In-car GPS navigation systems are undeniably useful. But at $1,500 and above, they're pretty overpriced to begin with--especially when compared with today's $150 portable GPS units and $10-per-month cell phone GPS services. So it's usually no fun to find out you need to shell out another few hundred dollars every time you want to update the maps in your car.

To take at least some of the pain out of the process, Volvo and Navteq have unveiled MapCare, a free map update program, for the automaker's full lineup of cars. The program will offer two free map updates to buyers of any new 2010 Volvo C30, S40, V50, C70, V70, XC70, S80, XC60, or XC90 with a navigation system. The program is available to all North American buyers, as well as several countries overseas, beginning this month. Hey Volvo, while we're at it, how about we drop the price of the navigation systems, too?