July 2008
Garmin Nuvi 205 GPS: First Look
Evolutionary changes mark improvements to the entry-level navigation device line
Garmin has freshened its popular, entry-level Nuvi 200 line with a new personal navigation device (PND) series known as 2x5.
In Consumer Reports tests, those new devices have proved to be evolutionary improvements over the well-rated models they replace. Notably, the
205 benefits from refinements to the graphical interface that add convenience and better convey navigational instructions.
It also is traffic "ready" (with an optional receiver) and includes a "Where am I?" function that provides nearest intersection
and can help the user find or contact the nearest emergency services.
Considered a basic navigator, the 205 is available in standard and widescreen (205W) formats. It comes equipped with preloaded maps for the contiguous U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. (Alaska and Canada are not included.)
Priced like the 200 it supplants, the 205 is positioned to compete with other entry-level models such as the Magellan RoadMate and TomTom One series. The Nuvi 255 adds spoken street names—a nice convenience for navigating busy or potentially confusing areas—and expanded map coverage (U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico).
To evaluate this updated line, we purchased a Nuvi 205 ($200) and Nuvi 205W ($250). We also ordered the Nuvi 255 and Nuvi 255W for testing.
Key features include:
Initial impressions. The Nuvi 205 has an easy-to-use interface, typical of Garmin navigators, with the benefit of added traffic capabilities.
(The traffic information requires the purchase of an additional receiver and data service. The receiver was not available
for this report.)
An extremely portable device, the Nuvi 205 can fit in a shirt pocket. And it has some extras not common to budget-priced navigation units, such as a photo viewer, calculator, and unit converter.
Garmin revised the software interface with these new models, improving the touch-screen keypad design, adding speed-limit icons, and including the "Where am I?" feature previously found only on higher-level models. Other changes include route information on the confirmation page and the relocation of the zoom buttons on the map page. The distance to next turn is now displayed in the upper-left-hand corner, and it is joined by a much-welcomed arrow that indicates the direction of the next maneuver.
While most revisions are positive, there is at least one change that seems like a step backward. For example, on previous models the text display header over the map would give helpful guidance, such as indicating if you needed to stay on the road for 10 miles: "Continue on I-87." The display would change to list the next road when approaching an upcoming maneuver. With the 205, the header almost always lists the next road, rather than indicate the current road on which a driver is traveling.
Also, as with most Garmin units, a user cannot exclude a road from the direction list. That is a feature that users may miss, especially when local knowledge such as knowing a road is under construction or congested with traffic during certain hours can be applied. Likewise, the detour function could be improved—a common weakness among Garmin devices, with the Nuvi 5000 being the notable exception. In the 205, the user is provided with only one option for detouring, without being able to specify distances to route around a trouble area, such as 1, 5, or 10 miles. Such a feature can be handy if there is a known problem, say, a tree across the road, and you would like to get back on your current road as soon as possible after the obstruction.
CR's take. Like the 200 before it, the Garmin Nuvi 205 is a smart choice for an entry-level navigator, with the 205W providing the same functions coupled with a larger screen that is easier to read and use. Both devices benefit from a friendly interface that should particularly appeal to first-time users.
Shoppers should also consider entry-level options from Magellan and TomTom that have done well in our tests. Before buying a basic navigator, consider what features are important (such as map coverage, traffic capability, text-to-speech, and user interface preference) before purchasing. Browsing the Garmin 2x5 line allows you to find a device that builds on the core competency demonstrated by the 205, while balancing price and features.
For more information on portable GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS with other shoppers and owners in the forums.
Considered a basic navigator, the 205 is available in standard and widescreen (205W) formats. It comes equipped with preloaded maps for the contiguous U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. (Alaska and Canada are not included.)
Priced like the 200 it supplants, the 205 is positioned to compete with other entry-level models such as the Magellan RoadMate and TomTom One series. The Nuvi 255 adds spoken street names—a nice convenience for navigating busy or potentially confusing areas—and expanded map coverage (U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico).
To evaluate this updated line, we purchased a Nuvi 205 ($200) and Nuvi 205W ($250). We also ordered the Nuvi 255 and Nuvi 255W for testing.
Key features include:
- 3.5-inch (4.3-inch 205W) screen
- "Where am I?" emergency feature
- FM and MSN traffic capability
- Preloaded maps for the contiguous U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico
An extremely portable device, the Nuvi 205 can fit in a shirt pocket. And it has some extras not common to budget-priced navigation units, such as a photo viewer, calculator, and unit converter.
Garmin revised the software interface with these new models, improving the touch-screen keypad design, adding speed-limit icons, and including the "Where am I?" feature previously found only on higher-level models. Other changes include route information on the confirmation page and the relocation of the zoom buttons on the map page. The distance to next turn is now displayed in the upper-left-hand corner, and it is joined by a much-welcomed arrow that indicates the direction of the next maneuver.
While most revisions are positive, there is at least one change that seems like a step backward. For example, on previous models the text display header over the map would give helpful guidance, such as indicating if you needed to stay on the road for 10 miles: "Continue on I-87." The display would change to list the next road when approaching an upcoming maneuver. With the 205, the header almost always lists the next road, rather than indicate the current road on which a driver is traveling.
Also, as with most Garmin units, a user cannot exclude a road from the direction list. That is a feature that users may miss, especially when local knowledge such as knowing a road is under construction or congested with traffic during certain hours can be applied. Likewise, the detour function could be improved—a common weakness among Garmin devices, with the Nuvi 5000 being the notable exception. In the 205, the user is provided with only one option for detouring, without being able to specify distances to route around a trouble area, such as 1, 5, or 10 miles. Such a feature can be handy if there is a known problem, say, a tree across the road, and you would like to get back on your current road as soon as possible after the obstruction.
CR's take. Like the 200 before it, the Garmin Nuvi 205 is a smart choice for an entry-level navigator, with the 205W providing the same functions coupled with a larger screen that is easier to read and use. Both devices benefit from a friendly interface that should particularly appeal to first-time users.
Shoppers should also consider entry-level options from Magellan and TomTom that have done well in our tests. Before buying a basic navigator, consider what features are important (such as map coverage, traffic capability, text-to-speech, and user interface preference) before purchasing. Browsing the Garmin 2x5 line allows you to find a device that builds on the core competency demonstrated by the 205, while balancing price and features.
For more information on portable GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS with other shoppers and owners in the forums.
