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Garmin nuvi® 255W

Portable navigator

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Item# 150N255W offer details

Item# 150N255W

Review Sumary

 
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Garmin

Our take on the Garmin nuvi® 255W

Who needs a portable navigator?

Portable GPS puts you in touch with the world when you're on the road. Tap the restaurant icon, and it asks you what kind of food you're looking for. Type in "Mexican," and you're eating a burrito before you know it. A portable navigator not only gets you to your destination, it can also find museums, theaters, and other spots along the way. Many navigators receive traffic reports, so you can avoid jams. Other cool features range from hands-free calling to 3D graphics and lane guidance. Best of all, you can move a portable easily from car to car, a big plus for multi-car families.

n�Maps

The Garmin nüvi 255W portable GPS navigator provides accurate guidance to keep you on track. It offers a 4.3" widescreen touch display for clear map detail, plus text-to-speech voice prompts which announce actual street and exit names at turns. You'll hear "turn right on Water Street" instead of "turn right in 300 feet," so you can keep your eyes on your surroundings as you drive.

The nüvi 255W comes preloaded with maps of the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico viewable in 2-D or 3-D mode, along with 6 million selectable points of interest. You can search for hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, and other destinations, or add your own custom points of interest. Check out the impressive details on the big 4.3" screen, including shaded contours for elevation during map close-ups.

Convenient travel tools
A built-in digital picture viewer lets you enjoy your vacation photos on the way home — just slip your personal SD™ memory cards into the SD card slot. Garmin's security feature protects your navigator with a personalized password that keeps unauthorized people from viewing your itinerary or personal information. The nüvi 255W includes Garmin's trademark travel extras, such as world travel clock with time zones, currency and measurement converters, calculator, and more.

Get more with MSN® Direct
You can add Garmin's optional MSN Direct receiver for instant access to current traffic and weather information in most metropolitan areas, plus news headlines, stock prices, local events listings, movie times, and gas prices. Subscription fees apply to MSN Direct; a free trial period is included with receiver purchase.

Get more info on this product

Highlights:

  • GPS satellite navigation unit with built-in antenna
  • suction-cup windshield mount and dashboard disk
  • JPEG picture viewer
  • car power adapter and built-in rechargeable battery with 4 hours of life
  • Navigation features:
  • 4.3" display (480 x 272 pixels) with touchscreen control
  • 6 million points of interest
  • preloaded with maps for the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico
  • text-to-speech technology lets voice prompts announce road names over the built-in speaker
  • allows custom points of interest
  • built-in travel kit including world clock, currency and measurement converters, calculator, and more
  • security feature allows you to disable most functions with a user-entered password
  • multi-destination routing: allows 1 stopping point
  • transport modes: auto, pedestrian
  • Expandability:
  • SD card slot
  • compatible with MSN Direct content including traffic and weather (additional receiver and subscription required)
  • Other features and specs:
  • dimensions: 4-13/16"W x 3"H x 13/16"D
  • weight: 5.2 oz.
  • warranty: 1 year
 
Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

Features and Specs

Features and Specs
Features
Maps
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Built-in
Map Coverage
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USA (50), CA, PR
Points of Interest
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6,000,000
Multiple Destination Routing
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No
Screen Size
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4.3"
Widescreen
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Yes
Bluetooth Capable
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No
Photo Viewer
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Yes
Digital Audio Playback
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No
Text To Speech
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Yes
Voice Control
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No
Dynamic Content Services
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Optional MSN Direct
Removable Memory Type
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SD card
Battery Life
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4 hours
Warranty
Parts Warranty
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1 Year
Labor Warranty
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1 Year

Product Research

Product Research
What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

  • Portable GPS navigation receiver
  • Cradle
  • Suction-cup mounting bracket
  • Hard plastic mounting disk with self-adhesive base
  • Cigarette lighter adapter with attached 69" cable (5V/1A)
  • Quick Start Guide (English)
  • Quick Start Guide (French)
  • Accessory Guide
  • DMTI End User License Agreement
  • NAVTEQ End User License Agreement
  • Important Safety and Product Information
Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Features

Product Overview: The nüvi 255W is a portable GPS navigator and entry-level personal travel assistant that provides automatic routing, turn-by-turn voice directions, and touch screen control. In addition to these navigation features, the nüvi 255W can display JPEG photos.

Internal Memory: The nüvi 255W comes with an internal memory for storage of supplemental maps and photos. When the unit is connected to your computer, the nüvi 255W is recognized as an additional drive.

SD Memory Slot: The nüvi 255W has an SD memory slot for additional map data from optional SD memory cards. The unit can also display photo images from an SD memory card.

