Choose what fits in your budget:

• < $200
• < $500
• < $1,000

 

 

Vehicle navigation encompasses a range of solutions, from cellular handsets to high-end in-dash systems. When choosing a system, consider price features and delivery mode as guiding criteria.

 

 

 

Budget Buyer

 

 

You can still get an affordably priced GPS system and not necessarily sacrifice key performance, one of these budget-priced solutions may deliver all you need.

 

TeleNav

$9.99 a month

 

Available from the company or through most major cellular carriers, this service equips compatible cell phones and smartphones with full GPS navigation capabilities. You can preset travel plans from the handset or call in for directions while in the field. The service provides street level maps, text and voice prompts, and access to a constantly updated database of area points of interest.

 

Streets and Trips 2009 with GPS

Microsoft Corp

$74.95

 

This bundle of mapping software with a compact GPS receiver equips Windows laptops for navigation. You can enter and store addresses, plan a multi-stop route, and print or e-mail directions from the program. Point-to point directions are provided on screen maps, text and voice prompts. Software can also track and calculate speed, mileage, and driving expenses.

 

nav-u NV-U74T

Sony electronics

$150

 

A recent price cut, by half, makes this an attractive entry level system. This portable features a 4.3-inch color screen, suction mount, and text-to-speech conversion for spoken directions. It’s also Bluetooth compatible for hands-free control and voice-activated dialing when used with compatible cell phones.

 

XOG

Lowrance

$159

 

Another recent price cut: This portable GPS has a 3.5-inch touch screen, and a sensitive GPS chipset said to ensure accuracy even in low signal settings. It comes preloaded with maps for the United States and Canada, and an SD card slot for additional mapsets. An “outdoor” mode provides directions when traveling away from a vehicle.

 

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Mid-Range Buyer

 

 

Clustered between $250 and $500 are GPS systems that pack some extras around core GPS functionality.

 

 

Moov 310

Mio

$249

 

This portable has a 4.3-inch widescreen touch screen and text-to-speech announcements of upcoming streets to alert you to when you need to turn. The price also includes a one year subscription to Traffic Messaging Channel for real-time traffic updates where available.

 

Nextar I4-BC

Nextar

$260

 

A back-up camera is integrated into this portable GPS unit. For navigation, it has a 4.3-inch touch screen display, voice prompts with street names, 2D and 3D viewing modes, NAVTEQ maps for the United States and Canada, an SD card slot, and MP3 playback. The camera activates as soon as the car is put into reverse, allowing the driver to see up to 7 feet behind the vehicle on the unit’s LCD display.

 

 

Magellan Maestro 4350

Magellan GPS

$399

 

With customizable OneTouch icons, you have easy access to stored destinations and searches. This unit has a 4.3-inch touch screen, 3D map landmarks, and automatic re-routing with Smart Detour for navigating slow traffic. It has an MP3 player, Bluetooth for hands-free calling, a built-in FM transmitter for broadcasting calls, and voice prompts through the car stereo system.

 

 

GO 740 LIVE

TomTom

$499

 

This portable includes a wireless service bundle for real-time traffic updates (where available). The unit has a 4.3-inch touch screen, mapset for the United States and Canada, 2GB of internal memory, text or voice prompts, micro-SD memory card slot, and Bluetooth support for hands-free calling. iVoice recognition software lets you operate the system with spoken commands. (This unit will be available second quarter of 2009.)

        

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High-End Buyer

 

At the upper end of the pricing tier you’ll find innovative designs and the latest features.

 

 

Traveler 137 Smartphone

Pharos Science & Applications

$599

 

This is the latest unlocked GSM smartphone from a company that specializes in GPS navigation solutions. (Unlocked means that the phone will recognize a SIM card from any carrier.) As a GPS unit, it includes maps of the United States and uses Pharos’ Smart Navigator software to display locations, create routes and provide point-to-point directions on screen or as spoken commands. As a Windows Mobile smartphone it has a 528MHz processor, 256MB RAM, micro-SD expansion slot, 3MP camera, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support.

 

Navigon 8100T

Navigon Inc.

$599

 

This portable has a 4.8-inch widescreen LCD and can display the landscape as a panoramic 3D view. Drivers can request directions by speaking the name of an address. Voice prompts include upcoming street names. For added durability, it is packed in a brushed metal case. Bundled with the system is a free subscription for real-time traffic updates and rerouting (where available).

 

nuvi 885

Garmin International

$699

 

This portable has a wireless remote that mounts to the steering wheel so drivers can control the unit with spoken commands. It has a 4.3-inch touch screen LCD, and a “junction” view for negotiating intersections, road exits and entrances on screen and with voice prompts. This model is also Bluetooth compatible for hands-free calling, an MP3 player, and has an integrated FM transmitter for playing voice prompts, music, or phone calls through the car’s stereo system.

 

KW-NTI AV Navigation System

JVC

$1,099.95

 

This in-dash system was designed for aftermarket installation in a car’s dashboard. As a navigation system, it has a widescreen display and intelligent navigation software for directions on screen with 3D map views, or as voice prompts. The 6.1-inch faceplate with LCD screen is detachable to prevent theft. The unit is Bluetooth compatible for hands-free calling and control, and features AV and USB inputs for connecting iPods or other entertainment devices.

    

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