Garmin nuvi 1390T

If you don't need the Internet-connected services of the top-rated Garmin nuLink 1695 (*Est. $320) , reviewers say the Garmin nuvi 1390T has most of the nuLink 1695's other important features for a much lower price -- including one that tells you which lane you'll need to be in at an upcoming junction, and Bluetooth to pair with your mobile phone for hands-free calling. The nuvi 1390T also includes free FM traffic information for the life of the unit; the nuLink 1695 gets its traffic information over its Internet connection. Owners say both sources can be hit-or-miss, and some hate the pop-up ads that they must endure to get free service. Besides the Internet connection, three of the nuLink 1695's other major features are also missing; the nuvi 1390T can't learn traffic patterns in your area, automatically sort multiple destinations into one efficient route or remember where you parked your car when you remove the device from the windshield mount. Most owners say the nuvi 1390T performs fine, but some complain that they don't always pick the best routes or lock quickly onto satellites.

ConsumerReports.org subjects the Garmin nuvi 1390T to its usual rigorous comparison testing. PCMag.com and TrustedReviews.com also conduct thorough tests, and they provide more description of the unit than ConsumerReports.org does. User feedback at Amazon.com is mostly positive, although some owners report problems with the nuvi 1390T.