TomTom Go 930 (Our choice)

$499.95 Pros: It's a great co-pilot. It gives you the option of selecting your route type – avoid highways, shortest, fastest, etc. – every time you plot a course. That's great for avoiding some of Metro Boston's parking lots, err, highways during rush hour. It also lets you plug in what time you need to arrive by and lets you know if you're running late. Cons: The external traffic warning antenna is annoying and sold separately. Screen suffers in bright sunlight. The cradle doesn't charge the unit. Overall: We're sure this is a controversial play at the plate – and we're just as shocked as you are – but for half the price of the Garmin and comparable features, TomTom may have finally given themselves an edge.

$499.95

Pros: It's a great co-pilot. It gives you the option of selecting your route type – avoid highways, shortest, fastest, etc. – every time you plot a course. That's great for avoiding some of Metro Boston's parking lots, err, highways during rush hour. It also lets you plug in what time you need to arrive by and lets you know if you're running late.

Cons: The external traffic warning antenna is annoying and sold separately. Screen suffers in bright sunlight. The cradle doesn't charge the unit.

Overall: We're sure this is a controversial play at the plate – and we're just as shocked as you are – but for half the price of the Garmin and comparable features, TomTom may have finally given themselves an edge.

(John M. Guilfoil for Boston.com)