GPS Tracklog: Garmin nuvi 270 review

UPDATE: A newer 3.5" trans-Atlantic unit, the Garmin nuvi 275T, has recently been introduced.

The Garmin nuvi 270 is the transatlantic offering in Garmin's new entry-level nuvi lineup. Equipped with a 3.5" screen, the nuvi 270 includes pre-loaded maps of the U.S., Canada and Europe (see coverage map below). Other units in the 200 series have less extensive coverage; the nuvi 200 has maps of all 49 continental United States, while the nuvi 250 offers all 50 states and Canada.

Garmin continues to improve its nuvis; the 200 series units are a little thinner, thanks to an internal antenna, rather than the flip-up type found on previous nuvis.

Garmin nuvi 270 European map coverage

Assuming that you're after European maps, you have a couple of other options. Step up to the nuvi 370 and you'll get Bluetooth for hands free cell phone use, an MP3 player, live traffic info and a unit that calls out the street names on upcoming turns - so you'll get "turn left on North Main Street in 500 feet" rather than just "turn left in 500 feet." Garmin's other transatlantic model, the nuvi 670, adds an FM transmitter to stream directions, music and cell phone conversations over your car stereo, and bumps the screen size to a wide 4.3". The latest, the nuvi 770, adds even more features. To compare other nuvi models, check out our Garmin nuvi comparison chart.

Compare prices on the Garmin nuvi 270

Before we hear from others, here's a snippet from Amazon's Garmin nuvi 270 review:

Navigation is just the beginning. nüvi 270 features many travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more.

More Garmin nuvi 270 reviews

The first consumer written Garmin nuvi 270 reviews have been posted at GPS Now.
Consumer-authored Garmin nuvi 270 reviews are also being posted at Amazon.
Cnet gives a 7.7 out of 10 rating in their Garmin nuvi 270 review, and a consumer review has been posted there too.
A GPS, NUVI 270, CITY NAVIGATOR NORTH review has been posted at TheNerds.net.
And a Garmin nuvi 270 Portable Automotive GPS System with Transatlantic Maps review has been posted at TigerGPS too.
PC Mech reviews the Garmin nuvi 270.
Since the nuvi 270 is so similar to other models in the nuvi 200 series, it may be helpful to read our compilation of nuvi 200 and nuvi 250 reviews.

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

Garmin nuvi 270 resources

Confused about so many models of GPS receivers? Try the Garmin mobile GPS comparison tool.
Or check out our own Garmin nuvi comparison char.
There is a dedicated Garmin nuvi message forum at GpsPasSion.
Going further than Europe? Check out my post on other international maps for your Garmin GPS.

Compare prices on the Garmin nuvi 270 at these merchants:

Check the current Garmin nuvi 270 price at Amazon.
Buy the Garmin nuvi 270 Portable Automotive GPS System with Transatlantic Maps at TigerGPS, where you get free shipping on orders above $250.
Find a great deal on the GPS, NUVI 270, CITY NAVIGATOR NORTH at TheNerds.net.
Get the Garmin nuvi 270 for an amazing price on eBay.

From the official Garmin nuvi 270 web page:

Navigate both North America and Europe without loading more maps with the affordable nüvi 270. This entry-level Personal Travel Assistant makes traveling so simple. For even more mapping options, nüvi 250 and 200 offer less map coverage at a lower price. Like all nüvi 200-series members, the 270 features an easy-to-use colorful touchscreen and ultra-slim design — perfect for everyday navigation.

Navigate With Ease

nüvi 270 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator® NT street maps for both North America and Europe, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. In addition, nüvi 270 accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs.

Go Beyond Navigation

Navigation is just the beginning. nüvi 270 includes many travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock™, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map. Optional plug-in SD cards for travel guides and a savings program provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs.

nüvi 270: Simple navigation at an affordable price.