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Nextar I4-BC

Discontinued

Reviewed

November 2009

by ConsumerSearch

Pros

Backup camera
Lots of features for the price
Widescreen

Cons

Not a good navigator
Hardware and software problems
Voice not clear
Screen can be hard to see
Flimsy mounting bracket
Poor customer service

Where to Buy

for $299.99

Our Analysis
Specs
13 Amazon Reviews

The Nextar I4-BC gets a couple of nods from fairly credible reviewers, but others advise buyers to steer clear of this unit. Experts say it seems poorly designed, doesn't navigate well and is frustrating to use. Users add that they couldn't figure out how to get promised map updates from Nextar's website, and customer service is unhelpful. The I4-BC's big selling point is its included backup camera, which transmits wirelessly to the GPS screen. However, several reviews say the camera either doesn't always work or never works at all, condensation can ruin it, and you still have to run power wires from your taillights, which can be difficult. Overall, critics recommend sticking with a budget GPS unit from a better brand, such as the top-rated Garmin nuvi 265T (Discontinued).

DigitalTrends.com provides well-done video and written reviews describing how the Nextar I4-BC "reeked of cheapness" in its tests. The review at ConsumerReports.org is much shorter, but it does rank the I4-BC among many of its peers. The U.K.'s PocketGPSWorld.com does a well-illustrated review that finds some of the same drawbacks as other testers discovered, and users at Amazon.com echo the same points. A very positive review at About.com is inconsistent with other testers' findings.

Garmin nüvi 265/265T 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic

from Amazon.com

New: $329.99

Average Customer Review:

Where To Buy

Car Charger Adapter Cord Vehicle Power Cable for Nextar X4 X4B X4-T X3 X3E X3B X3-T X3-03 X3-04 X3-05 X3-07 X3-08 X3-09 x3-10 x3-11 X3i Elite I4-BC GPS By Chargercity (8ft DC 12v Coiled Cable for Longer Reach & Easy Storage)

(13 reviews)
2 New from $11.95

In Stock. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping

Our Sources

1. DigitalTrends.com

Testers here have the same major complaints about the Nextar I4-BC as other reviewers -- including the difficult mount, hard-to-install backup camera and unclear voice directions -- and they explain these shortcomings more thoroughly than any other review.

Review: Nextar I4-BC Review, Nick Mokey, Oct. 13, 2008

2. ConsumerReports.org

ConsumerReports.org includes the Nextar I4-BC in its latest ratings. Editors rank all 96 tested units from best to worst, based on performance.

Review: Nextar I4-BC, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

3. PocketGPSWorld.com

This review on a U.K. website finds that the Nextar I4-BC works well, but like other reviewers, tester Lutz Bendlin notes that condensation can render the backup camera useless. He also says the backup camera gets power from the taillights, and he had to drill a hole in his car to run the necessary wires.

Review: Nextar I4-BC with Back-Up Camera Review, Lutz Bendlin, Sept. 30, 2008

4. Amazon.com

Only nine users had posted reviews for the Nextar I4-BC when we checked, but half of them give it the lowest possible rating. Those users say not only does the unit not work properly, but customer service is not helpful.

Review: Nextar I4-BC, Contributors to Amazon.com

5. About.com

Fred Zahradnik, About.com's guide to GPS, tests the Nextar I4-BC and finds it a "competent navigator." He's most impressed with the unit's included wireless backup camera, which he says works well and is easy to install. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Review: Nextar I4-BC GPS: Solid Navigation Plus a Backup Camera, Fred Zahradnik

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