Auto GPS Reviews

This report on auto GPS covers devices for in-car navigation. These differ from handheld GPS receivers meant for hiking and camping in that auto GPS systems have much larger screens, audio directions and highway-mapping features. In addition to being larger and heavier than handhelds, auto GPS units aren't known for long battery life. However, all aftermarket auto GPS units are somewhat portable, with some marketed as crossover devices. Thus, the lines between the two types of units are blurred in some products. See our companion report on handheld GPS to learn about units designed primarily for outdoor pursuits.

All GPS units receive data from multiple satellites that orbit the earth. They then perform the necessary calculations to arrive at a position fix. Auto GPS receivers plot your location on a display and provide driving directions.

We found useful and informative reports on auto GPS receivers from many reviewers, including GPS enthusiast websites. GPSMagazine.com sets the standard for reviews. This e-zine publishes a plethora of incredibly comprehensive reviews. Every feature is tested, and each review shows readers exactly what they will experience using the product. Additionally, the site includes a forum and a buyer's guide for car GPS with quick recommendations, plus a lengthy list of auto GPS units to avoid because of their outdated technology.

Garmin, TomTom and Magellan make most auto GPS receivers, but many other companies are trying to horn in on the market. However, reviewers rarely recommend models from those lesser-known GPS brands.

For example, big-box retailer Wal-Mart offers the Nextar Snap3 (*est. $185) , which looks like a feature-laden bargain at first glance. Those who have looked closer, however, generally beg to differ. CNet.com's Bonnie Cha is among those who have reviewed the GPS system, and she comes away unimpressed. Her bottom-line assessment is this: "The Nextar Snap3 may look good on paper with an admirable feature set and affordable price tag, but road tests prove this GPS device to be a dud." Reported issues include sluggish performance, erratic satellite acquisition and occasional system freezes. Other expert reviews we've seen echo Cha's assessment, and user reviews are mixed. Some are happy, while others are anything but.

Nextar isn't a household name when it comes to brands, but even big names like Sony have had difficulty when it comes to auto GPS. Although reviewers say the Sony Nav-U NV-U83t (*est. $370) is pretty and has plenty of fancy features, three separate tests find that the Sony "takes a loooong time to compute a route," as Money magazine reviewer Charles Passy writes. In her review for CNet.com, Bonnie Cha says that the Sony took up to ten minutes just to fix its initial position: "On one occasion, we were nearly halfway home before the receiver finally got a fix. Thankfully, we knew where we were going."

Finally, when reading older reviews of GPS systems, it's important to remember that some once-favorably-reviewed auto GPS systems are technologically out of date because they don't use the latest GPS microcontroller chip, the more accurate SiRFstar III. GPSMagazine.com lists units to avoid, and most earn that distinction for this reason. Although you can still buy them at retailers, GPS manufacturers have largely discontinued their non-SiRFstar III units. None of the units covered in this update still use those older chipsets.  ... Continued

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

Garmin auto GPS units are most favored in general by reviewers. The Garmin nüvi 880 is the elite member of the lineup, and it’s priced accordingly. Reviewers say it’s the first GPS that’s totally commandable by voice alone. One step down is the Garmin nüvi 760, the favorite of most reviewers. It offers almost all of the same features -- minus voice commands and MSN Direct -- at less than half the price. The even less-expensive nüvi 350 navigates just as well, only without Bluetooth and a few other extra features.

The Dash Express is in a class by itself, as the first GPS to offer Internet surfing and instant traffic data collected from other Dash units on the road. Reviewers say the Dash isn’t the most capable at basic navigating, but they say its traffic capabilities make it a dream GPS for commuters. The HP iPAQ rx5900/rx5915 is a hybrid PDA-GPS that comes with a car-mounting kit and TomTom GPS software. It also plays MP3s and videos.