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Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Stand and Deliver: We Test Eight Electric Scooters to Find the Best
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Electric scooters have become a popular solution for urban commuters and casual riders alike. Whether you're looking for a quick way to zip through city traffic or a fun ride for short trips, or you're simply looking for an alternative to public transportation, electric scooters are a convenient and affordable option for getting from point A to point B. With so many types and brands on the market, though, it can be tough to decide which one best suits your needs. The Gear Team got onboard the decks of eight of the most popular adult electric scooters on the market to help you make the right choice. is an excellent all-rounder, making it our clear choice for Best Overall. The sleek design of the comes with a few trade-offs in comfort, but its relatively long battery life makes up for it. If you're looking for a budget-friendly entry into the electric-scooter market, the Gotrax GXL V2 is worth a peek. So you want to buy an electric scooter. Great idea—but which one? The first step is to determine what you plan to use your scooter for. Do you prioritize portability, so you can carry it up and down stairs or on and off a commuter train or subway? Do you want a smooth, comfortable, easy ride? Or do you prefer an impressive range, so you're not stuck charging your scooter every day? Here are some key things to think about before you spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on an electric scooter. How fast do you want to go? Entry-level electric scooters usually cruise at 12 to 15 mph, but the fastest "superscooters" can do over 80. For everyday use, a good middle ground is in the 15-to-30-mph range. Stopping power is also something to keep in mind. Most scooters are equipped with brakes—usually drum or disc—and they can be positioned on the front or back wheels (or both). These variations can make a big difference in braking performance. However, some scooters don't have brakes and rely only on regenerative braking from the electric motor to slow the scooter. You should think about how far you'll need to go on a single charge comfortably. There are a variety of battery options available, and usually, higher output equals faster top speed and longer range. Remember, though, that higher speeds will drain a battery more quickly, so you'll have to be economical in your riding style if you want to go farther. Especially if you're riding for extended periods, you'll want to ensure you're comfortable standing on your scooter. Having a suspension makes a huge difference in ride quality. After our time with the selection of scooters we had, most of us wouldn't choose a scooter without some sort of suspension. Additionally, you should think about the size of the deck as well as the type of throttle control (thumb versus twist). Interestingly, our preference for throttle types varied by tester. Although not usually deal breakers, the accessories scooters can come with are important. Things like head- and taillights, turn signals, brake lights, and such may be important to some and not to others—but not all scooters offer those accessories. Most have a digital gauge, but what is displayed can vary. So if you like to have all your pertinent information at a glance, the type of display on your scooter might be important. Some scooters have proprietary apps that allow you to adjust settings such as acceleration, regenerative braking, turn and brake signals, head- and taillight brightness, and more. If you're the techy type who loves customizing your gadgets, an app may matter more to you than to someone who just wants to get somewhere conveniently and quickly. The dimensions are something to take into account. Say you need to carry the scooter somewhere, like down a flight of stairs or to the trunk of your car. Or perhaps it needs to be stored under the stairs in an apartment building or tucked into a closet once you get home. Entry-level scooters tend to have a fairly small footprint and are usually pretty light, but the more serious scooters can weigh upward of 100 pounds. Some scooters are foldable, which makes for easier carrying and storage. Some scooters are equipped with built-in security measures, including activation cards and alarms. There are many types of security devices, some of which work the same way as a typical bike lock. Prices of electric scooters can vary greatly depending on things like performance, features, and material. Entry-level scooters will set you back a few hundred dollars, while the top-of-the-line examples can go for a few thousand. Make sure to find the scooter that fits your needs at a price that's reasonable for you. Operating an electric scooter can be dangerous, especially on public roads and bike lanes. It is extremely important to wear protective gear while riding. We strongly encourage a helmet, at the very least, and recommend knee and elbow pads along with wrist guards. Eye protection and gloves are a consideration too. Know your own limits, and be cautious of obstacles in your environment. We also highly recommend checking your local laws for restrictions. For example, many places prohibit motorized scooters on sidewalks; others may prohibit them on roads or in bike lanes. Unagi Scooters has an excellent state-by-state explainer on its website, but towns and municipalities may also have local ordinances restricting not only where electric scooters can be ridden but also if things like helmets and lights are required. Ready to ride? Hop aboard, and see what we discovered when we tested eight of the most popular electric scooters on the market for Segway Ninebot Max G2 immediately became our favorite entry in this test. It provides a great balance of everything important in a