We consulting reviews at Consumer Reports, CNET, GPS Lodge, PCMag, GPS review, and Amazon users to create this list of the top rated car GPS units of 2011:
Garmin Nuvi 3790T Car GPS
Garmin Nuvi 3790T Car GPS
Top Review Sources:
- Consumer Reports: 78 out of 100, their highest rated car GPS
- CNET: 4.5 out of 5 stars; “The thinnest and lightest we’ve tested”
- Amazon: Average 3.4 out of 5 stars, based on 254 customer reviews
Weighing in at just 4 oz., the Garmin Nuvi 3790T offers one of the sleekest designs for a car GPS unit. The 4.3 inch touch screen is responsive and allows for both landscape and portrait orientation. The cost of the device includes lifetime FM receiver traffic updates which is where the pop-up ads come into play. The highlights of this top of the line car GPS unit include voice command and recognition, 3D landscape, and lane assistance.
The Garmin Nuvi 3790T is available on Amazon.
Garmin Nuvi 255W Car GPS ($97)
Garmin Nuvi 255W Car GPS
Top Review Sources:
- CNET: 3.5 out of 5 stars; “Still one of the best choices available for users who want speedy performance without breaking the bank.”
-
GPS Lodge: “Solid navigation”
-
Amazon: Average 4.2 out of 5 stars, based on over 2,000 customer reviews
The Garmin Nuvi 255W is a classic entry level car GPS unit that continually receives high marks for speedy performance and ease of use. While you won’t get all the bells and whistles of the latest models available, for under $100 you’ll get a solid GPS car unit that performs the basic tasks efficiently. The Where Am I? feature gives you your current location and nearest hospitals, police and gas stations. The battery life of 3 hours is better than average.
The Garmin Nuvi 255W is available on Amazon.
TomTom Go 2405 Car GPS
TomTom Go 2405 Car GPS ($300)
Top Review Sources:
- Consumer Reports: Recommended; 72 out of 100; Best for the gadget lover
- CNET: Excellent; 4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon: Average 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 18 customer reviews
The new Go 2405 model from TomTom is one of their best rated car GPS units to date, improving upon previous models. Though it comes in at the higher price point, the features available and the design of the 4.3 inch touch screen make it a great value. Though TomTom has improved upon the menu navigation and offers an easier mounting system, the Go 2045 is still for those who enjoy learning about all the features, including the 2 map screens: live map and browsing map. The free traffic updates do not contain ads.
The TomTom Go 2405 is available on Amazon.
Motorola MotoNav TN765t Car GPS ($136)
Motorola MotoNav TN765t Car GPS
Top Review Sources:
- CNET: 4 out of 5 stars; Excellent
- Consumer Reports: Recommended; 69 out of 100
- Amazon: Average 3.6 out of 5 stars; based on 83 customer reviews
Motorola gives the competition a run for it’s money with the MotoNav TN765t with a strong set of features and fast performance. The cinematic design of the screen provides a wide display yet doesn’t take up much vertical windshield space. The user interface is different than other brands in that it combines slide out menus within the map screen. Some users find this system easy to navigate (the CNET reviewer even preferred it to the separate screen design of Garmin models), while others aren’t a fan. Features include lane assistance, spoken street names, 3D view, and multi-destination routing.
The Motorola MotoNav TN765t is available on Amazon.
Magellan Roadmate 5045 Car GPS ($130)
Magellan Roadmate 5045 Car GPS
Top Review Sources:
- Consumer Reports: Recommended; 64 out of 100; “Nice, modern graphic treatment”
- PCMag: 4 out of 5; very good; “A pleasing balance between features, display size, and price”
- Amazon: Average 3.4 out of 5 stars, based on 195 customer reviews
The Magellan Roadmate 5045 offers free lifetime map updates, multi-destination routing, easy address entry with gray out letters, and fast performance. With a large screen, responsive buttons, loud and clear voice prompts, and easy access to favorite destinations, this model would make a good choice for older people, the tech impaired, or the family road trip. The only major features missing are voice command and Bluetooth, but at $130 offers a solid set of features with a strong display.
The Magellan Roadmate 5045 is available on Amazon.
[...] For the family road trip a car GPS unit will provide points of interest along the way including gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and attractions. Voice command is a handy feature for on the go safety, though this feature is currently only available on higher end models. Read more on Gps Units For Cars [...]