Garmin nuvi 260W

The Garmin nuvi 260W is one of the least expensive auto GPS units you can buy with both a widescreen display and spoken street names (e.g., "Turn right on Elm Street in 100 feet" instead of just "Turn right in 100 feet.") Experts say these are the two extra features that matter most on an auto GPS. However, critics have turned away from the nuvi 260W in favor of the newer Garmin nuvi models, which offer more features, including traffic compatibility and Garmin's new faster routing and satellite lock.

ConsumerReports.org's unbiased testing is by far the best source of information about the Garmin nuvi 260W. A detailed results table shows how the unit measures up against dozens of other GPS units, but only subscribers can read the reports. Kiplinger.com and GPSTracklog.com don't conduct their own road tests of the nuvi 260W, but the reviews do offer expert insight. User reviews posted at Amazon.com and Epinions.com are valuable indicators of how the nuvi 260W performs in the real world.