Sunday, March 18, 2012

Garmin nuvi 760 review

Garmin_nuvi_760

UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For current recommendations, please refer to our auto GPS buyers guide.

The Garmin nuvi 760 is one of the new high-end 700 series of this popular product line, adding the following to an already outstanding feature set:

  • Multi-destination routing
  • Automatic sorting of multiple destinations to provide an efficient route
  • Tracklog recording
  • Speed limit display for many interstates and highways
  • The newer internal antenna found on the nuvi 200 series
  • Automatic marking of your last position when the unit is turned off (to help you find your car in mega-mall parking lots)
  • A “Where am I” safety feature that gives your current location,
    nearest address, nearest intersection, along with quick access to POIs
    for the nearest hospitals, police stations and gas stations

The nuvi 760 adds all those features to the ones found on the nuvi 660. Stepping up to the nuvi 780 adds MSN Direct (available as an add on option for the 760). Going the other direction, the nuvi 750 loses the 760’s Bluetooth feature and included traffic receiver.

Compare prices on the Garmin nuvi 760

The ever-expanding nuvi line can be quite confusing. Check out our Garmin nuvi comparison chart for help determining which model best suits your needs.

More Garmin nuvi 760 reviews


Other Garmin nuvi 760 resources


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About Rich Owings

Rich is the owner, editor and chief bottle-washer for GPS Tracklog. Connect with him on Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus.

Comments

  1. I have the NUVI 760. I like it a lot. My only criticism is with the very weak and flimsy power connection into the cradle. The 12 volt power source does not “clip” in firmly and the hanging weight of the unused coiled power cord actually strains the connection.
    The 12v connection on the cradle of my unit has now worn out and no longer charges/runs the NUVI 760 after less than 3 months of use.
    I was really ticked off on a recent road trip when driving through a large metropolitan city relying on NUVI to get me to the hotel to have the unit run out of power because the 12v cradle connection had failed and the battery exhausted itself.
    With no hardcopy Mapquest directions, the only solution was to use the cell phone to call the hotel and write the directions down on a piece of paper.
    Later, a quick visit to Staples, and I had in my hand what I was sure was going to be the solution to the lame cradle 12v power supply, a 12v USB connector.
    This USB connector provides a very snug and tight fit for powering the unit. Much more robust than the flimsy and wobbly 12v cradle supply. I was very pleased with this!
    However, what I discovered after setting the unit up in the car with its new USB 12v power supply left me dumbstruck.
    Most annoyingly, once the 12v USB power source is connected the NUVI wont navigate when the USB port is occupied – NUVI simply shows a fuzzy image of a computer on the screen!!!
    GADZOOKS!

    • Scott Gilson says:

      my garmin 760 did the same thing breaking at the power supply connector on the cradle. Its less than 3 months old. Great GPS, bad design. Garmin should sell just the cradle without the suction cup mount. Who wants to pay 40-50 dollars for the whole mount when all you need is the cradle.

  2. I have the NUVI 760. I like it a lot. My only criticism is with the very weak and flimsy power connection into the cradle. The 12 volt power source does not “clip” in firmly and the hanging weight of the unused coiled power cord actually strains the connection.
    The 12v connection on the cradle of my unit has now worn out and no longer charges/runs the NUVI 760 after less than 3 months of use.
    I was really ticked off on a recent road trip when driving through a large metropolitan city relying on NUVI to get me to the hotel to have the unit run out of power because the 12v cradle connection had failed and the battery exhausted itself.
    With no hardcopy Mapquest directions, the only solution was to use the cell phone to call the hotel and write the directions down on a piece of paper.
    Later, a quick visit to Staples, and I had in my hand what I was sure was going to be the solution to the lame cradle 12v power supply, a 12v USB connector.
    This USB connector provides a very snug and tight fit for powering the unit. Much more robust than the flimsy and wobbly 12v cradle supply. I was very pleased with this!
    However, what I discovered after setting the unit up in the car with its new USB 12v power supply left me dumbstruck.
    Most annoyingly, once the 12v USB power source is connected the NUVI wont navigate when the USB port is occupied – NUVI simply shows a fuzzy image of a computer on the screen!!!
    GADZOOKS!

  3. I haven’t heard of this one before. Call Garmin, you may have gotten a faulty cradle.
    The power supply you bought is sending the unit into USB mass storage mode for some reason.

  4. Gerry Tamakloe says:

    I’ve used a 12v USB cigarette lighter adaptor on my 760. The trick is to insert the mini usb, let the nuvi go to mass storage mode, then remove the mini usb for about 10 seconds until the nuvi says ‘Loading Maps’ again the re-insert the USB. The unit should now now show the ‘Where To’ screen and also be on charge – this can be checked by moving the on off slider – the nuvi will show ‘Charging Battery, Slide the Power Key to turn on’ very faintly for a few seconds, when you turn it back on it will return to the ‘Where To Screen’
    Note this also works for an AC adaptor and the PC adaptor (will not show as mass storage).

  5. Nice site, thank you.
    Question, I have SEVERAL Garmin units, mostly handhelds. I want something more auto oriented and I’m considering the 760.
    I do a fair amount of back road driving and saving and up/downloading tracks is very important to me.
    I’ve read all the spec’s downloaded the manuals etc, but I’m still clueless as to if this unit (or ANY of the Nuvi units) will allow this.
    Anyone know the answer to this?
    Thank you

  6. I’m 99% sure that the 700 series, the first nuvis with the tracklog feature, will allow downloads. I know that the newer models (200, 2×5 and 7×5 series) will.

  7. I just purchased a 760, and can’t seem to get it to show as mass storage on my PC. (XP Prof. SP3) Checking windows, it shows the device as working properly. Any ideas?

  8. You can’t see it on My Computer / Windows Explorer?
    Are you connecting the nuvi with the power off? If not, give it a try.
    Otherwise, I would (1) exchange it or (2) call Garmin support. They are pretty responsive.

  9. The 710 does save the track, and you can just copy it yourself to your computer.
    When you connect the GPS, it shows up as a drive in your computer. Just copy the file:
    \Garmin\GPX\current.gpx
    I don’t know how far back it saves the track, but it save a point in the track every 1 to 20 seconds (depending on how straight you are moving).
    Works pretty flawless.
    There is also website doing track download and analyzing services (some for free) at http://www.motionbased.com
    I think it has been bought by Garmin (or maybe it always was), because they seem to be planing to integrate it more in their services.

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