Map Software: The nüvi 255W comes loaded with City Navigator NT software, which contains mapping detail of the entire United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The maps feature nearly 6-million points of interest (POIs), such as hotels, restaurants, gas stations, ATMs and attractions.

Garmin Lock: Garmin Lock is an anti-theft feature. You can set a 4-digit PIN and a security location (such as your home or office). Every time the nüvi 255W is powered on, you must enter the PIN, or drive to your security location.

Touch Screen Display: The unit features a bright, 4.3" (diagonal) widescreen LCD with touch screen controls. The display has a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels, with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and 64,000 colors. The screen has a manual brightness adjustment.

Custom Points of Interest: The nüvi 255W will accept custom points of interest (POI) databases, available from various companies on the Internet. Some custom POI databases contain alert information for points such as safety cameras and school zones, and the unit can notify you as you approach one of these points. To download custom POIs, you will need the Garmin POI Loader software, available on Garmin's website.

MSN Direct: MSN Direct is an optional service that sends traffic reports, gas prices and more to your navigation device through an FM signal. MSN Direct is available in 100 of the largest cities across the United States. Using an optional MSN Direct receiver (150GDB55) and a subscription service to MSN Direct, you can check the weather, avoid traffic backups, compare local gas prices and check movie times and locations when you travel with the nuvi 255.

Information Pages: The information provided by the nüvi 255W is found on various display screens called pages. The pages give you the following information:

  • Map:
    • Indicates real-time moving map illustrating your current position and intended route
    • Shows map scale and geographic details such as lakes, rivers, highways and towns
    • Allows you to zoom, pan, and point using the touch screen controls
    • When you are following a route, your arrival time is displayed in the lower left corner, the distance to the next turn (Turn In) is shown in the lower right corner
    • When you are simply driving while viewing the Map page (not following a route), your speed is shown in the lower left corner, the direction you are driving is shown in the lower right corner
  • Trip Information:
    • Shows current compass heading while moving
    • Indicates current speed, average driving speed, overall average speed, maximum speed
    • Calculates driving time, stopped time and total time
    • Displays overall distance traveled (odometer) and distance to your final destination
  • Current Route:
    • Displays a list of turn-by-turn instructions for your entire route as well as arrival information
    • Shows direction of each turn and distance
  • Next Turn:
    • Shows the next turn on the map and the distance and time left before you reach the turn

Where To? During navigation, you can search for places by pressing "Menu", then "Where To?" You can select an Address, Go Home, Points of Interest, Recently Found, Favorites, Extras, Intersections, Cities, Browse Map, and Coordinates. You can also access Spell Name for direct entry of your new destination, or browse the map. You can search for locations near your present location (default), or select a different city, your current route, or your destination.

Where Am I? The "Where Am I?" feature gives you instant access to important information in case of an emergency. When you select "Where Am I?" from the menu, you get the coordinates (including elevation) of your current position, plus the nearest address and intersections. There are also buttons to help you locate the nearest hospitals, police stations, or gas stations. You can also save the location for future reference.

Route Preferences: When calculating a route, you can select the following preferences: faster time, shorter distance, or off road.

Avoidances: You can program the unit to avoid certain things that may be undesirable on your route. Examples of things that can be avoided include U-Turns, Highways, Toll Roads, Carpool Lanes, Unpaved Roads, Traffic, and Ferries.

Waypoints: You can manually mark and name any map position as a waypoint for later recall. Up to 1000 waypoints can be saved into memory.

Map Orientation: You can select one of three map orientation displays:

  • 2D Track Up: two-dimensional map that constantly displays the route from top to bottom on the screen
  • 2D North Up: two-dimensional map that constantly displays North at the top of the screen
  • 3D Track Up: three-dimensional map that constantly displays the route from top to bottom on the screen

Screen Color Mode: You can select one of three color modes for the display screen:

  • Daytime: has a lighter, brighter background
  • Nighttime: has a black background, easier to see at night
  • Auto: display automatically switches between daytime and nighttime at sunrise and sunset

Indoor Use: When indoors, you can activate the built-in simulator and practice using the unit. This turns off the GPS receiver so it's not searching for satellites.

Vehicle Icons: The default on-screen icon representing your vehicle is a blue sports car. In the menu, you can select a blue 4WD pickup truck, a blue compact car, a blue 3D arrow, a pair of boots, a large bird, or a rolling beach ball. You can also download other vehicle icons from the "Garmin Garage" website, such as "Big Daddy" tractor trailer, "Lil' Buddy" blue compact, "Lil' Missy" pink compact, "Snacktime" pizza slice, "Phantom" roadster, "Steponit" taxi, "Medic" ambulance, Garmin #19 stock car, "Domino" foreign sedan, or "Recess" school bus. Other downloadable vehicles are available in the Holiday bundle, Pirates of the Caribbean bundle, or Service Vehicles bundle.