scooter—power, comfort, portability, and battery life. The battery that provides the Max G2's quickness also gives it a reasonably long range, and you'll be comfortable while you're munching those miles thanks to the front and rear suspension. Segway estimates a range of 25 to 43 miles, depending on the mode and rider. Our test showed 16 miles in Sport mode with varying rider sizes—good enough for third-best in our test. While it is on the heavier side at 54 pounds, the Max G2 handles its weight nicely, feeling agile and coming to a halt from 10 mph in just nine feet. The controls were intuitive, and the app offers even more adjustability. We noticed a bit of lag when getting on the throttle, and we also found the charging cord to be far too short. Aside from these gripes, the Max G2 is an excellent all-rounder, making it our clear choice for Best Overall. $999.98 at carbon-fiber frame of the Niu KQi Air allows its total weight to be only 27 pounds, which ties it with the GoTrax for the lightest scooter we tested. Its light weight makes this scooter extremely agile and fun once you get a feel for balancing its weight and agility with the brisk 18-mph top speed. This is a high-tech scooter. Not only is there an NFC card to activate it (and an anti-theft alarm we accidentally discovered), but the app also allows you to control a wide range of functions, including regenerative braking, daytime running lights, and activation speed. We did have a few complaints, though. Some of the controls are uncomfortable and unintuitive compared to other scooters we rode, and the lack of suspension makes for a bit of a rough ride. On our test model, there is a rear-wheel shroud (sort of a fender) that made a rather annoying clack over every bump, which made our range test a little less pleasant. Whether this was simply a quirk of our test model or a drawback to this scooter is hard to say. However, if agility is what you value in a scooter, the KQi Air ranks at the top thanks to its weight and wide deck. The built-in security system also makes it worth considering for riders who frequently park their scooter in public. $1349.00 at Segway E2 Plus is an entry-level scooter that's perfect for anyone who wants a lightweight scooter on a budget. The E2 Plus has a modest top speed of 15 mph, which ends up being respectable for this price point. The lack of suspension and smaller wheels make for a bumpy ride, but even amid the bumps, it doesn't feel cheap. The integration with Segway's capable mobile app makes it easy to keep track of settings and mileage, and the integrated 2.8-inch display is great for keeping tabs on speed and battery life while riding. Our testing showed a braking distance of 13 feet from 10 mph, which is right around average with the rest of the scooters. However, our range test starting with a fully charged battery gave us just 10 miles, so it's not exactly a long-range ride. For quick trips around campus or to and from work (if you live fairly close by), the E2 Plus is a reliable ride at a reasonable price. Sometimes, that's all you need. $299.99 at Unagi Voyager strikes a perfect balance between style and function, making it not only a practical commuting tool but also a cool statement piece. Its minimalist design and white-and-tan colorway (it comes in five color options) had us feeling pretty sleek while aboard its deck, and the intuitive digital display, along with the user-friendly app, made riding it a breeze. Weighing 34 pounds, the Voyager falls on the lighter side of the spectrum of our test scooters. It folds up neatly, making it convenient for hopping on public transportation or tucking away in tight spaces. The battery performance was another highlight for us. The range test results were pleasantly surprising, reaching 17 miles on a full charge. Plus, it charged from zero to 100 percent in just about three and a half hours. And although it doesn't have supplementary brakes, relying only on regenerative braking from the motor, its 11-foot braking distance is competitive. Another feature that sets Unagi apart from the competition is its program. For a monthly rate that gets cheaper the longer you commit ($79 for one month, $55.30/month for a year), you can rent a brand-new Voyager and upgrade to a new one whenever you re-up your subscription. Pretty cool. When it comes to ride quality, the Voyager does have some room for improvement. The innovative airless tires are great for reducing maintenance (no flats!), but the lack of suspension and slim deck made for a rough ride on uneven surfaces. In the end, we're big fans of this scooter. Its sleek design comes with a few trade-offs in comfort, but its relatively long battery life makes up for it. But for those who value style and convenience, it's pretty darn good. $1490.00 at you're looking for a budget-friendly entry into the electric-scooter market, the Gotrax GXL V2 is worth a peek. Weighing just 27 pounds, it folds quickly and rocks a slim foot deck, making it incredibly portable—ideal for multimodal commuting and easy storage. During our top-speed test, the GXL V2 topped out at a VBox-verified 14 mph—about par for these smaller scooters. However, there were a few things about the speedometer and cruise control: For one, we noticed that even though the speedometer displayed 15.5 mph at full throttle, the scooter's speed noticeably fluctuated without the speedometer reflecting those changes. As for the cruise control, while great in theory, we all experienced several moments when it failed to disengage, even after applying the brakes, which, yikes. While the GXL V2 is a solid option for beginners or those on a budget, it's important to note its limitations. The absence of a suspension, turn signals, and brake lights makes it less suitable for nighttime or more demanding rides. But this brings us to a critical point: Gotrax is a big deal in the e-scooter game, having earned its