Garmin Nuvi 270 Review

Just the size of a deck of cards, the Garmin Nuvi 270 is a slim and sleek GPS wonder. It comes preloaded with maps of North America and Europe, and it’s so small that you can fit it in a purse, briefcase, or even your shirt pocket. It has settings for car or walking, so you can use it on your vacation sightseeing, or just walking around a new city.

It’s relatively small screen size doesn’t seem to pose a problem at all. The screen is very clear and the instructions are so easy to follow, even if you have not experience with GPS devices, you can use the Nuvi 270 flawlessly. With just a  touch on the color screen to enter a destination, you get results with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. The load time is unbelievably fast for a device this small.

It features a JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and an anti-theft feature.

Putting in your destination is fast and accurate, and it comes preloaded with a points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, and ATM’s. You can also set alerts to warn you of upcoming points of interest, such as speed traps and safety cameras.

The mapping system is more advanced than the smaller Garmin Nuvi series’, so additional upgrading of the maps is not terribly necessary.

One drawback is that the Nuvi 270 doesn’t come with a wall charger, only a PC or auto charger, so you’d need to spend an additional $30 or so if you want to be able to charge it at home before a trip. The battery life boasts up to 5 hours of charge time, however, so an additional charger may not be needed if you travel locally.

The slim design does make it perfect for mounting on your windshield, or even your side windows for easier use while driving. And it’s accurate and dependable.

It comes ready to use, and is so easy to understand that instructions aren’t necessary, but are included in the package.

The bottom line is, if you’re in need of a GPS device that’s slim and easy to carry, and one that’s easy to use and understand, then the Garmin Nuvi 270 may be just what you’re looking for. It’s a bit more advanced than the Nuvi 200 or 250 series’. It’s intuitive in every sense of the word, and a great device to get you where you need to be, without taking you around the world to get there.

Product Description 

Navigate both North America and Europe without loading more maps with the affordable nüvi 270. This entry-level personal travel assistant makes traveling so simple. For even more mapping options, nüvi 250 and 200 offer less map coverage at a lower price. Like all nüvi 200-series members, the 270 features an easy-to-use colorful touchscreen and ultra-slim design — perfect for everyday navigation.

Navigate With Ease

nüvi 270 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator® NT street maps for both North America and Europe, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. In addition, nüvi 270 accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs.

Take It With You

Like the rest of the nüvi 200-series, nüvi 270 sports a sleek, slim design and fits comfortably in your pocket or purse. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes it convenient for navigation by car or foot.

Go Beyond Navigation

Navigation is just the beginning. nüvi 270 includes many travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock™, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map. Optional plug-in SD cards let you add additional features. Purchase Garmin Travel Guides for detailed data on attractions and our SaversGuide for information on nearby merchants offering discounts to customize nüvi for your travel needs.

nüvi 270: Simple navigation at an affordable price.

Physical & Performance: 
Unit dimensions, WxHxD:3.8″W x 2.8″H x .8″D (9.7 x 7.1 x 2 cm)
Display size, WxH:2.8″W x 2.1″H (7.2 x 5.4 cm); 3.5″ diag (8.9 cm)
Display resolution, WxH:320 x 240 pixels
Display type:QVGA color antiglare TFT with white backlight
Weight:5.2 ounces (147.42 g)
Battery:rechargeable lithium-ion
Battery life:up to 5 hours
Waterproof:no
High-sensitivity receiver:yes
RoHS version available:yes
Maps & Memory: 
Basemap:yes
Preloaded maps:yes (transatlantic)
Ability to add maps:yes
Built-in memory:internal solid state
Accepts data cards:SD card (not included)
Waypoints:500
Routes:0
Features: 
Voice prompts (e.g. “Turn right in 500 ft.”):yes (internal speaker)
Speaks street names (e.g. “Turn right ON ELM STREET in 500 ft.”) :no
3D map view:yes
Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route):no
Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation):yes
Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road):yes
Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.):yes
Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest):yes
Hands-free calling with Bluetooth® wireless technology:no
FM traffic compatible:no
XM Navtraffic (includes basic weather) & Radio for U.S. compatible:no
MSN® Direct for U.S. compatible:no
MP3 player:no
Audio book player:no
Picture viewer:yes
Configurable vehicle icons (select car-shaped icons for map navigation):yes
World travel clock, currency & measurement converter, calculator:yes
Touchscreen:yes
Remote control:no
FM transmitter:no
Headphone jack/audio line-out:no
Dead reckoning:no
Garmin Lock™ (anti-theft feature):yes
Motorcycle-friendly:no
Additional:This USB Mass Storage device is compatible with Windows® 2000 or later and Mac OS X 10.4 or later.

What’s in the Box: 

  • nüvi 270
  • Preloaded City Navigator® NT for North America and Europe (full coverage)
  • Vehicle suction cup mount*
  • Vehicle power cable
  • Dashboard disk
  • Set up and go guide

*Notice to Drivers in California and Minnesota

Package contents may vary per version. See your local dealer for more information.

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