Picture Viewer: The nüvi 255W can display photo images (JPEG files). The image files must be stored on an optional SD memory card or transferred to the internal memory.

World Clock: The world clock allows you to display the current time for four locations throughout the world. You can also display a map of the world showing which portions are in daylight and which are in darkness.

Unit Converter: You can convert area, distance, speed, temperature, volume, and weight.

Calculator: The calculator allows you to perform simple arithmetic.

Panoramio: The Panoramio website provides photographs that include location information called geotags. These photos can be downloaded into the nüvi 255W or SD memory card, and the unit can route you to the location.

Power Requirements: The nüvi 255W operates on your vehicle's battery using the included 12-volt cigarette lighter power adapter, the built-in Lithium-Ion batteries, or household current using an optional AC adapter. The Lithium-Ion batteries provide up to 4 hours of use, and require a 4-hour charge to full capacity. Stored data, such as waypoints or unit settings, are not lost when the unit is disconnected from a power source.

Antenna: The unit has a built-in antenna in its top panel. In order to obtain an optimal signal, the unit must have a clear, unobstructed view of the sky. It the unit is mounted in a vehicle with a coated windshield or an in-screen heating system there may be difficulty in obtaining a good signal.

Mounting Options: The unit should be securely installed when used in a vehicle. The unit comes with a mounting bracket that includes a suction cup. The suction cup can be used to mount the unit to the windshield or to the dash (using the plastic mounting disk). Once the nüvi 255W is mounted, it can be adjusted on the ball-and-socket bracket for best visibility. The unit must be installed where it has a relatively unobstructed view of the sky.

Optional Pro.Fit G3 Vehicle Specific Mounts: The Garmin nüvi GPS units are directly compatible with the optional Pro.Fit G3 series of Vehicle Specific Mounts (VSMs). The G3 Series mounts have a ball-and-socket mechanism that perfectly fits the nüvi mounting cradles, giving you a custom mount designed for your vehicle. Please check the Crutchfield vehicle selector to see if a G3 Series VSM is available for your vehicle.

Interface Capability: This unit can be connected to a PC via USB cable (not included). This interface allows you to download additional map information to the unit's flash memory. The unit has a standard Mini-USB Version 2.0 jack.

 

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1-10 of 11 items >> Sort Results By: Date Reviewed | Rating | Helpfulness
 
4 out of 5

Great Product

Written By Kathy, Corpus Christi, TX on Friday, June 05, 2009
 
This GPS is very user friendly. Easy to set up, screen is easy to see and the voice guidance is very clear. I love it!!
3 out of 3 people found this helpful
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4 out of 5

Garmin nuvi® 255W

Written By Alex, Chicago/Provo on Wednesday, February 18, 2009
 
The little GPS unit works really well. It helped me on my moving trip from Chicago to Provo Ut and then from Provo to San Diego for the weekend. My only complaint about the unit is that at the night setting the screen seems to be a little too bright for my liking, even on the lowest brightness setting. The screen reflects on to the windshield and its destracting when you are a spirited driver. Otherwise its great far better then the older garmin that i had used a year or two ago.
10 out of 10 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Does what it says

Written By Rob, Micanopy, Florida on Wednesday, February 04, 2009
 
This is a good unit for the price. It works well, but some of the roads are listed wrong, and it can take you on a weird rout, but it will get you there, or at least close. The screen is a good size, not too large. Any larger and it would be in the way! It is a great GPS!
3 out of 3 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Another great Garmin purchase!

Written By babyd, Glendive, MT on Tuesday, January 27, 2009
 
I bought the Garmin Nuvi 255W as a gift for my husband for christmas. I purchased a hand held Garmin GPS (which he takes everywhere) for him several years ago and he has never had a bit of problem with it. The 255W works flawlessly, pretty much right from the box to the pickup, and downloading available updates, etc. was, and is easy. He really likes the wider screen and ease of viewing. He enjoys the fact that it speaks street names and when to turn, etc....! It is great that we can put it in my car when we go traveling as well, but I like it so much that I am thinking of getting my own! You can't go wrong with Garmin. I will definitely continue to purchase Garmin products in the future for all our GPS needs. I trust the name and their products.
11 out of 11 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Great product

Written By Brian, Warrensburg, MO on Wednesday, December 31, 2008
 
This gps is great, it worked flawlessly on my drive through kansas city, and garmins tech support is probably the best I have delt with other than crutchfield.
4 out of 6 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Its GARMIN for me

Written By Kirk, Phoenixville, PA on Monday, December 01, 2008
 
On the first trip I took with this device, I stupidly missed my exit off the PA Turnpike and was going to miss my appointment. This device recalculated and told me to take the next exit in 9 miles, then took me through back roads I never would have known about, right to the place I was going, on time.

