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Radar detector reviews are all over the web, with dozens of sites offering their ratings of the best and worst of radar detectors on the market. Not all of them are in agreement, however, on which are the best or worst. If you want to purchase a detector for your car you need to understand what these reviews are talking about and how much weight to put on each aspect of a review.

A good radar detector review is based on a combination of features that contribute to the quality and performance rating of each device. You shouldn’t look at a review that is based simply on overall performance and price because there are too many variables to take into consideration. Some of these are:

Independent testing. The best reviews are those that include the results of independent testing labs. This assures the consumer that there is no bias involved in the ratings.

Current models. Be sure that the radar detectors being reviewed are the newest ones on the market. Because authorities are constantly updating their radar capabilities, reading a review of products that are two or more years old doesn’t help you much – these are probably already obsolete in many areas.

Look for information on frequencies and modes. By this we mean detailed information in each radar detector review about the frequencies at which it is effective, whether it will detect radar in POP mode (when it is more difficult to detect radar because it is random) and how many different frequencies it can pick up. Different areas of the country often use different frequencies or modes, so this information is essential.

Reliability. Information on reliability should cover several things, including how often the radar detector gives a false alarm, how often it fails to pick up radar and how often it detects the radar too late to avoid being ticketed. Another reliability issue is how well it performs in urban areas (where there is more interference from other vehicles and surrounding buildings) and during poor weather.

Countermeasures. Do the radar detector reviews include devices that offer countermeasures such as laser jamming or auto veiling? For the more advanced laser radar systems (sometimes called “lidar”), the most effective defense may be a good offense, so these should be included in a comprehensive review.

Price. Yes, price is still a consideration, but it should be relative to all of the features we’ve mentioned above. Remember, to an extent you get what you pay for. On the one hand, you won’t be able to get a radar detector that also jams lidar for a bargain price; on the other hand you may be able to find a solid, basic radar detector to warn you and nothing else at a decent price.

Your best bet? Forget about reviews that simply rank radar detectors from one to five stars. Look for detailed, thoughtful evaluations comparing feature to feature as well as comprehensive comparisons based on cost and overall performance when you look for reliable radar detector reviews.