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Garmin Nuvi 200

Manufacturer: Garmin Part number: 010-00621-10

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$124.95 - $198.99 at 11 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
3.5 stars Very good
Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 61 reviews

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Product series; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: The Garmin Nuvi 200 series offers drivers and travelers a more budget-friendly version of the popular portable navigation devices, but we think the price is still slightly high for what you get.
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More stores below < Click logo for complete selection of GPSs 3.5" GPS $79 -Save $70 Navigon 2100,Touch Screen Text-To-Speech, SD Card Slot, (Refurbished) 4.3" GPS $199 Garmin Nuvii 205W Widescreen Touchscreen Custom POI (Refurbished) 4.3 GPS" $209 Garmin Nuvi 650 TFT Touchscreen, (Refurbished)
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CNET editors' review

Garmin Nuvi 200

price range: $124.95 - $198.99

Reviewed by: Bonnie Cha
Reviewed on: 05/23/2007
Released on: 05/16/2007

The good: The Garmin Nuvi 200 boasts a compact design and is easy to use. It offers accurate directions and some nice tools for the traveler.

The bad: Though the Nuvi 200 is more affordable than other models in the series, we wish the price was slightly lower based on the included feature set.

The bottom line: The Garmin Nuvi 200 series offers drivers and travelers a more budget-friendly version of the popular portable navigation devices, but we think the price is still slightly high for what you get.

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The Garmin Nuvi series of GPS devices enjoys a fair number of fans. The Nuvi 660 and the Nuvi 350 have earned an average of 7.5 and 8.6 user ratings, respectively. And it's not hard to see why. These ultraportable gadgets not only serve as navigation aids but also offer travel-friendly features, such as travel guides and foreign language dictionaries--all while delivering solid performance and ease of use. However, we've always winced at the jaw-dropping price tags.

Well, it seems Garmin heard our cries, as the company has released a new family of Nuvi devices that are more wallet-friendly. The Garmin Nuvi 200 series includes three models: the Nuvi 200 ($428.56) with preloaded maps of the United States and Puerto Rico; the Nuvi 250 ($482.16), which adds maps of Canada; and the Nuvi 270 ($599.99), which comes preinstalled with maps of the United States, Canada, and more than 30 European countries. For our review, we took a look at the Nuvi 200. This entry-level model boasts an even sleeker design and continues to deliver the same intuitive interface and accurate directions. It strips out some of the more advanced travel and multimedia tools to cut costs, but even so, we wish the price was slightly lower--more in the $300 range. Still, with a little shopping around, you can probably find a deal and for the money, you'll get a solid portable navigation system.

Design
At 3.8 inches wide by 2.8 inches high by 0.8 inch deep and 5.2 ounces, the Garmin Nuvi 200 isn't that much bigger than today's latest smart phones or PDAs; in other words, it's pretty compact. It helps that the GPS antenna is now integrated into the device, unlike older Nuvi models like the Garmin Nuvi 350, which had a flip-up antenna. And while the Nuvi 200 is probably a little too bulky to fit into a pants pocket comfortably, you'll have no problem carrying it in a bag, using it on foot, or transporting it between vehicles.

The Garmin Nuvi 200 is small enough to use on foot and can easily be thrown into a suitcase for use during your travels.

A 3.5-inch (diagonal) QVGA touch screen dominates the face of the Nuvi 200. The display itself is bright and sharp with a 320x240 pixel resolution and features an antiglare coating. Unlike the Mio C220, we had absolutely no problems viewing the Nuvi's display in various lighting conditions, including bright sunlight.

Aside from a power/lock slider switch on top of the device, there are no other external controls, so all commands are registered via the responsive touch screen. While we like the minimalist design, we think a volume dial on the side would've been nice. There is an SD card expansion slot on the left side, and the speaker and power connector/mini USB port are on the back.

The Nuvi 200 comes with a number of accessories, including an easy-to-install and secure vehicle mount.

The Garmin Nuvi 200 comes packaged with a car charger, a vehicle mount (dash and windshield), and reference material. The vehicle mount has a no-fuss design and is very easy to install in your car. It securely held the Nuvi in place, and there's a lock mechanism at the base of the apparatus to reinforce the connection between the suction cup and windshield.

Features
As the entry-level model of the Nuvi series, the Garmin Nuvi 200 has a very basic feature set. It does come preloaded with maps of the United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, though it misses detailed maps of Alaska and Canada. You can start planning a trip in a number of ways, including entering a specific address, picking a point of interest (POI), selecting a recently entered location, or choosing a destination from your Favorites list. Of course, if you don't need guidance, you can just have the Nuvi track your movements by tapping View Map. The system can generate directions by fastest time, shortest distance, or off road, and you can instruct it to avoid certain road types, such as toll roads and highways. And don't think you're restricted to only use the system in the car, as there are settings for pedestrian, bicycle, truck, and bus modes.

