If you have never used a GPS, trust me, you have to have text-to-speech. This GPS eliminates the frustration of urban driving and having the non text-to-speech units tell you to turn right in 100 feet, only to find two roads that are 100 feet away and have to pick one and hope it is right. For the most part it is pretty clear and very easy to understand. It says a few streets funny, but its a computer - after. I would give this GPS a 4 for all the features that it has and the great price