Home > Consumer Reviews > Garmin Nuvi 610T Satellite Navigation System - UK Mapping, Widescreen, Traffic, Bluetooth

I initially looked at the TOMTOM's and in fact purchased the NAVMAN S70 which I returned due to a software fault, and TOMTOM seemed to have a bad rep. for reliability (plus the bluetooth doesn't work with SONY ERICSSON phones).

The Garmin is great! First of all, it has a bluetooth memory, i.e. once paired to your phone... when you turn the garmin totally OFF, the next time it is turned on, it connects almost instantly (presuming the BT is on on your phone).

It picks up a signal 100 times quicker and stronger than the Navman, and for the same price, you get the free traffic alerts and about tripple the battery life. FYI - the mains chargers for the NAVMAN AND GARMIN seem to be exactly the same, it's just a USB style charger.

The included dash mount disc is excellent, not that the window mount really marks the windscreen anyway, it's just good to have options. It comes with a nice leather cover and is VERY easy to use. In around 10 minutes I stored all my favorite places no problem at all.

Highly recommended due to the great features, the reliable bluetooth, the great battery life, the traffic alerts and it just works - which is nice!

Nice Screen and easy graphics. Near instant pick up of Satellites on start up and the traffic info addition is really neat

Windscreen mount small, easy to use and wel deisgned to cope with just about any rake of windscreen. Unit is slim so easy to carry in the pocket in supplied leather case

Worked straight out of the box and simple to download the software and connect to PC for updates

Bluetooth phone worked straight out of the box too. Its a unit that wont frustrate to get the best out of it

Only downside is the Speed Cam facility. Even the latest updates dont have 2 cameras near me (that have been there for several years) and the audible warning is quiet and visible warning wont be noticed when concentrating on your driving.

Overall an excellent SatNav unit but there are other companies that give better camera coverage. I'm going to try a third party provider and see if that resolves.

I have just purchased the 610T after trying the TomTom Go 520. The TomTom was a well put together piece of kit but the functionality did not live up to expectations: speed cameras out of date, Bluetooth not compatible with Blackberry, traffic alerts impossible to get...
Anyway, thought I'd go with the 610T. In short the pro's and con's:

Pro's:

> Nice and light and initially easy to set up
> Lots of extras, including (when I can get them) live traffic updates
> No separate traffic receiver

Con's:

> No manual, just a quick start guide. Manual is on a disk or the website that you need to print off if you have to refer whilst in the car
> Traffic updates: When you try and set this up on the machine in the car it asks you to register on their website. I followed the instructions only to be asked for $60 (obviously targeted at the USA). In frustration, I phoned Garmin and they said "oh, ignore that. You've got free updates. It may take a while but TrafficMaster updates will come thru - it may be a day or even 3 days but they will come thru". Not very impressed at this, doesn't say that on the blurb or website...
> If you've got a Blackberry and want to use the Bluetooth functionality then you may have to wait a while. I spoke to Garmin again and said that they have Blackberry in their "compatible phone" section of their website but no pairing instructions. I was advised it may be coming soon.
> FM Transmitter; yet to find this functionality, thought it would be clear but not. I would like the instructions to come thru my car radio but may take a while to find how it should be done.

So, I was impressed by the ads and some of the feedback already given - hence me buying it. I would give a word of caution to any potential purchasers, I have seen £100 3.5" screen Sat Nav machines offer exactly the same funtionality that I currently get from this, consider all options and how and why you want one before you buy.

Ironically, the TomTom and the Garmin suffer the same issues! All that glitters is not always gold...

Garmin have a lot to do to reinstill my confidence...

Brought this a few months ago and I'm fairly happy. It is the first Sat Nav I brought and went with a brand expecting to get the best of breed.

For the stuff it does well oyu can buy another for £100 less. The bits it does bad badly, well thats the bit that costs more.

