Just in time for the holiday travel season, two respected consumer electronics sources have released a listing of the Best portable GPS systems. Consumer Reports lists the Garmin Nuvi 760 as the best overall system, with the Garmin Nuvi 660, TomTom Go 920T, Garmin Nuvi 350 and Magellan Maestro 4250 also receiving high scores. CR also lists the Garmin Nuvi 350, Garmin Nuvi 260 and TomTom One 3rd Edition as "Best Buys" for budget drivers.
According to Consumer Reports, these particular models were selected out of a field of 39 tested because of their accurate navigation and easy-to-use features. In a press release, CR states "All four units are simple to operate and have desirable features," which include voice commands, real-time traffic and Bluetooth connectivity.
The Morning Call says, "CR's ratings of 39 models were the results of models of in-lab and on-the-road testing, thousands of miles of driving and putting the units through their paces in cities and the countryside."
As GPSLodge reports, Garmin, TomTom and Magellan have long been considered the gold standard in portable navigation. "It's not a big surprise that these three occupy the top 5," they write, "The big guys have been designing their units for years, and the difference is a solid understanding of the basics, with a very good interface."
CNET also publishes a list of the Top 5 portable nav systems, with much overlap. The Garmin Nuvi 660, HP iPaq rx 5900 Travel Companion, Magellan Maestro 4250, Mio C520 Navigation Receiver and TomTom GO 720 were selected as systems that "can help you get from point A to point B with audible driving directions, color maps, points of interest, and much more."
Want to learn more about GPS devices and the best features to look for when shopping? Check out our GPS Navigation Systems Buying Guide.
