Voice Command: Magellan Maestro 4250

Secretly, we all like to give orders, don't we? The Magellan Maestro 4250 accepts your spoken commands without a complaint. Summon it to life by saying "Magellan" and then order it to take you to the nearest coffee shop. Done. Beyond its cool voice command feature, the Maestro 4250 is loaded with features and reasonably priced.

Pros

Cons

With the introduction of its slim-profile 4200 and 3200 series pocket-size in-car GPS receivers, Magellan has competitive models in a range of price categories, from $269 to $499. The top-of-the-line Maestro 4250, tested here, includes voice command, text-to-speech directions, an accurate, high-sensitivity receiver, integrated traffic tracking and avoidance, and Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone functionality.

Voice command and control is still an uncommon feature, and it is well implemented in the 4250. Wake up the feature by saying "Magellan" and you'll see a voice command screen that includes the options: go home, nearest coffee, nearest restaurant, nearest gas, and more. Say the next option, "nearest coffee," for example, and it will present you with at text list of the names of the nearest coffee places. Speak the number associated with the destination, and it will calculate the route and start the map. You must occasionally speak loudly and clearly and repeat to register the voice command. Overall, it's fun to use, but somewhat limited because voice does not control all of the unit's functions. For example, you can't enter an address by voice.

The 4250 scores well in other categories. Its widescreen with auto night-dimmer provides a sharp and clear picture. One nice feature: the screen automatically splits in two to show you a layout graphic and where you should go at the next turn. The unit is conscientious about giving directions, with frequent text-to-speech voice prompts and a chime that rings when you are at the specific spot where you should turn.

The 4250 comes with an integrated traffic receiver, often a $70 to $130 option, which really adds value for the price. You can start using the traffic feature right away, with a three-month free trial subscription.

See the description category for more on specific features.