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Garmin nuvi comparison chart

It seems that Garmin is trying to create a nuvi for everyone, but with so many models in the marketplace, they’ve also created quite a bit of confusion. To help you navigate your way to the ideal nuvi, I’ve created the chart below. For a quick overview of the different series, you can also check out my dissecting the Garmin nuvi series post.

The nuvi links in the far left column below all go to my reviews of the unit. Discontinued nuvis are listed in their own chart further down the page.

NEW: Click on column headers to sort chart. You can also click here for descriptions and more information about various features.

Model/ review Maps Screen size Speaks street names Traffic Blue- tooth Powered mount Multi- point routing Lifetime maps Speed limit display Lane assist Voice command Amazon link
nuvi 30 48 states 3.5" Yes No No No No No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 40 48 states 4.3" Yes No No No No No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 40LM 48 states 4.3" Yes No No No No Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 50 48 states 5.0" Yes No No No No No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 50LM 48 states 5.0" Yes No No No No Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 465T U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 465LMT U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 500 49 states+ topo maps 3.5" Yes Option No No Yes No Yes No No Amazon
nuvi 550 U.S. Canada 3.5" Yes Option No No Yes No Yes No No Amazon
nuvi 1100 49 states 3.5" No Option No No No No No No No Amazon
nuvi 1200 49 states 3.5" Yes Option No No No No No No No Amazon
nuvi 1250 U.S. Canada 3.5" Yes Option No No No No Yes No No Amazon
nuvi 1260T U.S. Canada 3.5" Yes Lifetime Yes No No No Yes No No Amazon
nuvi 1300 49 states 4.3" Yes Option No No No No No No No Amazon
nuvi 1300LM 49 states 4.3" Yes Option No No No Yes No No No Amazon
nuvi 1350 U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Option No No No No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 1350LMT U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Lifetime No No No Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 1350T U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Lifetime No No No No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 1370T U.S. Canada Europe 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes No No No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 1390LMT U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 1390T U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes No No No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 1450 U.S. Canada 5.0" Yes Option No No Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 1450LM U.S. Canada 5.0" Yes Option No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 1450LMT U.S. Canada 5.0" Yes Lifetime No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 1450T U.S. Canada 5.0" Yes Lifetime No No Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 1490LMT U.S. Canada 5.0" Yes Lifetime Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 1490T U.S. Canada 5.0" Yes Lifetime Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuLink 1695 U.S. Canada 5" Yes nuLink! Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 2300LM 49 states 4.3" Yes Option No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Amazon
nuvi 2350 U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Option No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 2350LMT U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Lifetime No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 2350LT U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Lifetime No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 2360LMT U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Amazon
nuvi 2360LT U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Amazon
nuvi 2370LT U.S. Canada Mexico Europe 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Amazon
nuvi 2450 U.S. Canada Mexico 5" Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 2450LM U.S. Canada Mexico 5" Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 2455LMT U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Lifetime No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 2455LT U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Lifetime No No Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 2460LMT U.S. Canada Mexico 5" Yes Lifetime Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Amazon
nuvi 2460LT U.S. Canada Mexico 5" Yes Lifetime Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Amazon
nuvi 2475LT U.S. Canada Mexico Europe 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 2495LMT U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Amazon
nuvi 2555LMT U.S. Canada Mexico 5.0" Yes Lifetime No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 2555LT U.S. Canada Mexico 5.0" Yes Lifetime No No Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 2595LMT U.S. Canada Mexico 5" Yes Lifetime Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Amazon
nuvi 3450 U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Option No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 3450LM U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Option No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 3490LMT U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Amazon
nuvi 3590LMT U.S. Canada Mexico 5" Yes Lifetime Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Amazon
nuvi 3750 U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Option No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 3760LMT U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 3760T U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Amazon
nuvi 3790LMT U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Amazon
nuvi 3790T U.S. Canada Mexico 4.3" Yes Lifetime Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Amazon

Discontinued nuvi models


The following, older nuvi models have been discontinued, though many are still available online and are fully supported by Garmin.

