgets but hate to stop to ask for directions. Generally, If you're ...

Sensitive receiver. Quick satellite acquisition. Multiple profiles for various outdoor activities. Highly configurable. IPX7-rated waterproof. Integrated with geocaching.com, a Web site that tracks geocaches.

Expensive. Main Menu has too many choices.

Albeit pricey, this handheld touch-screen GPS device makes an excellent hiking companionand a fun gadget for high-tech treasure hunting.

The widescreen RoadMate 1430 boasts many of the same high-end features of its premium Maestro siblings, without the premium price tag.

Multisegment routing. Live traffic information. Intuitive interface. Traffic receiver integrated into the case.

Some functions are sluggish. Occasional unexplained route recalculations.

The RoadMate 1430 has features similar to those of Magellan's luxury Maestro models. As the company's least expensive widescreen GPS model to offer live traffic, it's a pretty good deal.

With fuel prices hitting record highs, it's more important than ever to get directly to your destination without having to drive around aimlessly. This is especially critical if you drive a larger vehicle like a truck or an RV, which doesn't get good ...

Large, auto-dimming screen. Multisegment routing. Text-to-speech conversion. Video input for a backup camera

Lacks Bluetooth phone interface, integrated traffic receiver. No battery

This new navigator from Garmin boasts a sprawling 5.2-inch widescreen display. But you'll pay a premium for it, and give up some other key features as well.

Mio Moov 300 features a 4.3-inch widescreen window to the world of navigation, which allows for more on-screen information. This device also incorporates text-to-speech functionality to call out actual street names when making turns, to help drivers ...

Not yet reviewed by editors.

Most people buy portable navigation devices for the step-by-step driving directions and forget that these gadgets contain thousands of points of interest (POIs) as well. A good set of POIs can quickly get you to nearby restaurants, gas stations, ...

Free. Easy to use. Supports most popular GPS devices.

Difficult to verify community-based entries.

POIfriend.com helps you find and share points-of-interest databases-and easily download them to many current GPS devices.