Garmin nuvi 360 review

UPDATE: Though still available and supported, Garmin has discontinued the nuvi 360. For newer models, check out my Garmin nuvi comparison chart.

The Garmin nuvi 360 updates the popular nuvi 350, and both have consistently been among Garmin's top sellers. The 360 adds Bluetooth, allowing for hands-free cell phone use, and the Garmin Lock™ theft prevention system.

This is on top of the features that made the nuvi 350 such a hit, including a 3.5" touch-screen, an MP3 player, audio book reader, SiRFstar III chipset, and the ability to speak upcoming street names. The 360 comes pre-loaded with maps of the U.S. and Canada.

Additional options include live traffic information, the Garmin Language Guide™ and Garmin Travel Guide™. Stepping up to the nuvi 370 adds maps of Europe and a traffic receiver (optional on the nuvi 360).

UPDATE: There are now so many models in the nuvi line, that it's easy to get confused about their differences. To help with that, I've put together a Garmin nuvi comparison chart.

Compare prices on the Garmin nuvi 360

Before we hear from others, here's what Amazon has to say in their Garmin nuvi 360 review:

"The Garmin Nuvi 360 GPS Navigator and Personal Travel Assistant is a GPS navigator, personal translator, multi-media entertainer and tour guide all wrapped into one. In addition to all the advanced features of the Garmin Nuvi 350 -- including automatic routing, turn-by-turn voice directions, an MP3 player and audio book player, JPEG picture viewer, and much more -- this pocket-sized personal travel assistant comes with hands-free Bluetooth wireless technology, making it the hands-down go-anywhere travel companion..."

More Garmin nuvi 360 reviews

• Several nuvi 360 reviews have been posted at GPSNow.
• Hundreds of nuvi 360 reviews have been posted by satisfied owners at Amazon.
• One of our all-time favorite GPS sites, GPSInformation.net has posted their nuvi 360 review.
• PC Magazine gives it an Editor's Choice award in their nuvi 360 review.
• Hands-on, user reviews of the Garmin nuvi 360 review are posted at CNet.
• TravelbyGPS has posted an extensive nuvi 360 review.
• Here is a nuvi 360 review from PocketLint.
• PowerPage.org gives a Power Pick '06 award in their Nuvi 360 review.
• Unstrung has posted their own Garmin nuvi 360 review, comparing it to three other units.
• And here's a video review of the nuvi 360.
• Here's a brief review of the Garmin nuvi 360.
• Gadget Lounge has also posted a brief Garmin nuvi 360 review.
• GPSLodge has posted a nuvi 360 review.
• Audioholics reviews the Garmin nuvi 360.
• IrishEyes, in their Garmin nuvi 360 review, gives it a 4 out of 5 star rating.
• Xtreme CPU also reviews the Garmin nuvi 360.
• The Garmin nuvi 360, compared to several other GPS navigators.
• PC World Canada reviews the Garmin nuvi 360.
• Yet another hands-on nuvi 360 review.
• Chris Hardie reviews the nuvi 360.
• A comparison of the nuvi 360 and Magellan Maestro 3210.

I'll be posting more hands on reviews as they appear, but in the meantime, here are some...

Other Garmin nuvi 360 resources

• A PDF version of the Garmin nuvi 360 owners manual.
• Confused about so many models of GPS receivers? Use my Garmin nuvi comparison chart or the Garmin mobile GPS comparison tool.
• There is a nuvi message forum at GpsPasSion.com.

Compare prices on the Garmin nuvi 360 at these merchants:

• Get the low price on a nuvi 360 at GPSNow.com, where shipping is free on orders over $399. Order by 5 p.m. Central Time for same day shipment.
• Check the current Garmin nuvi 360 price at Amazon.com.
• Find the Garmin nuvi 360 Portable Bluetooth Automotive GPS System NEW LOW PRICE at TigerGPS, where you get free shipping on orders above $250..
• Get a great deal on the Garmin nuvi 360 GPS Receiver at TheNerds.net.
• Buy the Garmin nuvi 360 Personal Travel Assistant at REI.com.
• Get the Garmin nuvi 360 for an amazing price on eBay.

From the official Garmin nuvi 360 web page:

Navigator. Translator. Entertainer. Tour Guide. Garmin’s nüvi™ 360 is one versatile little GPS. This pocket-sized Personal Travel Assistant now comes with hands-free Bluetooth® wireless technology in addition to the popular features offered in the nüvi 350= — making it the go-anywhere travel companion.

Place hands-free calls with Bluetooth wireless technology

The nüvi 360 along with its counterpart the nüvi 310 integrate wireless technology with a microphone and speaker that lets you make hands-free mobile phone calls. Simply dial numbers with the nüvi's touch screen keypad to make a call on a compatible Bluetooth phone. To answer calls, just tap nüvi's screen and speak directly into its built in microphone.

In addition, easily look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or from your phone’s call history log. Don’t know the phone number for your destination? Simply find and dial it from nüvi's extensive points of interest database — including hotels, restaurants, stores, and attractions.

Navigate with Ease

The nüvi 360 comes with preloaded maps of Europe or North America, and includes automatic routing, 2D or 3D map perspective, turn-by-turn voice directions that speak street names, and a fingertip touch screen interface, making navigation easy. It also supports configurable vehicle icons — fun, customized car-shaped icons in a variety of colors that show your position on the map.

The nüvi accepts customized points of interest (POIs) such as school zones and safety cameras. It even provides traffic alerts (in select cities) when used with a compatible traffic receiver. By adding traffic services and a receiver to your nüvi 310, you can avoid traffic tie-ups by simply pushing a button to calculate a new route.

Enjoy Travel Kit full of entertainment and useful tools

Navigation is just the beginning. Nüvi includes many “must have” entertainment and travel tools including MP3 player, audio book player with optional content from Audible.com, JPEG picture viewer, travel alarm, currency converters, and more. In addition, optional software packages such as the Language Guide™ and Travel Guides™ can be added for language and content support.

Customize with Optional Software

Optional software available on plug-in SD cards, lets you instantly add new features to your nüvi — without connecting to your computer.

• Language Guide — contains five bilingual dictionaries and a multilingual word bank and phrase bank that support nine languages and dialects. Even get a spoken pronunciation of each word or phrase


• Travel Guide — gives you helpful and thorough reviews and recommendations for restaurants, hotels, shopping, nightlife, sporting events and tourist attractions. Travel Guide for Europe currently available for purchase. Travel Guide for United States coming soon. 


• Savers Guide™ — a “geo-coded” coupon book that notifies you of nearby discounts on restaurants, hotels, shopping, and more at thousands of participating Entertainment® businesses throughout North America

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Comments

[Erika]

Can you load topo maps on the Nuvi 360 model?

[Rich Owings]

Yes, you can load Garmin topo maps onto the nuvi 360. You may need to download the latest nuvi 360 firmware and / or MapSource update. This was not possible on the original firmware but was added soon after the first nuvi models were released.

[Deon Goodwin]

Any way that I canu use my BT-335 bluetooth logger with my Garmin Nuvi 360?

[Rich Owings]

Deon,

That would be a great trick, but I don't know of any way to do it.

[Deon Goodwin]

Thanks. The BT-335 is pretty neat anyway. Thought it would be worth a try.