Garmin Nuvi 200 Review

From the makers of Garmin International, leaders in GPS navigation systems for nearly twenty years, comes an entry level Sat Nav system which is both basic but well designed and easy to use. This system is an affordable unit that would get you from A to B with little trouble - it does not have the fancy features of pricier models, but Garmin have come up with a good dedicated device fit for the use for which it was intended - navigation.

First let's look at the display. The Nuvi 200 has a 3.5 inch QVGA colour TFT bright screen with a white backlight. If you need a bigger viewing area, in the 200W model, W stands for wide view, you get a full 4.3 inch screen. In reviews the screen came off very well as it is bright enough even in full sunlight to be easily seen.

Another well designed feature is the suction cup mount which, because of its ball and socket design, makes it easy to adjust the viewing angle for best vision. The base itself is small enough to carry along with you and easily mounted - this is a plus if you use rented vehicles for the majority of your business travel.

Battery power is the normal rechargeable lithium-ion and can hold a charge up to 5 hours. Impressive for such a small unit. A power cable is included in the box to keep on charge whilst underway. There is a slot for a SD memory card, but the card itself is not included in the basic package.

Now for the navigation - how did it fare? The unit comes preloaded with regional maps with the ability to add more as required, and there are 500 programmable POI (Points of Interest) waypoints to be used. The display is clear if rather stylistic and basic, and a rather robotic voice will give instructions as to your next turn or waypoint.

One of the disappointments in the navigation system is its inability to create directions from anywhere other than where you are at that moment. This means that you cannot use the unit for advance planning of your trip. If you want to know how long it would take to get from Manchester airport to your sister's house in Leeds, for example, it just cannot do it. Once you arrive at the airport, it will be a breeze to find out your ETA, but this lacking feature is a real drawback on planning.

Another disappointment is the voice which tells you to turn. Although the directions are clear, the voice is a little like having a Dalek as a passenger, and it only gives you notice of the next turn in terms of distance and not time.

Having said all that, as a straightforward and basic navigation instrument, it is compact and affordable. If your needs are simply to get from one place to another, then this is an ideal unit.