Quite often, I am asked to recommend a GPS receiver. The answer typically is, it depends — primarily upon the price you can pay and the features you want. So here is an auto GPS buyers guide that runs the gamut, identifying some key features along the way. I’ll make a recommendation in each price category, based upon value and feature set.
A few notes first:
- I’ll admit a bias towards Garmin. They manufacturer quality units with intuitive interfaces. Many of the models listed below are Garmin nuvis. You may find this Garmin nuvi feature comparison chart useful.
- These lists of features worth paying extra for and features you don’t need may prove helpful.
- Prices on GPS receivers are dropping rapidly. The prices listed below are current as of the last update of this post. Keep an eye on our companion GPS Deals site for some great values.
- Finally, unless otherwise indicated, the links go to auto GPS reviews here at GPS Tracklog, where you’ll find several places to track down each model’s current low price from trusted vendors.
Budget auto GPS receivers
Our choice:
The Garmin nuvi 40 is a newer model with a 4.3″ screen that is loaded with features like lane assist, junction view and speed limit display. Currently available for around $100.
Alternative recommendations:
The Garmin nuvi 1200 has a 3.5″ screen, text-to-speech (calls out street names for upcoming turns) and maps of the entire U.S., except for Alaska. Like all the nuvis, the 1200 has around 6 million points of interest (POIs). The nuvi 1200′s retail price is $119.99, but as of this posting it can be found for around $80.
The TomTom EASE comes with pre-loaded maps of the entire United States and offers text-to-speech, calling out street names on turns. The big draw here though is the inclusion of TomTom’s historical traffic speed database, making the EASE an excellent choice for folks living in areas with routine traffic problems. The TomTom EASE is often available in the $60 to $80 range.
Mid-range auto GPS receivers
Our choice:
The Garmin nuvi 2455LT is a new 4.3″ model, loaded with features including lifetime traffic; at the time of our last update, this unit was running around $160.
- The 4.3″ Garmin nuvi 1300LM comes bundled with lifetime map updates; as of this posting the nuvi 1300LM can be found for about $130.
- The TomTom VIA 1505TM gives you a lot of bang for the buck — a 5″ screen and lifetime map updates and traffic
High-end auto GPS receivers
Our choice:
This 5” ultra-widescreen model is loaded with great features like custom avoidances and advanced detours. It also sports lifetime map updates and traffic, voice commands and the best sounding Bluetooth I’ve ever heard on a GPS navigator. It’s new though, so expect to pay pretty close to the $249 MSRP. Alternative recommendations:
- Garmin nuvi 3590LMT – This recently released model has more eye candy (3D terrain view and 3D buildings) and comes with a powered mount and an ad-free HD traffic receiver. It’s running around $150 more than the 2495LMT.
- Garmin nuLink 1695 – Offers connected services like Google Local Search, gas prices and weather; currently priced at about $250
More resources:
Image courtesy Reedz Malik
Tom Tom XL540TM. They are very discounted now and you get lifetime maps, so they are not outdated. Can be customized unlike the newer Tom Toms.
I am a delivery driver and have been using an older Garmin nuvi to run my route. I usually deliver to 50 different locations in one day. It can be very frustrating when I make a delivery and the GPS does not recognize that I have reached the destination and keeps trying to route me back to it instead of showing me how to get the next stop. It would be nice to be able to see the route list and tell it to continue to the next stop. Sometimes if I have two stops close together it will skip the second one, which is the opposite of my first problem. Or it just skips stops for no reason at all. What I would like is a way to interact and control it more depending on the issue. What model would you recommend? Thank you.
The newer models have a trip planner that allows you to select the next destination manually. I believe this feature is found on all 2xxx and 3xxx models.
I got a 1450LMT- it told me to take a road on the freeway in Dallas that was not there. Then on the way home it told me my house was west not east of where I was! I need help not more confusion. Not a happy camper!
Make sure you have the latest maps, but things like the first incident will happen. If you were within a block of your house, I understand why the second incident happened – street addresses are interpolated within a block. So it thinks 150 is halfway between 100 and 200.
Hi Rich are any of the 2xxx series capable to down load or get maps from europe or any other countries?
All nuvis have this capability. FWIW, the 2370LT and 2475LT come with European maps preloaded.
can i load on the 2495 any country
Any country Garmin makes maps for. There are also some third-party maps available.
can you get it in a sd card
Yes, microSD.
