GPS that puts you in the fast lane

Price: $400 at Crutchfield.com
Antenna: external
Screen: : 4.3-inch
Live traffic: from Navteq; $40 a year after three-month trial
Extras: Limited voice recognition; AAA travel info; Bluetooth connectivity
Grade: B+

Unit Driveability
Easy enough but not nearly as basic as the Garmin - for example, the main menu is on two screens. Voice recognition is nice but would be better if it could take spoken street addresses.

Road Test
ROUTE: Usually made logical choices, though in one instance it suggested a route prone to congestion.
TRAFFIC: Quick to note major jams and gives lots of rerouting options. Antenna plugs in easily to cigarette lighter.

Overall
A strong alternative to Garmin, especially for value. The interface isn't as user-friendly, but it does the job. You give up MSN content but gain voice recognition and AAA tour-book info.

NEXT: Tomtom GO 920T