nuvi model Maps Screen size Speaks street names MP3 player Traffic Blue- tooth FM trans- mitter MSN Direct Multi- destination routing Track display Speed limit display Voice commands
nuvi 200 49 states 3.5" No No No No No No No No No No
nuvi 200W 49 states 4.3" No No No No No No No No No No
nuvi 205 49 states 3.5” No No Option No No No No Yes Yes No
nuvi 205W 49 states 4.3” No No Option No No No No Yes Yes No
nuvi 250 U.S. Canada 3.5" No No No No No No No No No No
nuvi 250W U.S. Canada 4.3" No No No No No No No No No No
nuvi 255 U.S. Canada 3.5” Yes No Option No No No No Yes Yes No
nuvi 255W U.S. Canada 4.3” Yes No Option No No No No Yes Yes No
nuvi 255WT U.S. Canada 4.3” Yes No Lifetime No No No No Yes Yes No
nuvi model Maps Screen size Speaks street names MP3 player Traffic Blue- tooth FM trans- mitter MSN Direct Multi- destination routing Track display Speed limit display Voice commands
nuvi 260 U.S. Canada 3.5" Yes No No No No No No No No No
nuvi 260W U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes No No No No No No No No No
nuvi 265T U.S. Canada 3.5” Yes No Lifetime Yes No No No Yes Yes No
nuvi 265W U.S. Canada 4.3” Yes No Option Yes No No No Yes Yes No
nuvi 265WT U.S. Canada 4.3” Yes No Lifetime Yes No No No Yes Yes No
nuvi 270 U.S. Canada Europe 3.5" No No No No No No No No No No
nuvi 275T U.S. Canada Europe 3.5” Yes No Lifetime Yes No No No Yes Yes No
nuvi 285WT U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No No
nuvi 295W U.S. Canada 3.5” Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes Yes No
nuvi model Maps Screen size Speaks street names MP3 player Traffic Blue- tooth FM trans- mitter MSN Direct Multi- destination routing Track display Speed limit display Voice commands
nuvi 350 U.S. Canada 3.5" Yes Yes Option No No No No No No No
nuvi 360 U.S. Canada 3.5" Yes Yes Option Yes No No No No No No
nuvi 370 U.S. Canada Europe 3.5" Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
nuvi 650 U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Option No No No No No No No
nuvi 660 U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No
nuvi 670 U.S. Canada Europe 4.3" Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No No
nuvi 680 U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No
nuvi model Maps Screen size Speaks street names MP3 player Traffic Blue- tooth FM trans- mitter MSN Direct Multi- destination routing Track display Speed limit display Voice commands
nuvi 750 U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Option No Yes Option Yes Yes Yes No
nuvi 755T U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Lifetime No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No
nuvi 760 U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Option Yes Yes Yes No
nuvi 765T U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Lifetime Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No
nuvi 770 U.S. Canada Europe 4.3" Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Option Yes Yes Yes No
nuvi 775T U.S. Canada Europe 4.3" Yes Yes Lifetime Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No
nuvi 780 U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
nuvi 785T U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
nuvi model Maps Screen size Speaks street names MP3 player Traffic Blue- tooth FM trans- mitter MSN Direct Multi- destination routing Track display Speed limit display Voice commands
nuvi 850 U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Option No Yes Option Yes Yes No Yes
nüvi 855 U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Option No Yes Option Yes Yes Yes Yes
nuvi 880 U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
nüvi 885T U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
nuvi 1690 U.S. Canada 4.3" Yes No nuLink! Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No
nuvi 5000 U.S. Canada 5.2" Yes Yes Option No Yes Option Yes Yes Yes No
nuvi model Maps Screen size Speaks street names MP3 player Traffic Blue- tooth FM trans- mitter MSN Direct Multi- destination routing Track display Speed limit display Voice commands


Garmin nuvi feature descriptions

  • Speaks street names – Formally known as text-to-speech, this function allows the device to call out the name of the street for upcoming turns, so you’ll get “in one-half mile, turn left on Oak Street,” rather than just “in one-half mile, turn left.” The only current nuvi without this is the 1100 series.
  • Live traffic – A nice feature that isn’t quite ready for prime time. Expect lots of inaccurate reports as well as incidents that aren’t reported. Delivered via FM, this service is provided by the Traffic Message Channel, hence you will sometimes see it referred to as FM-TMC. Here is a link to a coverage map. Most Garmin nuvis with a T following the model number have ad-supported traffic (see reviews for screenshots). One exception to all this is the 3490LMT, which features ad-free HD traffic.
  • Bluetooth for hands-free cell phone use – Generally speaking, the sound quality has gotten much better on recent models, but check the reviews (the first column links to these) as it does vary.
  • Powered mount – The power cord plugs into the mount, rather than the GPS. That’s one less connection to fuss with when you want to use your navigator. I’m a big fan of these, especially when combined with a friction mount.
  • MSN Direct – UPDATE: MSN Direct services are being permanently discontinued as of January 1, 2012.
  • Multi-point (multi-destination) routing – A very nice feature, but not a critical one. If the chart says “no,” you can only enter one destination and one via point. This isn’t problematic since you can easily find locations under Favorites or Recently Found. The one exception here is the nuvi 2×5 series, which allows multiple via points, even though it doesn’t have the other true multi-destination features such as sorting.
  • Lifetime map updates – Garmin has started selling units bundled with lifetime map updates, which you can typically download quarterly. Newer models with these have an LM or LMT (the latter includes lifetime traffic) tacked onto the end of the model number.
  • Track display – See where you’ve been. This shows up as a thin blue line as shown below. It can be helpful in finding your way in unfamiliar areas. Found on all current nuvis, but only some discontinued models.
  • Speed limit display – 100% of roads aren’t covered, but I typically find that most are.
  • Lane assist – Shows which lane you need to be in for Interstate exits and some surface streets in larger metros.
  • Voice commands – A killer feature and it actually works pretty well on most models.