reputation as a leading brand in the e-scooter market with extensive offerings, including advanced models with full suspension and dual motors. These higher-end models are strong contenders, according to many other e-scooter reviewers. We hope to review a more premium model in a future update of this test. $299.99 at the funkiest-looking scooter on our list, the Navee S40 lends its appearance to a unique "Cybertruck-inspired" design, per the company's website. The interesting steel-spring suspension looks cool, but we found it doesn't do a whole lot when it comes to your average rough road or sidewalk. It is, however, better than no suspension. We were impressed by how easy it was to set up the scooter in the app, and pairing it with FindMy on an iPhone was simple as well. The S40 also performed decently in our acceleration and top-speed tests, registering 19 mph. However, the battery life on this scooter is quite alarming. During our range test, we achieved 11 miles. While this doesn't seem too bad, the higher average speed means the scooter reaches that range quite quickly. We typically see higher speeds correlate with longer range, but not in this case. To make things worse, it took over six and a half hours to charge from zero to 100 percent, which was second-worst after the beefy GT2. If looks are what you're most concerned with, the Navee S40 certainly is polarizing. Who cares if your battery doesn't last much longer than an hour—you and the scooter will capture some style points. $699.99 at isn't a scooter on this list that will come close to touching the capabilities of Segway's SuperScooter GT2. This thing is fast, smooth, and ready to take on almost any terrain you throw its way. At peak performance, the GT2 topped out at a remarkable 41 mph and hit 30 in just 3.9 seconds. That's quicker than some cars, such as the 2018 Toyota C-HR and 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander! The dual-hydraulic brake system also stopped the GT2 from 10 mph in 6 feet—good enough for the shortest distance overall. The GT2 is exceptionally smooth on typical riding surfaces such as concrete and asphalt, but on more treacherous terrain, the GT2 still offers impressive handling thanks to its wide deck, dual suspension, and traction control. The GT2 also features a slew of ride-customization options, including three ride modes (Eco, Sport, and Race) and a drive-selection mode, which allows you to switch between one- and two-wheel drive. The only negatives we can come up with are that it's heavy (117 pounds) and expensive ($2500 on sale). But if you don't mind the weight and the hit to your wallet, and you know your own capability, this is the crème de la crème of electric scooters. Our test model brought a smile to the face of everyone who hopped on it. $3999.99 at many of us, the name Razor brings back memories of tearing up the neighborhood as kids on good old push scooters (yes, hitting your shin with one still hurts just as bad). We decided it's time to try one of their electric scooters, and we chose the C45. While reasonably priced, the C45 does reflect its price in its performance. Aside from cost, the scooter didn't really do anything particularly well. Sure, acceleration wasn't bad, reaching 10 mph in a zippy 2.3 seconds. Additionally, we found the scooter's acceleration above that point doesn't drop off like some others. From there, however, the cons added up. The ride is rough and rattly, the lack of suspension made it feel a bit unsteady, and worst of all, the braking is seriously bad at high speeds. The single rear drum brake is to blame here, and poor stopping distance from around 20 mph could cause some problems for a rider. Though the nostalgia is fun for a while, the Razor C45's issues are too many to overcome. $438.71 at test was a doozy, so we took our time to get all of the data and notes we needed. Over the course of three months, we had these scooters at the office and tested them in various conditions—different rides, weather scenarios, charge levels, and even our moods. We've likely spent more time with these scooters than any other product category, which we felt was only fair since owners will likely spend a lot of time riding theirs too. We evaluated these parameters for this test: Braking Distance from 10–0 mph Acceleration time to 10/20/30/40 mph, as applicable Top Speed Range and Average Speed Riding Impressions after Months of Use Charging Time and Energy Used from zero to 100 percent Weight Throttle Type For braking distance, acceleration, top speed, and range, we used a Racelogic VBox Sport strapped to each scooter. We ran four acceleration and braking runs for each scooter, averaging them to arrive at our acceleration and braking figures. Each top-speed result is an average of two runs. For consistency, our newest Gear Team member, Mason Cordell, was the rider in these tests. We knew that factors such as rider weight, temperature, and terrain could affect results regarding range and average speed. So we created a consistent test: riding the same course through the same neighborhoods, parks, and roads until each scooter battery was drained to zero. The range test was performed in Sport mode to reflect the most common riding habits, so the range results are less than what each scooter would do in a more eco-friendly mode. This also gave us a chance to log our impressions on ride comfort, quality, and how our bodies felt after extended use. Once the battery was fully drained, we moved on to one of the more tedious tests—charging time. We recorded how long it took to charge each scooter from zero to 100 percent, checking the progress every five minutes. Because we couldn't watch until each scooter hit 100 percent immediately, we used these five-minute increments to allow for a small margin. Additionally, we used smart outlets to gather how much energy each scooter took to be charged back to 100 percent, displayed