Garmin's nuvi 885T GPS navigator reviewed

Review: Car GPS System

Garmin nuvi 885T

Rating: **** (4/5)

Upside: The new interesting feature, Lane Assist with Junction View, the Bluetooth function, excellent speech recognition tool, the MSN Direct Service, the popular “Where’s my Car” feature

Downside: The device’s cost at $519.99, and the lane assist feature, which does not stay on the display screen long enough

Overview: The Garmin nuvi 885T is a successor to the aging 880, which has satisfied many with its features. These features are carried over in the new 885T, so expect some of the old device’s favorites like the MSN direct service, which serves as a personal travel assistant, and the innovative voice commands.

The novel feature, Lane Assist with Junction View, makes this GPS system more accurate, whereas the Bluetooth function, excellent speech recognition tool, the MSN Direct Service, and the popular “Where’s my Car” feature add a whole new dimension to the multiple-tasking abilities of this sleek device. The widely used “Where am I?” feature has also been enhanced to provide specific locations of the user’s vehicle, making it a valuable device on foot too. Now people can remember exactly where they parked as well as the fastest route back to the car.

The rechargeable lithium-ion battery, combined with the same sleek design that resembles the rest of the nuvi 850 series, make it handy to carry around in places like amusement parks and malls. The battery is now replaceable as well, allowing long-distance travelers to carry a spare with them.

Like the other top models, the Garmin nuvi 885T provides some useful extras, too, that allow the device to provide functionality beyond the regular GPS and navigation devices. One of the recent additions include the new photo navigation feature where pictures from the Google Panoramio service can be downloaded via the Garmin Connect service, something that can be really handy for frequent travelers.

The only things that can let the users down in such a brilliant product are its cost at $519.99 and the lane assist feature which does not stay on the display screen for a longer duration.