The Nuvi 200 offers turn-by-turn, text- and voice-guided directions, but it doesn't support text-to-speech functionality. This means the system won't speak actual street names; instead, it will give you more generic directions like, "Turn right in 500 feet." The Nuvi 200 also supports automatic route recalculation and includes a detour function if you want to avoid certain part of the given route. Maps are available in 2D and 3D view with day and night colors, and you can change it so north is always at the top of your screen or the direction in which you are driving. A plus and minus icon on the map screen allows you to zoom in and out, and there's also a trip information page that displays your speed, direction, trip time, and so forth.

The Nuvi 200 has a comprehensive POI database with all the major categories (gas stations, lodging, ATMs, and so forth) and more specific ones; you can even search for restaurants by type of cuisine. On top of the preloaded entries, you can add custom POI, such as safety cameras and school zones.

Of course, part of the allure of the Nuvi series is its travel features. Again, as an entry-level device, the number of travel tools is more limited than other models in the family. You get a world clock, currency and measurement converters, and a calculator. You can purchase additional travel guides preloaded on an SD card through Garmin; prices range from $49.99 to $160.70. Other goodies on the Nuvi 200 include a picture viewer and the Garmin Lock security feature, which prevents the unit from performing any functions until you enter a user-defined four-digit PIN or take it to a predetermined location.

Performance
We tested the Garmin Nuvi 200 in San Francisco, and from a cold start, it took the unit less than two minutes to get a GPS fix under clear skies, while subsequent starts were almost instantaneous. If the system is having any problems acquiring a fix, a pop-up message will appear onscreen and ask you if it should continue searching for satellites. If you're indoors and tap no, you can still plan trips and get a running demo of your route.

During free drives around the city, the Nuvi 200 accurately tracked our location. We also planned a specific trip from the Marina district of San Francisco to CNET's downtown headquarters, and the system quickly returned with a route. We also missed several turns to test the route recalculation rate, and after a few seconds, the Nuvi gave us new directions, always before our next maneuver.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 61 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

Showing opinion 1 to 10 out of 61

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8 stars

Excellent product, but there are oversights . . .

by abmcgoey on October 15, 2007

Pros: Easy-to-use; plug in and go; quick start-up; clear screen; xlnt reputation of circuitry/software; small & lightweight

Cons: Car plug does not fit cigarette lighter socket; car plug shld be coiled; no case included; newest version of map software not included; no text-to-speech; no AC plug included

Summary: I just bought the Nuvi 200 a few days ago, and though I've only used it a few times, I've found its performance to be excellent. Just plug ...

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Summary: I just bought the Nuvi 200 a few days ago, and though I've only used it a few times, I've found its performance to be excellent. Just plug it in and go. Picks up satellite signals in seconds. Screen is clear even in sunlight. Software -- so far -- has proven accurate and well-thought out, though it is not Garmin's newest version (it's version 7 instead of 8). The unit itself is small and lightweight and is therefore easily stowed in a briefcase or even a jacket pocket. I purchased it at Buydig.com for $239, wch is a good deal compared w/ the price of some of Garmin's other products (the Nuvi 350, f'rinstance). Downsides: the cigarette lighter plug that is included does not fit my vehicle (a Saab 900)! Very annoying. I thought cigarette lighter plugs were standardized? I contacted Garmin about this, but no response yet. The plug does not "click" into the socket and just pops out, forcing me to hold it in, wch is ridiculous. Also, the plug itself should be coiled, not straight. Garmin "cheaped out" on that one. Also, it does not include an AC plug. For the $, the AC plug should be included, as should a vinyl case to hold the unit. Both are penny-pinching oversights that are annoying. Overall, it looks like an excellent product, though the above oversights shld be addressed by Garmin -- even if they add a few dollars to the purchase price.
Updated
I contacted Garmin via e-mail about my Nuvi's cigarette lighter not fitting properly into my Saab's cigarette lighter receptacle. They responded quickly and sent me a replacement plug that fits fine. Huge "thumbs up" to Garmin for its excellent customer service response time and quick shipment of the replacement plug (all done free of charge).

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41 out of 41 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

A great GPS unit for first time buyers

by randalynadams on June 23, 2007

Pros: Compact size, quickly recalculates routes, lots of POIs

Cons: Doesn't come with wall charger or carrying case

Summary: All I wanted was a basic, no-frills, affordable GPS unit. I've searched stores, the internet, and CNet looking for one that would fit my needs. At first, Tom Tom ...