Thanksgiving weekend, took a trip to NYC and on way home was not paying attention again on Staten Island, missed the exit, it recalculated and got me through the local neigborhood back onto the expressway and on my merry way.

Both times the 255w had told me the right exit to get off and I was not paying attention to it. It is very forgiving.

Instructions are scant inside the box, but plentiful on the Garmin web site, or Google Garmin and there are lots of tips, tricks and pointers for your GPS.
21 out of 23 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Garmin nuvi® 255W

Written By Bob, Marquette MI on Saturday, September 06, 2008
 
My wife loves her Garmin. It is very user friendly and the technology is truely amazing to us. I'm glad that we ordered the model that speaks street names. I would recommend this product to anyone who travels in unfamiliar territory.
14 out of 16 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

A Useful Easy to Use GPS

Written By Jeff, Martinsville, VA on Saturday, August 30, 2008
 
I recently purchased the Garmin 255W GPS to use on a trip to visit our family in the Washington DC area. This was my first experience with a GPS unit and I am very impressed with the ease of use and intuitive functions of the unit.

I was able to go to our son's new home the first time without getting lost. The text to speech turn by turn directions are great. The points of interest feature is very useful. I was able to locate gas stations and restaurants along the way and have directions to them without getting lost. The wide screen is easy to read, even in bright light and provides all the information you need. This is very good GPS that meets my needs perfectly.

As usual, Crutchfiled provided excellent service with superfast shipping. Their service both before and after the sale, as well as prompt shipment is the reason I am a loyal repeat customer. I highly recommed both Garmin nuvi 255W and Crutchfiled.

15 out of 15 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Great GPS Unit But MSN Direct Feature Not Yet Available

Written By Tony, Long Island, N.Y. on Friday, August 01, 2008
 
The 255W works as advertised. The text to speech feature also calls out the street names. Garmin is one of the best in the GPS field.
Now to the "But" part. This is one of the lowest priced Garmin units that has the MSN Direct traffic feature as well as other features. Here on Long Island , NY that can be a great asset. The unit was advertised under the Crutchfield Reasearch Team's notes has having the supplied cigarette lighter adapter cable capable of receiving the MSN broadcasts for a free three month trial period.
This unfortunately is not the case. When I called Crutchfield's tech support they referred me to Garmin. Garmin went through a series of checks on their end. The 255W is out about a month now and unfortunately the cigarette lighter cable that they said was standard will be available as an optional cable in the last quarter of '08. They apologized for jumping the gun on advertising that feature on the unit.
When I called Crutchfield back they also apologized for the manufacture's error and said I could return the unit if I wanted to for another. Nice jesture on their part but that kind of defeats the purpose of having a middle of the road GPS capable of MSN Direct. The higher priced units are really out of my budget range. I will wait for the availablity of the MSN Direct cable. As I have said before this is a great unit for the money spent.



[Editor's Note: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have corrected our database regarding the supplied cigarette adapter.]
16 out of 16 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Garmin nuvi® 255W

Written By Steve, Avon CT on Tuesday, July 29, 2008
 
I received this unit a couple of days before a trip out west, and my experience with it was outstanding:
- the maps were completely up to date
- the routes it created for me were excellent
- satellite acqusition was lightning quick (aside from the slow acquisition when the unit is powered up for the very first use)
- rerouting was also almost instantaneous
- the speaker volume was perfect
- the screen was perfectly visible, day and night
- the user interface could not be more intuitive
- the points of interest lists were quite complete and easily navigable
- the suction cup works easily and flawlessly.
I drove all around El Paso and then Santa Fe. The unit guided me perfectly, even through tiny one-way streets, directly to each destination. This is how we all wish products were designed and manufactured.
My conclusions from this trip:
1. I would never take a driving vacation without this unit. Never again will I squint at tiny city street maps in search of an obscure lane. Driving was totally pleasurable again.
2. The text to speech function is mandatory. I feel that units without this feature, such as the 205, should not even be offered.
3. Although this is my first auto GPS unit, I cannot imagine another unit offering a better user experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend the 255W.
35 out of 38 people found this helpful
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1-10 of 11 items >>
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Garmin nuvi® 255W