Escort Redline 360c Review

The Redline 360c sets itself apart from the rest with its highly automated features and an insanely long range. With various user modes, the 360c can be your plug-and-go device or you can adjust it to your liking, making it great for the beginner or the expert. Read on to see why this is one of our favorite radar detectors.

Performance Comparison

Features

The need for certain features can range depending on how you plan to use your detector. However, a few improve efficiency no matter where your priorities lie, like auto-learning technology and built-in WiFi.

The Redline 360c is absolutely stacked with helpful features and automation, making it an excellent option for anyone who likes a streamlined, hands-free experience. First of all, there are two user modes, advanced and novice. The advanced option gives you control over many settings, while the novice mode is preprogrammed for those who would prefer to plug and go rather than tinker with settings they don't understand.

The 'c' in 360c stands for connectivity and refers to the built-in WiFi and cloud-based connection to other drivers via the Escort App. WiFi connection has two major advantages: it helps auto connectivity to your phone when you get back into your car work better and provides automatic updates.

The Defender Database also offers advanced alerts for red light and speed cameras, and the Escort App is a great visual representation of the road ahead. It also allows you and other drivers to confirm reported speed traps or red light cameras, ensuring that the reports remain accurate in real time.

Patented AutoLearn uses intelligent GPS-based technology to learn your route and reject false alerts, while the built-in WiFi keeps software updates simple and allows for alerts to be shared instantly. There are four sensitivity options: Highway, Auto, Auto No X, and Auto Lo K, which automatically adjust the detector's responsiveness based on the strength of the signal.

The 360c offers Auto Lockouts, and if it's connected to the Escort Live! app the device will know the speed limits and can warn you if you're going too fast. This device is also radar detector detector immune, meaning that if law enforcement has a device to detect your detector, it won't work. Additionally, Escort offers a laser jammer that integrates nicely with the 360c. While neither of these features are necessary for the average driver per se, they definitely add some versatility and value.

We had very few complaints regarding features, but there is little room for improvement. The speed limit recognition, for example, does not change with temporary changes in speed limits like school zones and construction, and this can throw off the driver if they rely solely on the Escort App. The 360c also only offers 2.4 GHz WiFi instead of 5GHz, but we didn't experience any delays during our testing.

Accuracy

According to the manufacturer's website, the Redline 360c is a device that is “Always true, never false.” Sadly this is not the case, but there is no such thing as a perfectly accurate radar detector. They all issue false alerts sometimes, but certain features and customizations can help mitigate the frequency.

Escort added a feature called K-notch to help filter out BSMs from Hondas and Acuras, which often trigger false alarms on Escort devices. Through our testing, we found that Ford trucks consistently trigger false MRCD alerts as well. The K-notch feature is an improvement, but again, it's not perfect. MRCD capabilities have also been updated, helping to seek out difficult-to-detect MultaRadar.

Features like auto lockouts and low-speed muting also help keep this device quieter. Low-speed muting ensures that non-threatening radars like grocery store doors won't trigger an alert when driving at or under a certain speed. This is great for city driving.

Throughout our testing, the Redline 360c proved very accurate with red light or speed limit cameras. It only alerts when the cameras are facing in the direction you are driving, ensuring a quiet ride. This is a pretty advanced accuracy feature considering radars tend to bounce around.

One issue we found with the 360c is that the alerts do not ramp up according to the strength of the signal. It often blares up super loud at the initial detection and then peters out, which makes it difficult to tell, via the audible alert, how close you are to the signal that it is picking up. The MRCD alerts also cause all four arrows to blink, leaving the driver questioning the direction from which the alerts are coming.

Range

This metric includes more than just how far a detector can pick up radar — it also takes into account how obtrusive obstacles can be and whether or not the detector can pick up signals from in front and behind of your vehicle.

The Redline 360c comes equipped with a triple antenna design to improve range. The dual front and single rear antennas work together to give you a full 360-degree range. According to the manufacturer's website, this is two times the range of previous models. While our testing does not support that significant of an increase in range, it certainly is the best of the bunch.

The 360c does not seem negatively impacted by hills, corners, or other obstacles. The alert ebbs and flows in the presence of obstacles, but the radar source could also be flickering on and off. Either way, the driver is notified long before the source is within eyeshot. When compared to the rest of the options in our test suite, it is clear that the Redline 360c is a top performer.

Ease of Use

Some radar detectors offer a more plug-and-go experience, others are more customizable, and some offer both. Internal features like built-in WiFi or external ones like a suction cup mount make these devices much more user-friendly. The 360c comes equipped with built-in WiFi, allowing automatic updates, which Escort releases every Monday. However, it is important to note that not every city or state is updated weekly.

The magnetic mount for the 360c is sturdy and super easy to remove. This may not seem like a big plus, but these devices can be very expensive, and leaving them on the dash for extended periods may increase the risk of break-ins, so tucking it away when you pop into the grocery store is never a bad idea.

The display on the 360c is customizable and easy to read. The arrows indicate the direction of the threat, and the Graphic Multicolored OLED display offers plenty of helpful information, such as band type, signal strength, frequency, current speed, and speed limit (when connected via WiFi). There are five levels of brightness and a full dark mode for evenings. It is easiest to change all the modes and displays by connecting the 360c to your phone, but these things can also be adjusted on the device itself.

Unfortunately, the MRCD and MRCT alerts are communicated with an M on the LCD screen, which does differentiate between the two. This is a non-issue for novices, but advanced radar detector users will likely want to know the difference.

The 360c is also very large, and the mount is far from stealth. To remove the detector from its magnetic mount, you have to lift it and remove it from the lip, which means you need a little extra room at the head. The display is mostly great, but the arrows are not quite perfect when relaying the threat's direction, particularly with MRCD and MRCT alerts, as all four arrows light up. The ambient light sensor makes the display a little too dark when it is overcast, so you have to manually change the brightness. This is a quick fix, but it can be annoying if you live somewhere cloudy.

Should You Buy the Escort Redline 360c?

The short answer to this question is yes. However, the price point is sure to dissuade some. This is easily one of the most expensive options in our test suite, but for a good reason. Generally speaking, you are paying this high price for an amazing range. The Redline 360c doesn't wince in the presence of curves, hills, or other obstacles and alerts the driver miles before a threat is present. You also benefit from built-in WiFi and automation. If you're looking for a long-range detector that is highly automated, easy to use, and you don't mind paying a high price for this high performance, the 360c is a no-brainer.

What Other Radar Detectors Should You Consider?

While we could spend all day trying to convince you that the 360c is worth every penny, you may not want to spend your entire paycheck on a radar detector. If you are looking for a long-range detector at a lower price, the Uniden R3 is the next best option.