Dell Desktop only $499; $230 off- CNET >
- Holiday Gift Guide >
Cars and car tech
An old car seems like new with an upgraded stereo. This holiday season, think about modernizing the cars of the people on your wish list. And today's car stereos go way beyond simple entertainment--many come with navigation and Bluetooth hands-free cell phone integration, features that help keep your dearest ones safe while on the road. And we have a few suggestions if someone on your gift list merits that ultimate present, a new car. Our car gift picks are stylish and practical, offering lots of bang for the buck.
Editors' top pick
The bottom line: Aside from some usability niggles resulting from its compact size, the JVC KD-NX5000 offers about as many car tech features per square foot as you can get.
The bottom line: The Sony XAV-W1 is a stylish new entrant into the aftermarket in-car audiovisual market. Its SACD-playback ability will interest serious audiophiles, while its stunning display and intuitive media-selection interface will attract anyone looking for a user-friendly in-car media player.
The bottom line: The Jensen MP66312i provides an impressive range of media inputs, standard Bluetooth connectivity, and a usable iPod interface. Its low-rent display lets it down, but its impressive number of features is difficult to beat for the price.
The bottom line: The Harman Kardon Drive + Play 2 is a stylish and functional aid for playing digital music in the car. Its iPod compatibility and dynamic channel creation function really separate it from the pack, although you pay for what you get.
The bottom line: The 2008 Saturn Vue XR is a stylish performer with some advanced optional cabin technology, including an intuitive touch-screen navigation and music system.
The bottom line: The 2008 Volvo C30 makes for a fun and sporty little car that will stand out in a crowd. It can be optioned up with the full range of tech, though its stereo interface leaves something to be desired. Leave out the automatic transmission option in favor of the manual.
The bottom line: The innovative in-dash Alpine IVA-W205 provides a decent range of media playback options as well as a useful navigation service and a good Bluetooth calling interface when connected to Alpine's portable Blackbird GPS device.
The bottom line: The Panasonic Strada CN-NVD905U is a stylish, user-friendly entrant to the in-dash navigation market. It delivers decent GPS navigation and media playback, but doesn't raise the bar in either department.
The bottom line: The made-for-iPod Alpine iDA-X001 is a useful interface for bringing a digital-music library on the road. We like its stylish design and breadth of functions, although its user interface falls behind that of the iPod itself.
The bottom line: The new Scion xB has lost its bold exterior creases and some of its character, but has also grown up a bit and now represents one of the best tech values we've seen in a new car.
Thanks,
The CNET TV Team
