Digital Trends

In only a handful of years, GPS systems have made the leap from pricy toys for the rich to affordable, indispensable tools for nearly everyone. Whether you drive a Toyota Tercel or a Cadillac XLR, navigation systems are an easy upgrade that will allow you to quit wasting time and gas driving around town, and get directly to your destination, every time. This year’s batch of new GPS systems are some of the most flexible and affordable yet, with even more user friendly interfaces that make them appropriate for anyone.

Garmin Nuvi 755T, $500

It’s five o’clock in Los Angeles and you’re dead in the middle of six lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic. Ahead: a cluster of lane signs that looks like a giant instruction manual for the space shuttle. Behind: three semis, a wall of pickups, and one very aggravated-looking BMW driver. You might want to figure out where you need to be. Garmin’s new nüvi 755T takes all the complexity out of the equation with a feature called lane assist, which displays in very visual terms which lane you need to be in for those complex highway splits. You’ll also get free lifetime traffic reports for life included in the price of the unit, which might help you avoid hitting the gridlock to begin with. (Check Prices)