See All Auto GPS

Garmin nuvi 1350T

*Est. $155

Reviewed

October 2011

by ConsumerSearch

Budget car GPS

Pros

Free lifetime traffic alerts
Pedestrian/public transit navigation
Lane assist

Cons

Some owners complain of routing problems
Traffic, lane assist only in certain cities
Pop-up ads
No Bluetooth
No multi-point routing

Our Analysis
Specs

The Garmin nuvi 1350T is an inexpensive navigator with everything you really need, experts say -- plus a healthy dose of extras like lane assist and free traffic alerts for the life of the unit (it comes with pop-up ads, but most sources say they're unobtrusive). You can also buy pedestrian/public transit maps for major cities worldwide (*Est. $10 to $18 each). Expert testers -- and most owners who post reviews online -- find the nuvi 1350T a reliable navigator, although some owners complain that it doesn't always pick the best routes. The Garmin nuvi 1350T omits some features, too: There's no Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling and no multi-point routing (which allows you to enter several destinations and generate one route to hit them all). If you want those features, experts recommend the step-up Garmin nuvi 1490T (*Est. $195) .

ConsumerReports.org includes the Garmin nuvi 1350T in its latest GPS comparison test. GPSTracklog.com, PC World and Gizmodo.com also test the unit and provide more description than ConsumerReports.org does. Amazon.com posts nearly 1,600 owner-written reviews for the nuvi 1350T, both positive and negative.

Where To Buy

JacobsParts Windshield Mount For Garmin Nuvi 1300 1350 1350T

2 New from $0.01

In Stock.

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.org

Editors here thoroughly test the Garmin nuvi 1350T alongside 136 other GPS navigators. They then rate models from best to worst, based on their performance and usability.

Review: GPS Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

2. GPS Tracklog

The Garmin nuvi 1350T has been one of Rich Owings' top recommended GPS picks since it debuted as a midpriced unit. This well-illustrated review judges the 1350T's features and performance.

Review: Garmin nuvi 1350T Review, Rich Owings, July 28, 2009

3. PC World

Craig Ellison calls the Garmin nuvi 1350T "a bargain," and it earns a spot on PC World's list of the top 10 GPS units. Ellison notes that it lacks some useful features, namely Bluetooth and multi-point routing.

Review: Garmin Nuvi 1350T, Craig Ellison, Jan. 21, 2011

4. Gizmodo.com

Gizmodo.com stopped reviewing GPS navigators after the Garmin Nuvi 1350T, which Wilson Rothman calls "the logical end" of the personal navigation device: It's fast, it's easy to use, it's got traffic information and it's reasonably priced. "There's nowhere they can go from here," Rothman concludes.

Review: Garmin Nuvi 1350T Lightning Review, Wilson Rothman, July 29, 2009

5. Amazon.com

With nearly 1,600 customer reviews posted, the Garmin nuvi 1350T averages 4 stars out of 5. Two-thirds of reviewers give it 4 or 5 stars, but the routing and traffic information get mixed reviews from some users.

Review: Garmin Nuvi 1350/1350T 4.3-inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic, Contributors to Amazon.com

Garmin nuvi 1390T *Est. $165

4 picks including: Amazon.com, PCMag.com…

Garmin nuvi 1200 *Est. $150

3 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…

Garmin nuvi 3760T *Est. $265

3 picks including: Amazon.com, Which? magazine…

Garmin nuvi 1350 *Est. $160

3 picks including: Amazon.com, GPS Tracklog…

Garmin nuvi 1300 *Est. $155

3 picks including: Amazon.com, Walmart.com…

Garmin nuvi 1300LM *Est. $150