Suzuki offers up Garmin GPS on all 2009 SX4 vehicles

Back in the day, integrated GPS units were the stuff of luxury cars, gargantuan SUV cruisers, and lost old ladies. Suzuki is looking to change all of that by including the Garmin T.R.I.P. on all 2009 SX4 Sport and SX4 Crossover vehicles — at no extra charge. As Suzuki gleefully points out, this marks the first time a sub-$16,000 car has included a GPS unit as standard equipment. The T.R.I.P. (Travel, Real-time traffic, Information and Play) sports a flip-up 4.3-inch screen and Bluetooth connectivity. As for software, it will include real-time traffic, weather forecasts, local event listings, community-based recommendations, and a gas station finder that can filter based on fuel prices.

-engadget.com

Seriously, how long has it taken for American vehicles to finally get GPS as standard?  Japanese, and for that matter, most Asian autos have had high-tech equipment come as standard on almost all of their vehicles.  We have to buy a Ford Focus with SYNC at an extra cost.  And people question why American cars are going down the drain?  We just can’t (or won’t) keep pace with Asian economies.