as kWh (kilowatt-hours).Spend some time researching a variety of models. Think about performance, features, cost, and whatever else matters to you. Find a nice balance of everything, and choose a trustworthy brand to buy from. Most scooters can simply be plugged into your average home outlet. Depending on charging output and battery level, they can take anywhere from an hour to an entire afternoon. There isn't much you need to do other than occasionally check the tires, brakes, and other attachments. Do your best to avoid water, and keep the scooter clean to prevent corrosion. If you ride your scooter sparingly, charge the battery every few weeks to ensure lasting battery life. Most scooters are made for road use, but some come with tires and a suspension that allow the scooter to explore dirt and other surfaces. At the very least, riders should wear a helmet, but it never hurts to throw on some knee and elbow pads, just in case. Additional protective gear is available and encouraged, though not necessary. For some of those superscooters, though, you just might want a full racing Gear Team helps readers make informed purchasing choices about automotive gear, tools, and accessories through hands-on product evaluations and comprehensive testing. We use all products we feature, and our findings and recommendations are based on personal experience and knowledge—not hype. We won't claim to have tested something we haven't, and we'll never recommend a product we wouldn't buy ourselves. We've evaluated dozens of product categories, like interior cleaners, dog car seat covers, and shop vacs. The Gear Team's product selection and gear picks are editorially independent; Autoweek has a strict policy against accepting payment for placement in articles.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Don't Buy a Cheap Radar Detector
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." This article was updated with new information in December 2024. Uh-oh. Yup, those are indeed red and blue flashing lights in your rearview mirror. It's a position many of us have been in, but there are ways to limit these situations. Navigation apps such as Waze will sound the alarm on potential speed traps, but they don't hold a candle to a good radar detector. But what even is a radar detector? Well, these fancy gadgets are designed to identify police radar guns nearby and give you ample time to check your speed and avoid a ticket. But what's the best radar detector on the market? We put six to the test to find out. More Gear Tests: | | The Uniden R8 was named Best Overall because it excels in just about every aspect of radar detecting and provides the highest confidence of any radar detector we tested. Valentine's was tabbed Most Vigilant because its detection distances were the best of the bunch. If you're looking for a no-frills, budget-friendly Smokey-sniffer, the Uniden DFR7 is a solid option. Whatever you do, don't buy a cheap radar detector; this is decidedly one of those categories where you should spend wisely on a name-brand product. The Gear Team worked in conjunction with the Car and Driver editorial team to get comprehensive testing data. We tried each device on a seven-mile trip through an Ann Arbor strip mall gauntlet and counted false alerts, verifying them on the way back. Additionally, we tested the detection range with our own radar gun emitting Ka-band radar. Here's what we tested for: Frontal detection range Rear detection range 90-degree corner detection range Number of false alerts along a seven-mile stretch Installation Usability Quality-of-life notes It's easy to get mired in test results when all you want to know is, "If I stick this on my windshield, will I get a ticket?" Any of these detectors will greatly reduce your odds of a chat with the roadside tax collector. Which one you buy depends on how you expect a radar detector to Uniden R8 comes out on top in our testing thanks to its ability to excel in just about every aspect of radar detecting. We love how it toes the line between being too chatty and suspiciously quiet—it's in that "just right" Goldilocks range and provides the highest confidence of any radar detector we tested. The detection range on this thing is insane; second only to the Valentine. It was consistent across all three runs too—locking on at the 2.0-mile mark for frontal detection each time. With that much alert time in every direction, you'll have no problem adjusting. Yes, the price is high, but the features speak for themselves. Auto-mute memory can filter out false alerts on your routes and is Spectre Elite undetectable—meaning, police who scan for radar detectors won't find it. Better yet, users get free firmware updates so the detector is always up to date. If you're seriously looking to invest in a radar detector to whittle down those speeding tickets, the Uniden R8 is our choice for the Best Radar Detector Overall. $699.99 at long-time staple in the radar detecting game, we put Valentine's V1 Gen 2 up against the newbies. Right off the bat, the detection distances from this radar detector were the best of the bunch; its 2.1-mile rear detection is a half-mile farther than the Uniden R8's. Impressive stuff. Setup is accomplished through the V1 Connection app, and the connection is accomplished via 5.0 Bluetooth, so you can hide the detector if you like. Notably, the V1 Gen 2 is far and away the most chatty radar detector in this test. Some folks may see this as a nuisance, while others might appreciate the peace of mind from knowing this thing won't miss a sniff of any radar. If you like to be alerted of every possible radar, this is the detector to get. If you prefer yours to be quieter and trust the false-alarm filtering, look elsewhere. $748.98 at Redline 360c is Escort's top-of-the-line radar detector, and its features (and price) prove it. It fared well in our detecting distance, not the best