Many of today's new cars, such as the 2008 BMW M3 Coupe (pictured here), offer optional in-dash navigation systems.Many of today's new cars offer in-dash GPS as an option, and some offer it as standard equipment. The earliest models were CD-ROM based and required multiple discs to cover the entire United States. Nowadays, any in-dash system worth its salt is DVD-ROM based, so maps for the entire country will usually fit on a single disc, two at the most. In-dash systems are usually more expensive than their portable counterparts, but they usually feature larger screens and integrate better with other vehicle electronics.
BMW and Acura were among the first to offer GPS navigation systems in select vehicles nearly 10 years ago, and now this technology is available on hundreds of models worldwide. BMW continues to offer on-board navigation with voice recognition and voice guidance on most of their new vehicles, with prices ranging from $1,800 and higher. Several car manufacturers have taken it a step further by taking real-time traffic and weather satellite updates and overlaying them on navigation maps, flagging trouble spots and providing constant updates of road closures, accidents, and delays.
The Eclipse AVN-6620 combines a navigation system with a DVD/CD player and add-on support for other audio devices.
One advantage of portable units, such as the Mio C320, is that you can use it in multiple cars.
With a Bluetooth GPS receiver (pictured here: TomTom Navigator 5), you can turn your PDA into a handheld navigation device.
More and more smartphones like the Samsung BlackJack II feature integrated GPS so you can use your phone as a personal navigator.
Look for color displays that are easy to see in all lighting conditions, such as the one found on the Magellan Maestro 4370.
GPS devices come in all different shapes and sizes. From the large... 
...to the small.
Most companies include the basic accessories like vehicle mounts and car chargers in the box.
