Best 5 GPS navigation systems

(Updated December 15, 2011 4:15 PM PST)

Antuan Goodwin
Associate editor

Although GPS-enabled smartphones are gaining ground in the portable navigation market, the standalone portable navigation device (PND) is far from dead. In fact, today's PNDs sport more features than ever to help you get from point A to point B quickly and safely--features such as audible driving directions with text-to-speech (TTS), spoken street names, real-time traffic updates, Internet connectivity for points-of-interest search, and large easy-to-read screens, to name a few. However, the GPS market has also never been more crowded, so to help you in your buying decision, we've selected our Top 5 picks for in-car GPS navigation systems. We will frequently update this list as we review new GPS devices, so check back often.

TomTom GO Live 1535M

The TomTom GO Live 1535M's is a solidly performing GPS device and its app integration for search is a nice first, but that's hardly this PND's strongest feature. The killer app here is TomTom's clever use of automatic Twitter tweets to keep friends and family in the loop about where you're going and when you'll be there.

Price: $249.99 (check prices)

4 stars

Very good

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Garmin Nuvi 50

Garmin's formula for entry-level GPS devices doesn't change much with the new Nuvi 50, but small tweaks, a lower price, and a massive 5-inch screen enhance value. Users looking to save a few bucks can step down to the smaller Nuvi 40 or Nuvi 30, which offer the same functionality but with smaller 4.7 and 3.5 inch screens, respectively.

Price: $111.07 - $150.50 (check prices)

4 stars

Very good

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Magellan RoadMate 5175T-LM

In addition to being a solid navigator for the price, the Magellan RoadMate 5175T-LM Traveler also packs a few features to help users to plan vacations and explore attractions in unfamiliar cities.

Price: $299.99 - $375.79 (check prices)

4 stars

Very good

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TomTom Via 1535

TomTom's low cost VIA series of GPS navigators benefits greatly from trickle-down features from its top-tier cousins. Available lifetime map and traffic updates ensure that this PND wiill always be up-to-date.

Price: $249.99 (check prices)

4 stars

Very good

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