but far from the worst. Additionally, it threw just three false alerts—also right in the middle of the pack. Sensing a theme here? The selling point of this radar detector is its plethora of features. Escort claims it's invisible to all radar detector detectors (RDD) and features an auto-learn mode to filter repeated false alerts. Escort's Drive Smarter app and community is really solid, featuring a sort of Waze-like navigation function to alert other users of staked-out cops. Escort even offers a ticket guarantee policy, something the Redline 360c qualifies for. Frankly, for $800 we were hoping for better performance from the Redline 360c. Relative to the other devices we tested, it's fine but not great. Aesthetically, we do think this one looks the best—which, for a bunch of chunky gadgets, counts for something. If you're into the advanced technology, enticing features, and slimline appearance, the Redline 360c is an excellent choice for a radar detector. But it'll cost you. Note: Escort just dropped the latest evolution of their entry-level radar detector: the Max 4. It was released just after we concluded testing, so we're looking to include it in an upcoming update. $799.95 at you're simply looking for a no-frills, budget-friendly Smokey-sniffer, the Uniden DFR7 is a solid option. Obviously, it's lacking some high-end features like directional notifications and stealth against radar detector detectors. But it still does what it's designed to do, and for far less than most others here. The detection ranges were all down from the rest of the competition, but not dangerously low. Surprisingly, the DFR7 offers GPS lockout, but it's a manual input rather than automatic. It's extremely quiet—only throwing two false alarms our way. Additionally, we had a gripe with the screen being tough to read, especially during a sunny day. Despite its relatively subpar performance, this radar detector is indeed an incredible value. While we recommend investing in a top-of-the-line radar detector if you can, this budget radar detector is our pick for a solid value. $199.99 at Radenso DS1 is an excellent radar detector, though it doesn't outshine the rest in any specific category. The 2.0-mile frontal locked range is nothing to sneeze at, but it falls behind in both rear and 90-degree range. Two false alarms was a bit quiet for us, but this can be a benefit if that's what you prefer. We loved the display screen—which auto-dims and is color-customizable, and the small size and overall sleek look is another bonus. The automatic GPS lockout feature shores up those false alerts, even if there are just a few to begin with. Finally, it's Bluetooth-compatible with Radenso's Nexus app for easy updates. While there's nothing wrong with this radar detector, it doesn't stand out among the rest in any particular way. If you're a Radenso fan, this detector holds the legacy intact. $349.95 at kicks, we ordered a $25 radar detector to see how it fared against higher-priced models from established brands. We purchased one made by a company called Besworlds and tested it alongside all of the other radar detectors—and it failed to detect any sort of radar at all. (It has since been discontinued on Amazon.) We cracked it open, only to find no evidence of any radar-detecting components—just some wires and a couple of circuit boards. After a good laugh and lots of "why am I not surprised?" reactions, we wanted to make it clear how important it is to invest in a radar detector from an established brand. You don't need to spend a thousand bucks, but don't let a suspiciously cheap price entice you—avoided speeding tickets will pay for a quality detector faster than you might think. Get a good one from a brand you recognize, and enjoy the peace of understand a radar detector, it's essential to understand what radar and radar guns are. Radar is an acronym for radio detection and ranging and, just as the name suggests, is a technology that uses radio waves to "see" an object and determine its distance and velocity. Police radar guns emit different radar bands like X band, K band, or Ka band. (If you want to do a deep-dive, there's a thriving radar detector enthusiast community on Reddit.) However, radar detectors are not cheap. Even entry-level models will cost two or three hundred bucks, and top-of-the-line models run closer to $1000 than $500. Before you plunk down your hard-earned cash on a radar detector, here are some things you should know. For the most part, radar detectors are legal for use in personal vehicles in most U.S. states—but there are exceptions. Radar detectors are prohibited for use in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. In Puerto Rico, radar detectors are legal in all passenger vehicles but illegal in commercial vehicles. North of the border, radar detectors are legal in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan but illegal in all other provinces. That said, anyone considering using a radar detector should check their local laws, because this article is not legal advice. Under U.S. federal law, the use of radar or laser speed detectors is illegal nationwide in all commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds. This includes most 18-wheelers. In commercial vehicles under 10,000 pounds, radar detectors are allowed—except in Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Radar detectors are always illegal to use on any United States military base. California and Minnesota have laws against devices attached to a windshield that obstruct the driver's view. No matter where you live, we'd advise against attaching any device to your windshield that a motor officer might construe as obstructing your view. It's a judgment call, but we prefer not to give the cops any reason to judge us or our vehicle. False alarms are a big issue, so many manufacturers advertise their detectors as "ultra-quiet"—meaning, they filter out false