Escort Passport iQ

The Escort Passport iQ promises to tidy up your windshield: It's a GPS navigator and radar/laser detector all in one. Experts and owners agree that it does a great job of detecting radar and laser speed traps, and it alerts drivers to upcoming speed/red-light cameras, too -- just like the top-rated Escort Passport 9500ix (*Est. $500) .

That said, the iQ's GPS feature gets mixed reviews; expert testers say it looks and navigates just like a Garmin, but owners don't always agree. Several complain that the iQ picks poor routes, omits known roads and doesn't speak up quickly enough about upcoming turns. Others say its bulky, heavy case vibrates on its mount and is awkward to take out of the car and carry. It's not Mac-compatible, and it lacks the live traffic updates and Bluetooth hands-free calling that most GPS units now offer for a much lower price. And although the iQ is stealthy in one respect -- it looks just like regular GPS unit -- it's not invisible to police radar-detector detectors (RDDs) like the Escort RedLine (*Est. $500) is.

SpeedZones.com doesn't include the Escort Passport iQ in its head-to-head radar detector shootout, but experts here do test the iQ separately on a 3,000-mile road trip. Motor Trend's Frank Markus also tests the iQ's GPS navigation prowess, as well as its radar and laser detection. CNET's Antuan Goodwin analyzes the iQ's features and offers buying advice. Owner reviews at Amazon.com uncover some problems with the iQ that don't show up in expert tests.