- Front and rear antennas
- Directional threat arrows
- Magnetic windshield mount
- Good audible alerts
- Hot K-band performance
- Expensive
The Passport Max 360c ($649 MSRP) is a high-end Escort with a rear radar antenna and both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It replaces the Max 360 which used the same platform and had similar features save for the Wi-Fi.
Features
The Max 360c has a large footprint and with two metal antennas, it's also heavy. Housed in a two-tone case, it's controlled by six top-mounted buttons.
The large GPS-style windshield mount attaches to the detector magnetically, an effortless process. Adjustment takes two hands but once in place, it stays put.
With front and rear radar antennas, the Escort Passport Max 360c lights an arrow to point toward a threat.
Built-in Bluetooth allows the Max 360c to link to the Escort Live app without using a cellphone. This gives drivers a heads-up on nearby police activity.
A USB port is provided for updates and a 3.5mm audio jack for stereo output.
Built-in WiFi enables the Max 360c to update itself wirelessly, a feature shared with the Escort Redline 360c.
In Spec mode the Max 360c displays the frequency of two radar signals, in gigahertz, one for each antenna. Instead of a generic Ka band it might display, for example, 34.706 for the front antenna and 34.729 in back. The information can be useful for those able to interpret it.
Road speed is displayed and—when linked to the Escort Live—the posted limit as well. This can help prevent a speeding ticket.
The directional arrows are generally accurate—when approaching a radar the front spots it and triggers an alert, once passed the rear arrow lights up as the rear antenna spots it. In comparison to a competing detector with a rear antenna, the Valentine One, we found that the Max 360c is more accurate in its reporting. Particularly in town, a single radar signal is generally reported as one threat. In contrast, the V1 not infrequently shrieks alerts of up to nine simultaneous threats, all generated by the same radar source.
- Front and rear antennas
- 360° protection
- Magnetic EZ MagMount
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
- SmartCord USB power cord
- Free same-day shipping
Passport Max 360c
- Front and rear antennas
- 360° protection
- Magnetic EZ MagMount windshield mount
- SmartCord USB power cord
- Quick Start Guide
- Travel case
- Free same-day shipping
Behavior
We noticed that the stellar K-band sensitivity can sometimes work against the Max 360c, making it more sensitive to Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) systems on nearby cars. These operate on the same K-band frequency used by police radar and have become a huge headache for detectors. Drivers may want to consider shutting off K band to kill the din.
The Verdict
The Escort Max 360c has some unique features—directional arrows and automatic nuisance-signal lockouts among them—and offers a decent blend of performance and utility. It ranks well among the super-premium players and while expensive, it's still cheaper than a ticket.