alarms from motion-detecting doors on storefronts and blind-spot monitors from other vehicles. If your radar detector is not quiet, i.e., not good at filtering these out, you're in for an obnoxious drive that will give your heart a workout. However, some folks might prefer their radar detector to sniff out and alert every possible radar signal on the road. While providing more noise, they're theoretically less prone to missing actual police. Radar detectors will sometimes miss staked-out cops due to a variety of factors. Lidar is becoming more and more prevalent, and conventional radar detectors can't pick that up. These devices aren't ticket-proof—think of them more as a wingman in case you lose track of your speed. Even if they work most of the time, it's better than not having one at all. Lidar guns (more commonly referred to as laser guns) provide law enforcement with a virtually instant readout of your speed. Lidar is far more difficult to evade than traditional radar because it's nearly undetectable by radar detectors unless it's on and already measuring your speed—and by then, it's probably too late. Crowdsourced apps such as Waze are actually quite handy at alerting you to a cop using a lidar gun than a windshield- or dash-mounted radar detector. If you really want to beat lidar, look into laser jammers. Yes, some radar detector brands, like Escort and Radenso, offer ticket guarantees. Of course, there are a bunch of terms and conditions to comb through, but if you get a ticket while using one of their radar detectors, you might have a chance at getting that money back within a time period. It's something to keep in mind through your purchase approached this test with two main parameters in mind: false-alert detection and overall detection range. For detection range, we took the radar detectors to the Car and Driver proving ground, and over three runs, we measured the front, rear, and approaching a 90-degree corner range average of each device with our own radar gun emitting Ka-band radar. We took notes on both initial detection (a blip) and locked detection (constant). Some radar detectors defaulted to "lock" right away, so we used that average number in the test results above. To see how well each radar detector weeded out false alerts, we switched the detectors from their most sensitive mode to their most selective and rolled through Ann Arbor's strip-mall gauntlet. Without filtering, this drive is essentially a continuous, seven-mile-long alert due to the motion-detecting automatic doors from the dozens of storefronts that line the route. We marked false-alert locations on a map and verified those alerts by driving the opposite direction. In theory, most of these detectors are designed to learn where false alerts are and ignore them automatically, but we found it takes a few trips. Finally, we took extensive notes on installation, how user-friendly each detector is, and other quality-of-life observations.X band alerts mean a radio wave has been detected within the 8.0-GHz to 12.0-GHz range. The X-band is the oldest radar frequency, and these days it's considered outdated if not altogether obsolete. For this reason, many radar-detector enthusiasts turn off the X-band alerts on their devices. However, we recommend keeping it on, since you can't be sure when the last time your local police or highway patrol upgraded their radar guns. K band replaced X band back in the '80s and is the most widely used radar band in the United States, operating between 18.0 GHz and 27.0 GHz. When a K-band alert goes off, it may be the police. Still, it's also very possible it's a false alert triggered by various features like auto pilot, radar cruise control, and blind-spot-monitoring systems, since many of these systems operate on K-band frequencies. Ka band is the latest and quickly becoming the most common radar band, typically found at 33.8, 34.7, and 35.5 GHz. In recent years, law enforcement has favored Ka-band because it is the most difficult to detect. Ka-band false alerts are uncommon, so if your detector throws a Ka alert, pay attention—it's probably the do. Whether yours is powerful or high-tech enough to detect police radar reliably every time is only part of the problem. There's no nationwide standard for police radar; an officer in rural Nebraska may still use 30-year-old X-band guns (don't ask us how we know), while urban police use Ka-band radar or even laser guns. Conventional radio radar (X, K, Ka bands) is relatively easy to detect, and a basic radar detector should have no problem picking up these signals. Hopefully, your detector sounds the alarm in time for you to scrub enough speed before a radar gun can accurately measure how fast you were going. Additionally, modern radar detectors often include a light-sensitive panel that detects laser beams from lidar guns, and some filter noise from motion detectors at businesses, blind-spot monitors on other vehicles, and even other radar detectors. It's important to note that no radar detector is 100 percent effective; there's no guarantee that even with a radar detector on your dash, you won't get a speeding ticket. Radar technology is constantly improving and being upgraded—and so are radar detectors. Think of your cellphone from just a few years ago versus the smartphone in your pocket today; much like your old flip-phone, your old radar detector may already be obsolete. Consider upgrading to one of the newer models spotlighted above. Well, that's subjective. Radar detectors can cost anywhere from a couple hundred bucks to $700 or more, so it's no small investment. A lot of drivers swear by them, insisting their radar detector has paid for itself many times over. Others say they're a waste of money and that fastidious scanning of traffic for brake lights and a roof-mounted gumball is better practice. We're not here to tell anyone how they ought to drive, but if you drive fast, speeding tickets are a very real risk. If you tend to speed regularly or just have bad luck with speeding tickets, a radar detector could be a solid investment. In addition to how an individual radar detector works and the type of signals it detects, a major difference between older radar detectors and newer, higher-end devices is the number of false alerts given. False alerts can be caused by anything that, like police radar, uses X-, K-, or Ka-band frequencies. This includes traffic monitors and roadside electronic warning signs for emergency vehicles. Modern radar detectors use advanced processing to filter out false signals. