Most high end new cars come with navigation systems, but while it can tell you the fastest way to get from home to work, it can't tell you in real time how to get around the inevitable traffic.

That stumbling block is getting taken care of.

Both Sirius and XM satellite radio companies offer real time traffic information that gets sent directly to a car's navigation system.

"You know how to get to work already, but can't always navigate around traffic," said Brian Moody, road test editor for Edmunds.com. "There are broadcast channels where you can listen to the traffic audibly. With this, you can listen to music and see the traffic info pop up. This will show red, yellow or green lines to show the flow of traffic as it happens."

Navigation systems alone are becoming increasingly common in cars across all price points, Moody said, citing the Mazda5 -- a minivan that costs around $20,000 -- and Suzuki, which will be offering a navigation system standard in car that costs around $20,000.

"That gives an indication that it's not just Cadillac and Lexus that offers this," he said.

Moody said that Nissan, Infiniti and Cadillac offer strong real time systems, but more brands are offering the option.

Presently, some models of Acura, Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, GMC, Hummer, Saturn, Hyundai, Ferrari, Lexus, Infiniti, Nissan, Toyota offer the XM NavTraffic system, which requires a monthly subscription of $9.95 per month, or $3.99 in combination with a XM Satellite Radio subscription.

Sirius Traffic is also $3.99 when added to an existing radio subscription and can't be used without a radio subscription. Sirius Traffic is offered in some Jeep, Chrysler Dodge, Ford and Lincoln models.

Entertainment While Driving

Moody said that having an auxillary jack in the car stereo for an iPod or mp3 player is the bare minimum that should be expected in a new car. Otherwise, he said, "what's the point?"

The next big thing in integration is being able to connect your portable music player to the car, and instead of changing your music on the iPod while you drive, you can control songs and volume through the car's audio controls.

"It's integrated into the car, you can use it in a seemless way," Moody said. "Nissan does it very well. So does Cadillac; Ford does it with Sync, which adds a level of voice control; Scion has it in at least two of its cars."

Moody was impressed by which companies are offering that technology.

"It's no trick to get that in an expensive car, but in a [Ford] Focus, Scion or moderately priced Nissan it is," Moody said. "Nissan, Ford and Scion have made a point at looking at what customers really want. They want high tech, gadgety things."

For toting children on a long trip, having video options is proving to be key. Chrysler minivans have done a good job of that, Moody said.

"Chrysler has done a nice job of offering the ability to play videos or play music from separate sources," Moody said. "If a kid is watching a DVD, you can listen to your own music. Then older kids in way back can play a video game."

In some Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge vehicles, Sirius satellite television is an option. While currently only three channels are available, all are child-friendly -- the Disney Channel, Nickolodeon and the Cartoon Network.