Garmin StreetPilot 2620 Review

UPDATE: The 2620 has been discontinued. We recommend the StreetPilot c330 as an appropriate alternative.

The Garmin StreetPilot 2620 GPS is a touch screen auto navigation system that comes with Garmin's City Select software pre-loaded on a 2.2 GB internal hard drive. That's the key difference between it and the StreetPilot 2610; to get the same detail with the 2610 you have to transfer City Select maps from CDs to a CF card. Going up one more level in this series, the StreetPilot 2650 and 2660 models add a gyroscope which can maintain your position when satellites are lost for brief periods in urban canyons or under heavy canopy. Before moving on to the 2620 reviews, you might want to check out my review of the updated version, the StreetPilot 2720.

58 reviewers at Amazon gave the StreetPilot 2620 an average 4 out of 5 star review. The editors at Amazon had this to say:

"...Like its successor -- the StreetPilot 2720 -- this unit features a high-resolution color touchscreen with voice prompted turn-by-turn navigation and a powerful microprocessor for fast route calculation and map redraw. Although the new model has a few extra bells and whistles, the 2620 delivers all the navigation you'll need with a lot less strain on your wallet. This unit comes with a unique wireless infrared remote control, which allows easy operation of the unit from a distance and it also offers WAAS-enabled support to ensure the highest degree of GPS accuracy. Mark and name important waypoints with over 500 graphic symbols, set a course for your destination, and listen to the voice prompts for navigation instructions and warnings. And when you get there, you can check your trip computer for miles driven, time on the road, and average/maximum speeds..."

Here's what other reviewers are saying:

• GPS Information.net, as always, offers an informative and extensive review. Here is their take on the Garmin 2620 (and 2610).
• CNet rates the Street Pilot 2620 at 7.7 (out of 10). 69 of their readers rated it almost as good, giving it an average rating of 7.6.
• 17 readers at PC World gave the 2620 an average rating of 4-1/2 out of 5 stars.

Other resources you may find useful:

• The official Garmin Street Pilot 2620 web page.
• A PDF version of the StreetPilot 2620 owners manual.
• An active Yahoo StreetPilot discussion group covering the 2600 series.
• Want to compare different models? Check out this Garmin auto GPS comparison page.