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Summary: All I wanted was a basic, no-frills, affordable GPS unit. I've searched stores, the internet, and CNet looking for one that would fit my needs. At first, Tom Tom One seemed a viable solution; it's cheap, basic, and has that nice compact size quality I look for in all my gadgets. It received fairly good reviews on CNet, but I could not get over the cons I kept reading. I wanted a Garmin brand because it seemed more reliable, but I could not get over the price. I don't need to look at pictures on it or listen to mp3s (I already have an 80g iPod). All the extras were things that wasn't important to me. A calculator? Currency converter?? I saw it as lame add-ons with the sole purpose of jacking up the price. Then I saw the Nuvi 200. The most basic of basic Garmin GPS units. I kept dragging my feet on purchasing one because I was afraid I'd make the wrong choice and regret it. Last week, I received as a gift from a friend. I'm very happy with it. It's small, sleek, with a bright screen. The vehicle mount is tiny, but the suction cup is extremely strong and it definitely holds it in place. I've been using it for fun so far just to see how it works. Granted, there are a few flaws with it. For starters, my Garmin doesn't always pick the most efficient route. While driving to the airport, it kept insisting I take interstate when the expressway I was on would've taken me there in almost half the time. On my way back home from dinner, it wanted me to pretty much drive around town to get back to my apartment when the road I was already on would get me home with two quick left turns. Also, there are no external controls except for the on/off/hold switch, so if you need to change the volume, you'll have to go through a few screenshots. My biggest complaint is that the keyboard is arranged alphabetically instead of QWERTY. I don't understand why'd they do that.. Lastly, it doesn't come with add-ons you'd think would be included such as a wall AC adaptor, a USB cable for your computer, and a case. All that was included in the package was the unit itself, the vehicle mount, and DC adaptor. However, it's an acurrate device and is exactly what i was looking for in a GPS device. It's perfect for a first-time GPS user. It's ready to go out of the box; no need to install anything, just turn it on and go. It's the perfect size for tossing into my purse when I leave my car. It has an auto-complete function when entering street names which is cool for when you're spelling out a long name. I personally love the way it quickly recalculates routes for when you miss a turn. All in all, a great gadget for your car.

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21 out of 21 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Excellent entry level GPS

by nedsg on July 4, 2007

Pros: No flip up antenna - Bright screen

Cons: Only one power source -in car, No text to speech

Summary: I had a Garmin 350 last year until it got ran over accidently. Great GPS,fast forward to now.
I was about to order another one when the Garmin 200
...

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Summary: I had a Garmin 350 last year until it got ran over accidently. Great GPS,fast forward to now.
I was about to order another one when the Garmin 200 series came to the market.
I did some research and figured why not go for an entry level GPS.
I found that the 350 had many features that I just didn't use,and the 200 just fit the bill.
The great thing is that the A/C charger that came with my 350 also works with my 200.
I did notice that the 200 has a little trouble finding satellites indoors, but outside in the car I never lost reception.
This is a GPS you could buy for your parents and they would have very little trouble using it.
This GPS doesn't have text to speech, but after having a GPS with it, I really didn't miss it that much,and it can't be beat at its price point.
The maps could use a little update and you have to search a little while to find certain POI's.
Over all this is an excellent GPS.
I found it at Shipdog.com for under $300.00!

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10 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
8 stars

Highly recommended entry level

by z17dave on May 10, 2007

Pros: Easy to use, great price, bright screen, loud voice prompts

Cons: POI (points of interest) not very extensive

Summary: I bought this for my mom for mother's day, and tested it out before I gave it to her. I was extremely pleased with the unit. It has very ...

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Summary: I bought this for my mom for mother's day, and tested it out before I gave it to her. I was extremely pleased with the unit. It has very clear voice prompts while driving, great 3D map display with arrows at turns, and recalculates the route quickly if you take a wrong turn. My main complaint is with the POI database. It is slow (b/c of the processor) and did not even have any of the Ben and Jerry's in Charlotte, NC nor a main church. My mom who still struggles with programming her home phone quickly picked it up with a 10 minute lesson. The photo viewer is a nice touch. I highly recommend this for entry level users. Higher models will get you text to speech for street names, and faster processors.

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6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

No Better GPS for the money

by guyverseven on January 19, 2008

Pros: ease of use, size, weight, portability, design

Cons: none that I can think of

Summary: For a sub $200 price tag there is no beating this GPS. It is very easy to use, boots up quickly, and re-routes quickly if you choose the miss the ...

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Summary: For a sub $200 price tag there is no beating this GPS. It is very easy to use, boots up quickly, and re-routes quickly if you choose the miss the next turn. The build quality is EXCELLENT and the screen is so bright that you can actually read it under sunlight.

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4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

Delightfully elegant, inexpensive GPS solution

by jtmd on September 25, 2007

Pros: Totally intuitive interface; clear, bright screen; effortless satellite acquistion, pinpoint accuracy, instant map refresh even at highest detail, automatic switching between day/night mode

Cons: Wish it had a battery level / charging indicator

Summary: I've tried many different GPS nav aids, all with some level of disappointment, inconvenience or sheer exasperation, but at last I'm totally content, GPS-wise. This inexpensive, tiny device ...

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Summary: I've tried many different GPS nav aids, all with some level of disappointment, inconvenience or sheer exasperation, but at last I'm totally content, GPS-wise. This inexpensive, tiny device worked perfectly every time, with no learning curve and an elegant, bright, clear display (easily r

Garmin Nuvi 200

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