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) common in many modern cars are among the biggest sources of false alerts these days. These include things like adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warnings, and blind-spot-monitoring systems. Such systems typically use K-band radio frequencies to determine how far away an object is from a vehicle, so just being near another car could set off your radar detector. Automatic door openers are another source of false alarms—not just garage door openers but also the auto-door openers used by retail storefronts. If you're using an aged radar detector, simply driving past your neighborhood grocery store could set the thing off. If you're getting more false alerts than ever, that's a sign your radar detector may have outlived its usefulness. Consider upgrading to one of the devices relies on decades of experience in the automotive space to help you make informed purchasing choices. Our product selection and gear recommendations are editorially independent and based on hands-on testing, personal experience, and knowledge—not hype. Autoweek has a strict policy against accepting payment for links or product placement in articles. We won't recommend something we wouldn't buy ourselves, and we'll never claim to have used or tested something we haven't. We're more concerned with our readers' trust than our bottom line. We've evaluated dozens of product categories, like dash cams, OBD-II scanners, and home EV chargers. Read more about our product testing process here.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
About the Car and Driver Gear Team: Why Trust Us
Since 1964, Car and Driver has prided itself on hands-on testing and real-world experience behind the wheel and under the hood to bring you the best in automotive news. The Gear Team brings that same legendary passion and knowledge to our product reviews and gear tests. We take the same approach to gear that our car reviewers rely on to test cars: We evaluate products on their own merit, compare them to the competition, and tell you the truth. With many of the trusted magazines and newspapers of the good old days replaced by search-engine-hacking, algorithm-manipulating websites, the Gear Team delivers honest evaluations of the most popular automotive parts, tools, and products, driven by decades of knowledge and experience. If you're finding yourself increasingly baffled, bemused, and disappointed by the "expert" reviews you see online these days, you can still trust Car and Driver. The Gear Team gets our hands on nearly every product, tool, and piece of gear we test, and we never recommend anything we wouldn't buy ourselves. The Gear Team chooses all our products independently based on our knowledge of the automotive market and gear landscape. We never accept payment in exchange for editorial placement. Ever. We'll never say anything is "the best" if we wouldn't recommend it to our friends or buy it ourselves, and we won't tell you we've tested something unless we've put it through our own wringer. That's a promise. The Gear Team purchases most of the gear and products we rate and review. Some is supplied by manufacturers for testing purposes; trustworthy manufacturers and retailers offer us the chance to test their gear because they believe in the quality and value of the work they do and the products they make and sell. In fact, we're often suspicious of companies who refuse to donate products for evaluation. Car and Driver is one of the largest, most influential automotive publications in the world, so we don't have to worry about gaming search engines to get traffic, or promoting lousy products to sell junk. Rather, we're concerned with our legacy, our reputation, and most of all the trust that you, our readers, have in us. We know you rely on us to give it to you straight, and like our editorial car reviewers, the Gear Team promises to deliver the truth, every of Special Projects Thanks to the Cannonball Run movies and tales of his father's beloved 1969 Plymouth GTX, Patrick Carone has been obsessed with cars since the Reagan administration. Testing vehicles from his home in New York City has given him the dubious ability to confidently pilot half-a-million-dollar supercars through midtown at rush Commerce Editor Jon Langston is an avid motorcyclist and gear collector whose work has appeared in Men's Journal, The Drive, Rider, Iron & Air, Cycle World, and Commerce Editor Collin Morgan is the Associate Commerce Editor at Hearst Autos, where he presents the best gear for your automotive endeavors. He's been a technician in the trenches of Midwestern automotive repair, explored the automotive shrines in central Italy, and now enjoys making slow cars go fast around various Michigan Editor Collin Morgan is a Commerce Editor at Hearst Autos, where he presents the best gear for your automotive endeavors. He's been a technician in the trenches of Midwestern automotive repair, explored the automotive shrines in central Italy, and now enjoys making slow cars go fast around various Michigan Testing Editor Gannon Burgett loves cameras, cars, and coffee: a perfect combination for his Hearst Autos work. His byline has appeared in USA Today, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Digital