EmailBest Reviewed
Radar Detectors
- Best radar detector overall Escort Passport 9500ix *Est. $525
- Best mid-range radar detector Beltronics RX 65 *Est. $300
- Best radar detector under $200 Beltronics Vector 955 *Est. $175
- Most "invisible" radar detector Beltronics STi Driver *Est. $500
Get info about new reports and updates
Most "invisible" radar detector
- Invisible to radar-detector detectors
- Very good radar and laser detection
- Expensive
- No speed/red-light camera warnings
The Beltronics STi Driver accomplishes a rare feat: It cannot be detected by police equipment. Users and experts alike are impressed by this feature. The STi Driver is a good detector, too, according to both expert tests and consumers who own it. It detects radar from farther away than many other models, including the invisible Cobra XRS 9960G (*Est. $300) and Cobra XRS R10G (*Est. $300) -- but not from quite as far away as the top-rated Escort Passport 9500ix (*Est. $525), which isn't invisible to police. However, the STi Driver lacks GPS, so it cannot alert you to speed and red-light cameras as these Escort and Cobra models can.
SpeedZones.com and GuysOfLidar.com conduct the most comprehensive tests of the Beltronics STi Driver, but GuysOfLidar.com's older test compares it with older models. The review at LaserVeil.com is not as data-driven, but it is thorough and based on testing. Reviews at 007RadarDetectors.com and Radar-Detector-Geeks.com give numeric scores, but it is not clear how much actual testing occurred. User reviews at Amazon.com give a fairly consistent picture of the STi Driver's real-life performance.
| Featured Stores | Store Rating | Notes | Total Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  168 store reviews | In Stock. Fantastic prices with ease & comfort of Amazon.com! | $449.99 | See It |
 |  1651 store reviews | In Stock. Get free shipping on orders over $25! | $499.95 | See It |
 |  723 store reviews | In Stock. New | $469.99 | See It |
| See All Stores | ||||
Our Sources
1. SpeedZones
The Beltronics STi Driver is invisible to VG-2, Spectre 3 and Spectre 4 radar-detector detectors, tests here find. However, it doesn't detect radar as strongly as some other units do.
Review: Annual Radar Detector Test 2009-2010, Editors of SpeedZones.com
The Beltronics STi Driver lands near the top of test after test at GuysOfLidar.com. Experts here rank detectors according to their performance in several categories designed to mimic real-world situations, but they make no recommendations.
Review: Radar Detector Test, Editors of GuysOfLidar.com, Aug. 17-19, 2007
This retail site sells a laser light-absorbing spray for cars, but it also includes radar-detector reviews. The Beltronics STi Driver earns a spot on the site's list of the best radar detectors over $300. The list links to this page dedicated to the STi Driver, which offers both a video review and a lengthy written review based on testing.
Review: Beltronics/BEL STI Driver Review, "The Veil Guy", Updated July 30, 2009
Radar detectors are ranked here according to their accomplishments in 12 categories (such as features and false-alert rejection). Although this retail site states that the rankings are based on months of driving, it doesn't document exactly how the tests are conducted. The Beltronics STi Driver earns high ratings in every category, and it is one of the top-ranked units overall.
Review: 2009 Radar Detector Reviews and Tests, Editors of 007RadarDetectors.com
Paul Graham and Gary Smith, who own a Kentucky auto gear shop, provide one-page reviews of 18 radar detectors from Escort, Beltronics, Whistler and Cobra. The Beltronics STi Driver gets a five-star rating, but the brief write-up -- although it analyzes the usefulness of the STi's features -- does not mention any testing.
Review: Bel STi Driver, Paul Graham and Gary Smith
6. Amazon.com
The Beltronics STi Driver has a 4.5-star rating (out of five) from nearly a dozen owners. Some of the reviews are very thorough, giving a good overview of the STi's real-life performance.
Review: Beltronics STi Driver Radar Detector, Contributors to Amazon.com
Radar Detectors Runners Up:
6 picks including: Amazon.com, RadarTest.com…
4 picks including: SpeedZones, Guys of Lidar…
4 picks including: Amazon.com, SpeedZones…
3 picks including: RadarBusters.com, BestBuy.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, RadarTest.com…
2 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.
2 picks including: Amazon.com, RadarBusters.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, SpeedZones…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, SpeedZones…
Escort Passport 9500i Radar and Laser Detector
 from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review:   |
||
|
|
 |
||
|
|
Beltronics Pro GX65 Radar Detector (Black)
from Amazon.com New: $429.75 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar and Laser Detector (Blue Display)
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Beltronics V995 Vector Radar and Laser Detector (Black/Silver)
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
|
Escort Passport 9500ci Custom-Installed Radar Detector
from Amazon.com New: $1599.95 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Laser Interceptor Ultimate Laser Jamming Device, Laser Jammer
from Amazon.com New: $625.00 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Escort Solo S2 Cordless Radar and Laser Detector
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Cobra XRS 9960G Voice Alert 15-Band Radar/Laser Detector with 1.5-Inch Full-Color Display, GPS Locator, and Red Light/Speed Features
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Whistler PRO-78 SE High-Performance Radar Detector with Blue Text Display
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