Hi Guys & Gals
I posted a question a few months ago on this site regarding over-speed audio alerts on gps models with bluetooth. I wanted to answer my own question, simply because I looked for the answer on forums and in stores for over a year. I was looking for a gps that offered me the possibility of getting an adjustable over-speed audio alert while driving. The model I ended op buying (after buying a few other models and returning them) is the TomTom via 1505. Although the “adjustable” is no longer offered on any of the newer models, it can be programmed to give me an audio warning when I go over the speed limit. Not all road speed limits are recognized in the system, however most major roads are. Just so you know, as far as I can tell it is pre-programmed to go off at around 6 % over a recognized speed limit.I can also register speed traps in the system on the go. Alot of the speed traps wherein the system already . I believe this is from previous gps users putting them in there devices, and them sending them to tomtom via the internet when updating the unit (I could be wrong but I can’t think of any other way this can be accomplished) If enough people put in the info I believe tomtom will consider it as true and include it in the updates. I can also program the system give me an audio warning when I go over a set speed. I put example 108 km hour. This is a tolerable speed by our law enforcement on 100 kph highways.The Bluetooth works well and it takes all me gmail to phone contacts and updates them every time I get in the car.The sound quality is OK as well. i am a car salesman and all the new cars have Bluetooth inside. The tom tom Bluetooth is close to the same quality as far as when people are listening to you, but a bit less quality as far as when you are listening to them. It is however in my humble opinion OK, and better then getting a ticket for using you’re cell on the road. I hope this answers a few questions that I had a hard time finding out myself.
Brad
Thanks Brad.
I believe Rich creates his own questions and answers here, as proof that he deletes any posts he feels like. Rich is an asshole.
Joe V’s earlier comment was moderated out. And he is close to getting banned completely.
Can I load/view Garmin 1:24000 topo maps on these automotive GPS units?
Also, do I have to be moving to identify position and pan/zoom image? I want to be able to remove from “bag”, turn unit on, see my location, then view/pan image to determine where I want to go.
Yes you can use 24K maps on them. No, you don’t have to be moving. It may take it a while to lock onto satellites. And you’ll need to set it to off-road routing so it doesn’t lock to road. And remember, these units aren’t ruggedized or waterproof.
Also, I’d suggest the free maps from http://gpsfiledepot.com.
Thank you for the quick response!
The ruggedness/waterproofing is why I originally considered a handheld but the small screen ultimately held me back. Since your answers above (Rich) confirm the auto unit will work as I have envisioned, which is to basically act as an electronic reference map that shows my geographical position. I will purchase the auto variety.
Hi I was wondering if you can help me with the purchase of a GPS unit. I’m looking for a Garmin GPS unit that I’ll be able to take off road (Not handheld, however) The GPS unit should have the following capabilities: Able to Manually enter GPS coordinates & custom Waypoints, Able to Tracklog (bread crumbs), save & navigate the Tracklog, able to download Tracklog & Waypoints to my computer (Mapsource) and from my computer to the unit. Also the ability to load maps (like Topo & City navigator)
Thank you
Tuvia P.
Why not a handheld? Are you wanting a nuvi?
Handheld unit have a small screen. Which Nuvi got all this capabilities ?
None. The nuvi 500 and 550 come closest, but they have significant limitations in terms of tracks. Ergonomically speaking, I found it awkward to use in the field…
http://gpstracklog.com/2008/09/garmin-nuvi-500-2.html
Perhaps the Montana would better suit you…
http://gpstracklog.com/2011/08/garmin-montana-600-review.html
Are you familiar with the GPSMAP series ?
Many of them.
Can you recommend a GPSMAP unit that is not too expensive that will do everything I’m looking for ?
Thanks
If screen size is an issue, you might consider the Oregon 450. Otherwise, I like the GPSMAP 62s. These are both covered herre: http://gpstracklog.com/buyers-guides/handheld-gps-buyers-guide
I should also mention that these newer models use BaseCamp instead of MapSource.
Yes I know about BaseCamp I’m not familiar with it yet & familiar with MapSource,
Can you save data from BaseCamp on Hard disk as MapSource ?
You can export data from BaseCamp as a .gpx file or using MapSource’s .gdb format.