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- Best car GPS receiver for $200 or less Garmin nuvi 265T *Est. $185
- Best GPS navigation device overall Garmin nuvi 765T *Est. $270
- Voice-command car GPS Garmin nuvi 855 *Est. $245
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- Lots of features for the price
- Sleek design
- Limited voice commands
- Hit-or-miss Bluetooth pairing
- Not quite as good as Garmin
Experts say the Maestro 4250 packs a lot of features for the price, but more than one reviewer ranks the Maestro 4250 behind the Garmin nuvi models in terms of navigation and usability. Although the Maestro 4250's Bluetooth calling works fine for some testers, others find it doesn't pair as well with their major-brand phones as Garmin Bluetooth does. Testers find the Maestro 4250's voice-command feature disappointing. They say it's not nearly as advanced as the one on Garmin's voice-operated units, the Garmin nuvi 885T (*Est. $420) and Garmin nuvi 855 (*Est. $245). User reviews for the Maestro 4250 are mostly positive, but even some users who like the Maestro 4250 criticize its disappointing voice recognition.
We found plenty of reviews of Magellan's former flagship model, but most of them date back to its introduction in 2007. However, GPSMagazine.com takes another look at the Magellan Maestro 4250 in its most recent buyer's guide and concludes that it's still a good value. ConsumerReports.org includes the Maestro 4250 in its excellent comparison tests, ranking it against both older and newer GPS models. PC World tests the Maestro 4250 against one other close competitor, and CNNMoney.com tests the Maestro 4250 against four competing models. CNET also conducts a complete review, and PCMag.com's thorough review draws some comparisons between the Maestro 4250 and its competitors (as well as other Magellan units). Consumers who post at Amazon.com offer differing opinions of the Maestro 4250's real-life performance.
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Our Sources
The Magellan Maestro 4250 is a top pick in the $100-to-$200 category in this website's buyer's guide. Magellan never quite matches Garmin when it comes to picking the best route, but GPSMagazine.com says the Maestro 4250 is still a great, feature-packed buy, especially at its new lower price.
Review: Magellan Maestro 4250 Review, Fletcher Previn, Dec. 20, 2007
2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org rates the Magellan Maestro 4250 and ranks it against dozens of other GPS models. The unbiased test results are summarized in a detailed ratings chart, and ConsumerReports.org writes an individual report on each model. However, you must be a subscriber to read the reports.
Review: Magellan Maestro 4250, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Craig Ellison gives the Magellan Maestro 4250 a rating of four out of five, based on his tests of the unit's navigation and new features. Ellison's concise write-up includes a helpful list of pros and cons, and it draws some comparisons between the Maestro 4250 and other Magellan and Garmin models.
Review: Magellan Maestro 4250, Craig Ellison, Dec. 13, 2007
4. CNET
Tester Bonnie Cha finds several problems with the Magellan Maestro 4250, but she calls them "minor" and awards the unit a "very good" rating of 3.5 stars out of five. This review includes specs, pricing information and a list of the Maestro 4250's pros and cons, alongside Cha's detailed narrative review.
Review: Magellan Maestro 4250, Bonnie Cha, Dec. 16, 2007
PC World recommends the Magellan Maestro 4250 over competitor V7 Nav740, based on tests of both units. Reviewer Tracey Capen compares the two models' navigation and usability in this write-up.
Review: Magellan Maestro 4250 and V7 Nav740 GPS Devices Deliver More than Just Maps, Tracey Capen, March 24, 2008
6. CNNMoney.com
The Magellan Maestro 4250 is the runner-up in this test of five GPS models from five different manufacturers. Reviewer Charles Passy lists each model's key features and price, and assigns each unit a letter grade. The Magellan's interface isn't as user-friendly as Garmin's, Passy writes, but he calls the Maestro 4250 "a strong alternative."
Review: GPS That Puts You in the Fast Lane, Charles Passy, May 2, 2008
7. About.com
The Magellan Maestro 4250 earns one of the highest ratings (four out of five stars) from Fred Zahradnik, About.com's GPS guide. Like other reviewers, Zahradnik notes that you can't command the Maestro 4250 entirely with your voice. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Voice Command: Magellan Maestro 4250, Fred Zahradnik
8. Amazon.com
Consumers who post at Amazon.com rate the Magellan Maestro 4250 an average 3.5 out of five stars in nearly 500 reviews. Some users rave about this GPS unit, while others find they can't really command it with their voice. Some users complain that new maps cost extra.
Review: Magellan Maestro 4250 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator, Contributors to Amazon.com
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