Introduction:

Sitting atop of the newer 200 series from Garmin, the garmin nuvi 270 gps system sports the 3.5′ touch screen (which is quite vivid and bright even topping some of the more expensive wide screen brightness and view ability) The x70 models main attraction is the comprehensive amount of pre-installed maps and data, that make them more suited to people that want to not just use their GPS systems at home but also take them across multiple borders in North America and Europe. Installing European maps on other units that don’t have them approaches $300-400 in many cases, so at this price it truly is a value unit for someone that needs that functionality.

Note that the 200 series is the entry level, and as such a few of the more advanced features are missing (bluetooth and wireless calling, mp3 player and FM traffic receiver to name the most common ones). At the core all the main functions, navigation, routing, accuracy and utilities are still present and for someone that is looking for a low cost GPS navigation system without the need for all the fancy and often very underused extra’s, it remains a powerful and affordable option.

Rating:

This will be my forth Garmin GPS system, and I am actually willing to say with my experience in using the Garmin and Nuvi lineups that the Garmin Nuvi 270 does offer me the best value for what I need it to do. All of the Nuvi’s are superior in my opionion to the other lines although the garmin 270 does seem to have less speaker power volume than the streetpilots, but also isn’t massive in size which is more important for me as I like it to be portable, light and easily traveled.

The Nuvi 270 seems to pick more logical and better routes when compared side by side to my two other non-nuvi series units, and also has a much better viewing angle and brightness then others which is more obviously apparent when you have them all setup together and viewing with the same types of ambience, glare and sunlight/direction.

I had long held off purchasing a gps system for my vehicle waiting for a model with both all of North America and Europe preloaded and a decent price. There are several out there, although I had became already quite accustomed to the garmin nuvi’s interface and functions through using various models of them in many rental cars as I went about my business trips.

The gamrin nuvi 270 had all the data I needed, I didn’t need the widescreen of the 670 version as I wanted to be able to easily carry it in my pockets on long trips and from vehicle to vehicle and was much cheaper then similar models from other GPS companies and brands at the time I bought it.

I just love my new garmin nuvi 270!!! I am what you may call slightly stingy, and I really did fight the wifes cries for a navigation system in our family vehicle quite strongly, saying that we already had a map and common sense, so why would we need to spend more money on some fancy gizmo.

Well I tell you folks, she finally got her way and we bought the Nuvi 270 (Europe ready and still fairly cheap compared to similar market units) and I am really glad we did! It is much more capable and intelligent then myself with a plain paper map, and looking back we actually had quite a few troubles on long car trips due to my really inability to navigate, despite what I had lead my family to believe hehe!

Rating:

I have owned the Garmin Streetpilot C530 since last year and bought it for just over $400 and then when I decided to goto Europe. I was disappointed extremely by the fact that I had to pay an extra $299 for European map upgrades bringing the total cost after all was said and done near $800. The garmin nuvi 270 however is much cheaper and has the bonus features of the European maps already included, along with some other noteworthy additions that make it a really good deal if its priced under $600-500.

I bought the Garmin Nuvi 270 gps unit shortly after having a terrible and unfriendly experience with a Magellan unit. The Magellan was bad in many ways, outdated and inaccurate maps for one, and technology and accuracy that was far inferior to what todays technology should encompass.

Switching quickly to the garmin nuvi 270, it was like the difference between night and day; the menus and interface were really simple and intuitive and near perfect in every way. I also travel frequently to cities in Europe and was pleased that the nuvi 270 gps offered European and Canada/USA maps already preinstalled without the need for a costly upgrade. I also looked into buying a TomTom go910 but ultimately after doing some good research and reading many garmin nuvi 270 review comments compared to the tomtom 910, I settled on this one seeing as how the general majority pointed it out to be the superior unit.