So pro's
Easy to use, good features, has good detail on speed cameras (saved me a few times), never failed to find an address in the UK and blue tooth is easy to use. Web update software is easy as well, Good information on local petrol stations. this is essential.

Con's and areas for improvement
Battery life is short, TMC traffic update is next to useless unless your already in a built up area and been travelling for 30 mins. The delay is also late or has cleared up by the time you get it so the estimated delay is mostly incorrect as well. I recommend you always have the traffic on via your car radio. The fastest route is almost always 100% wrong, fine for the last 5 miles but get a route map off web for the long bit of the journey. It thinks the shortest shortest distance is quickest.. err not on our A and B roads Garmin !! Finally when unit is plugged in on charge, then it would be good to dim the screen. It is too bright to drive on the dash at night and dangerously distracting.

I really don't see the point in an MP3 player either. The speaker is poor so I would use my car radio or IPOD. Also on the food and shop finder its a shame they restrict the options to those who pay Garmin. I don't live off Mac donalds and chinese restaurants.. Would be better if this feature was there for the user not the Garmin sponsors.

If I were to buy again I would take a serious look at the cheaper models. These devices are still incredibly over priced for the technology they use and Garmin is no exception. Consider whats important to you.

This is my 3rd Garmin GPS. I`ve had it for about 15 months and it broke down once (very quickly replaced, no hassle, by Garmin. I took it myself to the UK importers near Southampton).
This unit does all that I ask of a satnav. Full Postcode search, Bluetooth, automatic day/ night setting, very quick satellite lock on, a true (bright) sunlight readable screen and north up, course up or 3D view. All very useful.

HOWEVER, when this unit broke down I borrowed a friends Tomtom (I forget which model), and I have to say I thought the TT was a LOT nicer to use. For one, when inputing addresses, the TT uses a kind of predictive text. Put in an S, and it comes up straight away with all places starting with S. Then put in a O and it looks up all places starting with SO, etc etc. The Garmin has a similar system, but it is VERY hit and miss. Sometimes you can spell out the whole town/city name and you STILL have to press "Search" at the end. The TT also had a lot more features that can be configured to your personal taste.
Another thing the TT has over the Garmin is how smoothly the map moves, particularly around roundabouts. The Garmin on the other hand is very jerky, even after a software download that does improve this situation slightly.

The BIGGEST flaw though, in my opinion, is the Autozoom feature, which you cannot disable. This alone knocks off at least 2 stars from my rating, and also means my next GPS purchase will NOT be Garmin!
To me, autozoom means that as you get closer to your destination, the screen automatically zooms in to give you a larger scale and therefore more detail. My job involves delivering to pubs throughout the S of England, which means driving in a lot of strange towns and cities. Many of these places, especially the older towns, have streets very close to each other, JUST the time you need large scale on the GPS. So, JUST when you need large scale what does the Garmin do? Autozooms out to fill the screen with virtually the entire city centre! Not gradually mind, just a sudden leap into small scale. So you press the "+" (several times) to zoom it in again to the scale you want. Oh, no the Garmin is having none of that! It INSTANTLY zooms out again.
The consequence is of course driving around, one hand on the wheel, and the other CONSTANTLY pressing the "+". This "un" feature alone has nearly had me throwing the thing out of the window in a white hot rage on many occasion, not good at all when driving around busy unfamiliar streets!

Garmin are arguably the leaders in aviation and marine GPS, but I do feel that they were caught napping somewhat when standalone portable automotive GPS took off 3 or 4 years ago. The impression I get from this unit is that a panicked Garmin sent a few hapless bods over to a Chinese consumer electronics trade fair to find something, anything, that they could stick a Garmin logo to, to get it to market ASAP. I used to be a Garmin bore, telling anyone who would listen to go with Garmin, no questions asked. I`m afraid I`ve lost that particular religion...
UPDATE 25/05/08: Bluetooth has packed up yet again and it suddenly loses satellite coverage almost daily, again. Have had enough and ordered a Tomtom 730. Watch out for a review there.