Magellan Maestro 4250

#5

in Midrange GPS Systems

Score: 8.0/10 , Based on analysis of reviews and performance evaluations.

The Magellan Maestro 4250's sharp design, easy operation and nifty features are a nice blend. Some reviews point out occasional touch screen lag and even some cases of the unit freezing up. But despite this, the Maestro 4250 receives favorable reviews for its overall value.

List Price: $400
  • Overall
Key Features
  • 4.5-inch display
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Traffic assistance
  • AAA TourBook
  • Interactive POI
  • QuickSpell
  • Voice command and control                   
Pros
  • Voice command functionality
  • Solid interface
  • Elegant design
Cons
  • Some bugs, including touch screen delay

Magellan Maestro 4250 Overall - 8.0 (Very Good)

The Magellan Maestro 4250's calling card is its voice command feature --a fairly new portable navigation feature that's only available on a handful of GPS devices. But cool tricks aside, experts describe Magellan's 4250 as a good balance of price and features -- and you could find a Magellan Maestro 4250 for as low as $250 with some retailers. If you're looking for a Magellan GPS with a wider interface, consider the Magellan Maestro 5310 -- but be prepared to pay a much heftier price.

What the Experts Say:

  • "Despite some minor shortcomings, the Magellan Maestro 4250 is a solid and accurate mid-level portable navigation system with a helpful voice-command feature." -- CNET
  • "On my standard test routes, the 4250 yielded no surprises. ... Text-to-speech worked well and announced the street names of upcoming turns at an appropriate interval before the turn." -- PC Magazine

  • "Beyond its cool voice command feature, the Maestro 4250 is loaded with features and reasonably priced." -- About.com

Magellan Maestro 4250 Performance - 8.5 (Very Good)

Performance is not the Maestro 4250's strong suit. CNET says that while the "system provided accurate directions," they "experienced some performance glitches and delays ... There was some lag between triggering a task to the time it was actually executed. The first couple of times this happened, we thought the touch screen simply didn't recognize our tap so we pressed the icons again. This ultimately led to the system freezing, so we had to power on/off, and it got pretty frustrating." GPS Magazine adds that the "underpowered speaker isn't loud enough, even at the highest volume." 

Magellan Maestro 4250 Ease of Use - 7.25 (Good)

Across the board, reviewers praise the usability of the Magellan Maestro 4250. CNET says, "The user interface is intuitive and simple to master." GPS Magazine likes the "fast, responsive interface" and says the "touch screen is very sensitive, requiring only a light touch to register commands." 

Magellan Maestro 4250 Design - 9.2 (Excellent)

The Maestro 4250 is smaller and weighs less than its predecessor, the Maestro 4040. PC Magazine says the "revamped, slimmer case design is a welcome addition." CNET points out that while "the overall size of the system may have shrunk, fortunately, the screen size didn't shrink." 

Magellan Maestro 4250 Features - 7.4 (Good)

The standout feature of the Magellan Maestro 4250 is its voice recognition capability. Reviewers feel that it's a great start, but improvements need to be made. CNET says: "For the most part, it worked well during our test period, and we think it's a great safety feature. However, the functionality is a bit limited at this time, (e.g., you can't enter addresses via voice) and you have to create a pretty quiet environment in your car for optimal results." GPS Magazine agrees, saying, "Voice Recognition only works in a quiet car with little or no background noise, and you still have to speak clearly and close to the GPS unit." About.com adds, "Overall, it's fun to use, but somewhat limited because voice does not control all of the unit's functions."

Other GPS Devices to Consider

MSRP: $200 TomTom ONE 130

The TomTom ONE 130's standout qualities include useful features, a highly portable design, and one of the more agreeable price tags for the segment.

MSRP: $200 Navigon 2000S

For its affordable price, the Navigon 2000S has a great design and is easy to use, plus it features useful navigation extras.

MSRP: $300 Dash Express

The Dash Express is one of the most unique GPS devices on the market, thanks to its Wi-Fi Internet connectivity. But it trades flashy features for navigation basics -- those drivers who are frequently lost should look elsewhere.

MSRP: $299 TeleNav Shotgun

The TeleNav Shotgun is only the second GPS-dedicated device to offer Internet connectivity. But its appeal lies more in its innovation than in its functionality.