Trends, the Detroit Free Press, and Testing Editor Gannon Burgett loves cameras, cars, and coffee: a perfect combination for his Hearst Autos work. His byline has appeared in USA Today, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Digital Trends, the Detroit Free Press, and Testing Editor By day, Katherine Keeler evaluates tools for your enjoyment; by night, she Frankensteins her ever-changing fleet of rust-bucket oddities back to repair. Her dream is to open a roadside attraction where the public can view, drive, and learn repairs at her emporium of curious Testing Editor By day, Katherine Keeler evaluates tools for your enjoyment; by night, she Frankensteins her ever-changing fleet of rust-bucket oddities back to repair. Her dream is to open a roadside attraction where the public can view, drive, and learn repairs at her emporium of curious Commerce Editor The Assistant Commerce Editor for Hearst Autos, Justin Helton is an enthusiast with a passion for heavily depreciated autos and a penchant for philosophical debate. As a lifelong Manhattanite, he has mastered the ins and outs of classic car ownership in one of the least car-friendly cities in the Testing Editor With a degree in multimedia journalism and a passion for the automotive world, Mason Cordell enjoys driving, wrenching, writing, and everything in between. At the age of 22, his garage consisted of a '95 Miata, an '08 M5, and a 1987 Porsche 944S. Clearly, he has a problem. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Now is the Best Time to Buy a Dash Cam
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." This article was updated in February 2025. Our dash cam is marked down to a lower price than we've ever seen. Today only, you can pick up the Vantrue N4 dash, cabin, and rearview camera bundle for more than $100 off its regular price. Normally $289.99, right now it's marked down to an astonishing $199.99. If you've been thinking about buying a dash cam, now is the ideal time to pull that proverbial trigger.$199.99 at That viral dashcam video from last October that captured the nation's attention by catching a potential car-insurance scammer red-handed has made dash cams one of the hottest commodities in retail, not just among auto enthusiasts but regular, everyday commuters. If you or someone you know saw that video and said "I need to get a dash cam," Cyber Monday is the perfect time to pick up that ideal holiday gift. To help our readers make the right choice when purchasing a dash cam, earlier this year our Gear Team pitted a bunch of dashboard cameras against each other in a hands-on, behind-the-wheel test to find out which one was the best. After days of driving and recording, we chose the Vantrue N4 as our Best Overall dash cam, citing its "exceptional value" and calling it a "strong competitor at a great price." While other pricier dash cams may have offered sharper resolution or more features, we found the N4 to be a perfectly workable option that's ideal for most people. It's not too techy, it's easy to install and use, and it's supremely affordable. Especially today! In our test, the Ann Arbor-based Gear Team installed and used a selection of popular dash cams at various price points. They compared specs and video recordings side by side. They also took notes on the user experience of each device, along with their companion apps. Here are some other factors that impacted their picks: Resolution Field of view Clarity in various conditions (sunshine/overcast/night) License-plate clarity at various distances (5, 10, 25, and 50 feet) Installation Usability (including app, if applicable) Quality-of-life notes After driving with the Vantrue (see the full video here), here's what we found: "The Vantrue N4 is an exceptional value, offering a dash cam, cabin-facing camera, and rearview camera. It attaches to the windshield with a suction mount, and its cameras can be adjusted for optimal coverage. The front dash cam records at 2560 by 2160 pixels but drops to 2560 by 1440 when all three cameras are used. The cabin and rear cameras have 1920 by 1080 resolution. The cameras have wide fields of view with minimal distortion, and the cabin camera includes infrared lighting for low-light conditions. "The N4's integrated screen features a picture-in-picture mode that displays all three cameras' feeds simultaneously, along with settings and recording modes. It offers low-frame-rate and low-bit-rate recording modes, but we found these can drain the car battery. The device also includes collision and motion detection, automatically saving relevant footage. A 128-gb micro SD card holds about 6.7 hours of footage. "We picked the Vantrue N4 as our Best Overall Dash Cam mainly because of its value. It's a strong competitor at a great price, with three cameras and lots of features, and it came in only slightly behind our top pick in image quality. Video quality was impressive across various light conditions, with good dynamic range and minimal noise reduction." This bundle includes a 155-degree front camera, 165-degree inside camera, and 160-degree rear camera. This way you can keep a full view of your vehicle to protect you from potential liability issues. The rear camera can be adjusted up to a full 360-degree angle with its 20-foot extension cable, so it's perfect even for large SUVs, Jeeps, and trucks. The 2160P resolution front camera can seamlessly record up to 4K when used alone, ensuring crystal-clear visibility of license plates and road signs. The adjustable inside camera is ideal for ride-share drivers who may need to present proof of activities within their vehicles. It also boasts a Parking mode that turns on when it senses an impact while parked and g-sensors to record automatically when it senses an impact on the road (in case you forget to turn it on). Vantrue provides an extendable 18-month warranty. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
