Garmin nuvi 660 In-Depth Review (GPS Magazine)

Verdict: Editor's Choice 2006

Garmin nuvi 660

I finally got my hands on the highly anticipated Garmin nuvi 660 and have completed my in-depth review. It's taken me longer than expected, but these in-depth reviews take a while to complete. Remember, the goal of GPS Magazine is to give you the same knowledge of a system as if you had actually purchased it. That way, there are no ugly surprises waiting for you when you get home from the store. The reviews take a little longer to complete, but the whole reason for starting GPS Magazine was that I couldn't find any truly in-depth reviews.

The nuvi 660 is Garmin's latest, and most expensive, consumer GPS, and builds on Garmin's highly popular Nuvi product line. The 660 sports a 4.3-inch wide-screen, SiRF, NAVTEQ maps, built-in FM transmitter, MP3 player, photo viewer, and much more -- it's got everything but the kitchen sink! But do all those features ultimately make for a better GPS, or just add clutter and confusion?

Read on for the full review.

1. Specifications

Storage: 2 GB internal storage media, preprogrammed with City Navigator® NT for street-level detail and addresses, plus listings of nearest restaurants, hotels, ATMs, etc., throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. In Europe, the nüvi 660 comes with full Western European detailed street map coverage
Routes: Automatically calculated with turn-by-turn instructions; custom road preference allows user to prioritize choice of back roads or major highways; automatic off-route recalculation shows how to get back on track if you miss a turn or exit; a detour function enables routing around traffic problems or road construction
Voice: Navigation instructions and warnings; Text-to-speech (TTS) feature identifies turns by street name. Wireless FM transmitter sends voice prompts, MP3's and audio books through your vehicle stereo.
Traffic: Alerts for traffic, road construction and weather-related tie-ups. nüvi 660 uses data to suggest alternate routes before problems are encountered
Waypoints: 500 with name and graphic symbol
Trip computer: Resettable odometer, timers, average and maximum speeds
Bluetooth® features: Bluetooth wireless technology allows hands-free calling capability when paired with your compatible phone. Just tap the screen to dial or answer a call, then speak into the nüvi 660’s built-in microphone. Voice dial available on phones that support voice tags and Bluetooth.
MP3 Player
Audio Book Player (for Audible.com media)
JPEG Picture Viewer
World Travel Clock With Time Zones
Currency Converter
Measurement Converter
Calculator
Card Game
Travel Alarm Clock With Automatic Wake-up
GPS Receiver: SiRF Star III high-sensitivity GPS receiver
USB Connector
Antenna: Flip up patch; MCX-type connector for optional external GPS antenna connection
Size: 4.9”W x 2.9”H x 0.9”D (12.4 x 7.4 x 2.3 cm)
Weight: 6.2 oz. (190 g)
Display: 4.3 diagonal, 480 x 272 pixels; WQVGA TFT landscape display, with white back-light and touch screen
Case: Not waterproof or IPX0
Temp. range: 32°F to 140°F (0°C to 60°C)
Headphone jack: standard 3.5 mm
Input: 12/24 Vdc
Usage: 10w
Battery life: 3 to 7 hours

2. Unboxing (what's in the box)

Nuvi 660
Vehicle suction cup mount
Carrying case
12/24-Volt adapter with integrated traffic receiver
AC charger
USB cable
Dashboard disk (used to mount the suction cup mount on your dashboard instead of the windshield)
Quick reference guide
Owner's manual (on CD-ROM)

Figure 1: The Garmin Nuvi 660 Box

The packaging for the Garmin Nuvi 660 looks almost identical to the other Garmin units (Nuvi 360, StreetPilot c550, etc.). Small, square, and unassuming.

What's included in the box
Figure 2: What's in the Box

Everything that ships with the Nuvi 660.

Garmin nuvi 660 mount
Figure 3: Nuvi 660's Windshield Mount

The windshield mount is a ball and socket style mount that is actually comprised of two pieces: the suction cup, and the docking cradle, or mount. The suction cup is identical to the Nuvi 360's mount, and almost identical to the StreetPilot c550's mount. The ball and socket style mount has proven very effective for Garmin. Also used on some of the StreetPilot's this style of mount is easy to use, and holds the unit firmly in place.

The mount is a major component of an in-car GPS unit, and frequently a stumbling block for GPS manufacturers. Garmin consistently does a better job with its mounting hardware than its competitors, and the nuvi 660 is no exception. Once the suction mount is locked into place (by lowering the lever on the mount), it sits securely in place. In fact, the mount is so secure, that I had a slightly hard time removing it from the window!

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October 17, 2006