Global positioning systems (GPS) are an important part of today’s society. Most drivers use GPS for navigating new routes for faster travel. There is no reason to get lost if a driver is using a GPS unit in his travels. A lot of people say that GPS units function the same way, but conducting a comparison on the popular GPS brands available will reveal otherwise.
Three of the most popular brands in automotive GPS include Garmin, Magellan, and Tom Tom. Beyond the brand, though, what really matters in a GPS unit is the navigation system of the GPS system, the quality of its maps, and how well it can provide the best routes that lets a driver get from Point A to Point B.
Garmin is notably a GPS manufacturer with the most number of units available in the market. To compare its performance with the other two brands, it is important to test some of their products within the same category. For this reason, the Garmin Nuvi series, Magellan Maestro series, and the Tom Tom ONE XL were tested against each other.
The most common complaint among GPS users is that their unit took them on a “crazy” route. Though the unit guided them accordingly, it was a route they never would have chosen for themselves. So, it is essential to consider the routing engine and the maps used in the system. The routing engine is the application that decides which route should be taken.
Meanwhile, there are two mapping data providers: the NavTeq and Tele Atlas. As of this writing, NavTeq has the better accuracy, and it is more complete. It is advisable to buy a GPS unit that uses this provider, especially if you are in North America. Both the Garmin and the Magellan uses NavTeq; however, there is more to routing than just the mapping data. The GPS’s decision about the best “route” also factors in the data points into the equation. In this regard, the Garmin Nuvi emerged as the best in its class.
