Garmin nuvi 5000

The Garmin nuvi 5000's main feature is its big, clear 5.2-inch screen. It's designed for use in a big truck or RV -- you can hook it up a backup camera to display on the nuvi 5000's screen -- but some experts and users say the big screen is easier for people with bad eyesight to see in the car, too. They caution that this large unit can block much of the driver's view and can be bulky to carry. Although some people carry their GPS units with them so the devices won't get stolen, reviews note that the nuvi 5000 has no internal battery, so you can't navigate with it unless it's docked in the car.

Testers say the nuvi 5000 includes some of Garmin's most useful features (multidestination route plotting, spoken street names) but not others (a traffic-alert receiver, Bluetooth hands-free calling). The unit has an FM transmitter to route its sound through your car stereo, but reviews say it's staticky and weak -- a perennial complaint with Garmins. Garmin has introduced a more full-featured big-screen model, the Garmin nuvi 1490T (*Est. $465). But unless you need the big screen, reviews are more likely to recommend other Garmin models, such as the budget-priced Garmin nuvi 265T (*Est. $185) or more full-featured Garmin nuvi 765T (*Est. $270), both of which include free traffic information.

PCMag.com has the most helpful review of the Garmin nuvi 5000, testing it head-to-head with another Garmin nuvi over many miles. Laptop Magazine also tests the nuvi 5000 but draws only limited comparisons with other models. ConsumerReports.org and similar publications -- Which? magazine in the U.K. and Choice magazine in Australia -- conduct expert, unbiased tests of the nuvi 5000 and rank it alongside many other units, but only subscribers can read those reports. At Amazon.com, owners discuss the good and bad points of the Garmin nuvi 5000.