Magellan's new top-of-the line GPS device would surely meet the needs of even the most demanding users. The thin Maestro 4250 comes with a 4.3-inch widescreen display, a built-in traffic receiver for live updates, and a robust six-million points of interest (POI) database. In addition, it integrates with the AAA TourBook to display listings of restaurants and accommodations, local attractions, approved auto repair shops, AAA office locations, and more. This high-end model also offers text-to-speech functionality and a Bluetooth phone interface. Perhaps the most notable feature is voice command, which you can use to control many of its functions hands-free.

The Maestro 4250 is essentially a repackaged Maestro 4050. Priced at $499.95 (list), the Maestro 4250 has all of the features of the 4050, which was selling for $699.95 when it was reviewed early this fall. Magellan hasn't broken any new technology barriers with the 4250; the menu system is virtually identical to that of other Maestros I've reviewed. What is new, however, is the sleek case design. The 4250 measures 3.3 by 4.9 by 0.7 inches (HWD). At 0.7 of an inch thick, the new case design makes the 4250 the thinnest personal navigation device on the market. By comparison, the Garmin nüvi 760 and the Mio DigiWalker C520 are slightly thicker. And the TomTom Go 720 is positively bulky, measuring a stout 0.9 inches deep.

The mounting bracket on the Maestro 4250 is a simple plastic cradle that attaches to a suction-cup windshield mount; it has two adjustments that allow for vertical and horizontal positioning. Such brackets are more restrictive than the ball-and-socket type found on the Garmin nüvis. Nor is there a mechanical release on the bracket, so you must flex the plastic tab at the top of the bracket to remove the unit. Unlike some GPS devices that let you connect the power and the TMC receiver antenna to the bracket, here you must connect the power and the antenna (if applicable) directly to the device. This requires an additional step each time you attach the unit to your windshield.

The Maestro 4050 let you control many of the functions with your voice. On the 4250, Voice Command works even better considering that you don't have to train the device. In fact, using Voice Command becomes quite addictive. Without an active route, the Voice Command menu can help you find the nearest coffee shop, restaurant, gas station, or ATM; navigate Home; or enter the roadside assistance menu, just to mention a few options.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that maps were up to date. The street-level-detail maps showed recently opened roads and a new New Jersey Turnpike exit ramp. The large POI database also came in very handy. I was curious to see whether the database had an entry for my local "Zap Lube" oil change shop, and there it was, as were several other shops I searched for. I like the additional routing methods that the 4250 offers, too. Like most other GPS devices, the unit can plot the shortest distance or the fastest time when calculating routes. Besides these, the Maestro offers two other choices: Least Use or Most Use of Freeways. The Most Use of Freeways setting provided a much better route for the trek to a home-improvement store 20 miles from my home than did some other devices I've used.

On my standard test routes, the 4250 yielded no surprises. It created exactly the same routes as the 4050, and, for that matter, as most other Navteq-based GPS devices. Text-to-speech worked well and announced the street names of upcoming turns at an appropriate interval before the turn. The route recalculation time following a missed maneuver was also quick. As with the 4050, my major disappointment with the 4250 is its Bluetooth interface. Though the GPS paired with my LG enV VX9900, it didn't read my contacts from the phone. Nor did the unit automatically reconnect with my handset when I returned to my car after running errands. In my estimation, Garmin still has the best Bluetooth interface on the market. All Bluetooth-enabled Garmin nüvis that I've tested have read contacts and call history from my phone without a hitch and automatically reconnected to my phone when I came back into range.

The 4250 is one of eight new Maestro models recently introduced by Magellan. Screen size, included map sets, and features are what differentiate each of the Maestro models. The new product offerings consist of four devices with 3.5-inch screens and four units with larger, 4.3-inch WQVGA displays. POI databases range from a modest 1.3 million entries to a robust 6 million.

To help readers sort through these new Maestro products, I've put together a table that summarizes the most important features. The chart shows, for example, that with the $399.99 Maestro 4210, you get a 4.3-inch screen but not text-to-speech, traffic updates, voice commands, or a Bluetooth speakerphone. For the same investment you could get the fully loaded Maestro 3250, which has all these features but a smaller 3.5-inch screen. With street prices ranging from $270 to $500, there's a Maestro for most needs and budgets. (Click here for a full comparison chart.)

I liked the Maestro 4050 when I reviewed it earlier this fall, and Magellan hasn't done anything with the 4250 that changes my opinion. The improved interface on the 4000 series is much easier to use than the one on the older RoadMate models. And the 4250's revamped, slimmer case design is a welcome addition. But most important, the new line of Maestros offers a significantly better value. The top-of-the-line 4250 is $200 less than the identically featured 4050. And with eight models to choose from, there's a Maestro for everyone.

Compare the GPS devices mentioned above side by side.

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