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Garmin debuts new dashboard friction mount

Garmin has released a new, more compact version of its dashboard friction mount for Nuvi portable navigation devices.

Antuan Goodwin Reviews Editor / Cars
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Expertise Reviewing cars and car technology since 2008 focusing on electrification, driver assistance and infotainment Credentials
  • North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
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Antuan Goodwin
2 min read

Garmin has released a new, more compact version of its dashboard friction mount for Nuvi portable navigation devices.

Garmin new dashboard friction mount
The new Garmin friction mount eschews bean bags for a more compact sticky rubber pad. Garmin/Amazon

Where the old dashboard friction mount consisted of a cluster of beanbags with a rubber base and a fixed mounting arm, the new friction mount uses a flexible rubber pad with a tacky temporary adhesive base that better conforms to dashboard surfaces and, despite weighing less than the old model, holds its position much better. The new friction mount also features a movable mounting arm that folds flat for storage and is adjustable for more precise positioning of your Nuvi device.

Although for many, the windshield is the de facto standard location for mounting a GPS device, there are advantages to dashboard friction mounts. The dashboard is closer to the driver for easier viewing, hearing, and interacting with the device and usually skirts windshield mounting restrictions. Plus, dashboard mounting leaves no unsightly suction cup circles on the windshield glass.

A lot of people just prefer friction mounts to keep the windshield free of suction cup mount marks, and some just want the GPS closer in cars with steeply raked windshields. Whatever the reason, the new Garmin mount does away with the beanbag style in favor of the tacky bottom style. The kicker here is that the base is flexible and can conform to your dashboard's contours. Very cool.

The new Garmin Portable Friction Dashboard Mount carries a suggested retail price of $39.99, but is available now on Amazon for $29.99.

(Via GPS Lodge)