Return to Garmin nuvi comparison chart


Nuvi_tracks_and_speed_limit_2


Comments

  1. Mujahid says:
    March 20, 2012 at 2:52 pm

    Rich – One Q I had was on Lane Assist – Junction View –

    Do both of these show at the same time or one can view only 1 of them. In your Pros for 1450LMT you wrote ‘Lane Assist with junction view’ in the same point. But in your Pros for 2350LMT you wrote this as 2 seperate points – ‘Lane Assist’ and ‘Junction View’ So incase of 1450 is to together and for 2350 is it separate?

    Also in case of ‘Speed Limit Display’ – For 1450 you wrote ‘Visually warns when speeding’ – does the 2350 not do the same?

    Reply
    • Rich Owings says:
      March 20, 2012 at 3:19 pm

      They behave the same. On either model you may see lane assist without junction view, because not all junctions have the latter.

      The speed limit turns red on all of them when you exceed the limit.

      Reply
    • Gino Tiberio says:
      May 11, 2012 at 12:15 pm

      You state that the 50LM includes 48 states only …without Canada…I’m buying in Montreal and it has Canada and U.S.

      Thank You

      Reply
  2. John Moran says:
    March 31, 2012 at 1:13 pm

    Adding a column for memory size might be helpful. For reference (above the chart) memory needed for current US, Canada, and Mexico maps plus typical JCV file size might also be helpful, although these are likely to grow a bit over time.

    Reply
  3. Chuck says:
    April 9, 2012 at 1:39 pm

    Hi I was looking at the info on the 2595LMT does it show your elevation thank you

    Reply
    • Rich Owings says:
      April 10, 2012 at 8:37 am

      Yes, but you’ll need to set one of the data fields to display it. Also be aware that GPS-derived elevation is generally much less accurate than it is for lat/long.

      Reply
  4. nick b says:
    April 15, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    hi Rich is there any adtvantage on the garmin 3750 vs. 2495?

    Reply
  5. greg says:
    April 24, 2012 at 7:22 pm

    Based on all the negative comments about the traffic option (constant ads) I would prefer a nuvi with just the lm suffix and that greatly limits the choices. It doesn’t appear that neither the 2350 or the 2455 series is available with the map but without the traffic option. Of those available which do you recommend. Thanks.

    Reply
  6. scott tunis says:
    May 5, 2012 at 1:09 pm

    The comparison chart is a great source of information.
    Something that would be a nice modification would be to have the comparison info scroll under the headings.
    The way it is now the headings go off the screen when you look at info on units further down the list.

    Reply
    • Rich Owings says:
      May 6, 2012 at 9:40 am

      Got code? Seriously, it’s a good idea. I’ll put it on my site improvement list. No promises and it probably won’t happen soon, but I like it and that definitely increases the chances of it happening! I’m wondering if it would conflict with the clickable/sortable headers.

      Reply
  7. DaCoach says:
    May 7, 2012 at 7:36 pm

    Just had my nuvi 765T stolen. One of my fav features was the ability to play mp3 audiobooks. Best replacement suggestions please.

    Reply
    • Rich Owings says:
      May 8, 2012 at 10:42 am

      According to Garmin support, the 24×5, 25×5, 34xx and 35xx series are the current models that have the Audible book player (link). Personally, I’d suggest the 2495LMT or 2595LMT.

      Reply
  8. Ray says:
    May 12, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    Hi Rich, this information looks very helpful but I am still confused with which GPS to buy ?
    Any suggestions? Or in another words which one these is your favorite ?
    We are just now done with our old school tv shape garmin.:D

    Reply
  9. Jay Burghardt says:
    May 14, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    I have the 750, and i have loved it, but it has fianally stopped working. My favorite feature is the “routes” feature. I can plan up to 10 different trips in advance. The last two I purchased, for my family, didnt have this. When I read the description of the new ones, none of them mention this feature. Is there a new name for this feature? To ensure I have this on my new one, what term should I be looking for.

    Thanks

    Reply
  10. Gina says:
    May 16, 2012 at 6:03 am

    I am trying to decide between the Garmin 2495 LMT and the Garmin 2360 LMT. I have heard that the 2495 is a newer model of basically the same thing. Is that true? Are there any improvements worth noting on the 2495 in that case? Because the 2360 has the benefit of powered mount…

    Reply
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