GPS Reviews

Jensen is no stranger to aftermarket car tech, but we’ve mostly looked at its in-car stereo units rather than the company’s portable navigation systems, so we were pretty anxious to take the Jensen NVX225 out for a test drive when it arrived at our office. On the upside, the NVX225 has a pretty affordable price tag of $299.99 and offers all the navigation basics for getting from point A to point B. However, we found that it couldn’t compete with other similarly priced and featured GPS devices, so we’d have to recommend the Mio DigiWalker C230 and Garmin Nuvi 200 instead. Both of these systems have more user-friendly interfaces, better-looking maps, and even better, the Mio C230 offers text-to-speech functionality and costs less. Read full Jensen NVX225 GPS Review »

Back in May, we reviewed the Mio C220 portable navigation system, which we loved for its ease of use and affordable price, but ultimately we had to diss it because of an awful screen. Well, we’re happy to say that its successor, the Mio DigiWalker C230, offers the same intuitiveness and budget-friendly price plus an improved display and text-to-speech functionality. It’s rare to find the latter in an entry-level GPS device such as the C230, so that’s a nice surprise and gives it an edge over its competitors, including the Garmin Nuvi 200 and the TomTom One. Our complaints are minor, having to do mostly with the design; for example, the extreme compactness of the device makes it a bit difficult to interact with the touch screen. However, if you’re looking for a very basic navigation system or are new to GPS, the Mio C230 is a good choice, especially with its $250 price tag. Read full Mio DigiWalker C230 Review »

If you’re directionally challenged or are constantly on the road for meetings, the GlobalSat BT-359 Bluetooth GPS Receiver might be a good accessory to pick up for your RIM BlackBerry Curve. Using Bluetooth technology, you can pair it with your phone and AT&T’s location-based service, TeleNav GPS Navigator, to get color maps, turn-by-turn driving directions, and local business search. The GlobalSat BT-359 Bluetooth GPS Receiver is available for $129.99.

The GlobalSat BT-359 Bluetooth GPS Receiver helps turn your BlackBerry Curve into a navigation device.

Specs: Product type: GPS receiver; GPS receiver: 20 channel; Destination: Personal

Though it’ll be tough to stand up to the big boys such as TomTom and Garmin, the Navigon 5100 has a fighting chance by offering some useful navigation features that go beyond the basic turn-by-turn directions. First, there’s a traffic receiver integrated into the sleek device and you get a free traffic subscription so you can check the road conditions before heading off on your drive. Also, to help make the ride as smooth as possible, there’s a lane assistant function that will help find the best lane for your route and a 3D “photorealistic” view of complicated intersections. They all came in handy during our test drive, and most importantly, the system provided accurate directions. Of course, we do have items on our wish list, namely a larger screen, faster satellite acquisition, and a slightly lower price point (it’s currently available for $499). That said, we like what the Navigon 5100 has to offer, especially since it focuses on the main task at hand: getting you to your destination with the least stress as possible. Read full Navigon 5100 GPS Review »

Portable navigation systems are a dime a dozen these days. A lot of the models offer many of the same functions, such as text- and voice-guided turn-by-turn directions and millions of points of interest, and they’re all beginning to look alike with competitive pricing. So there’s a real need for innovation to, not only capture the attention (and money) of the customer, but to keep advancing GPS technology. Well, TomTom is willing to answer the call, and its TomTom GO 720 is a good start. It brings a new Map Share community tool that gives you access to constant map updates for more accurate information, and a new safety option called Help Me aids you in case of an emergency. Plus, we applaud TomTom for making these enhancements to the core purpose of a GPS device–navigation–and not adding some superfluous feature like multimedia. On top of all that, the GO 720 is a sleek-looking and well-performing in-car GPS, so if you’re looking for a middle-of-the-road system, this is a good option. The TomTom GO 720 is available now for $499.95. Read full TomTom GO 720 Review »