Garmin Nuvi 760 GPS Review

The top-of-the-line Garmin Nuvi 760 GPS is a feature-rich navigation dynamo. It possesses all the great features of the Nuvi GPS line plus adds some smart design changes and powerful routing features.

This Garmin automotive GPS delivers on its promise, providing a very clean, intuitive, and complete navigation experience.

The Nuvi 760 has a charcoal black case, different from the silver case of the other Nuvi GPS models. This is more than just a style change: the black frame contrasts with the touchscreen, making it easier to read.

Garmin nüvi 760 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

The screen is Garmin's best yet. Extremely bright and sunlight-readable, it automatically dims at night and brightens during the day. The wide format 4.3-inch screen makes room for larger menu buttons and more map detail.

Garmin portable GPS units are known for their excellent user interface and ease-of-use, and the Garmin Nuvi 760 GPS is no exception. Large graphics, simple menu options, and a clean, uncluttered map view make it easy even for beginners to use. You probably won't even need to look at the user manual.

The device's routing choices are good, and route re-calculation when you miss a turn is fast.

The text-to-speech function speaks street names for you, minimizing the need to look at the screen while driving.

Bluetooth makes hands-free calling a cinch. The unit connects to a Bluetooth-enabled cellphone quickly, and on select phone models will even download your address book and call log, greatly enhancing the call functionality.

The voice quality on the microphone is excellent. Calling out is simple, just tap on the phone icon and enter the number manually or from your contact list. You can even call restaurants and other places right from the point of interest list. A very cool feature.

The Nuvi 760 comes with pre-loaded maps of North America and a hefty database of points of interest.

The traffic receiver is built into the power cable--a smart design which reduces dashboard clutter and provides good reception. Traffic updates are through the Clear Channel traffic service; it is free for three months, after that time a monthly fee will apply.

Several smart features set the Garmin Nuvi 760 GPS apart from most of its siblings. The best one is multiple-destination routing. You can choose a number of destinations and the device will calculate the fastest route including all points. This is a fantastic feature for people who make multiple stops such as delivery drivers or sales representatives.

You can also use the multiple routing feature to preview routes in other cities. This is great for pre-planning a trip.

The power cable connects to the cradle, not the unit itself, so you can remove the Nuvi 760 without disconnecting any cords.

Take it for a walk, and this Garmin portable GPS unit automatically remembers your car location, making it easy to find your way back to your parking space.

The Garmin Nuvi 760 GPS automatically records track logs which are compatible with Google Earth, so you can see where you've been and share it with others. This is a nice feature, though certainly not one we'd consider essential.

A very useful feature is Where Am I? Tap the Where Am I? button and the unit will tell you your coordinates and the nearest intersection. It also finds the nearest hospitals, police stations and gas stations for you.

A small but helpful change is the option to use a QWERTY keypad for address entry rather than the standard alphabetical one.

The Nuvi 760 does have a few issues worth discussing. First off, as with all the Nuvi GPS models, it lacks an external volume control. We'd like to see this external control added in future versions.

The FM transmitter to play sound through your car stereo works well in rural areas, but is virtually useless in large cities, where the radio frequencies are overly crowded. It's better to connect to your car stereo using the line-in jack, if it has one.

Traffic updates are helpful, but not as much as you might think. Often there is little you can do to avoid traffic jams even when you have up-to-date information, and the routing around traffic can be slower than staying on the highway.

The map view refresh is jerky, not as smooth as some of the Nuvi 760's competitors.

Final Thoughts

Is it worth the money? Yes, we think so. The excellent design, ease-of-use, and full complement of features make the Garmin Nuvi 760 GPS an automotive navigation powerhouse.

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