Looking for GPS for Cars?
This quick review of the Garmin Nuvi 855 GPS Navigation System is designed to save yourself time and effort when looking for GPS units.

First off, I want to point out that there are currently 5 Garmin GPS Navigation Systems currently in the top 25 of the Electronics section of Amazon, so it appears that these units by this manafacturer are very popular. I cannot help thinking that these products would not be featured so often in the bestsellers list if they were not good, reliable GPS units. Between then, these Garmin GPS Navigation Systems for cars have over 1300 reviews by customers which I always think this a good indication how existing customers feel about their new product. Since these GPS units are also in the top positions of the list, I think that you probably cannot go far wrong selecting one of these.

The Garmin Nuvi 855 GPS Navigation System
I have chosen to look at the Garmin Nuvi 855 GPS Navigation System as it has voice recognition as an input as well as the now fairly standard voice output. It has an alaScore of 87 which is a good rating and in Amazon has many positive reviews.

Voice Input Technology
At the moment the Garmin Nuvi 855 is fairly unique among GPS navigation system for cars as it has the voice input as well as voice spoken directions. I think this is a good use of technology and makes the use of these particular GPS navigation systems safer and more user-friendly. Rather than reaching across with one hand to push buttons, on the Garmin nuvi 855 you can use voice commands to achieve the same effect. This is espescially useful where the traffic conditions are more congested and your eyesight cannot safely be taken off the road for long enough to push buttons or read text. The excellent recognition rate of voice commands are a good addition to the button text which, in this case, can either spoken or the screen pressed with a fingertip.

Screen
GPS navigation system unit screen size is increasing all the time as new models come onto the market and this unit has one of the current larger screens that makes the viewable area seem easier on the eye and the maps easier to see. All screen sizes on GPS navigation systems, like TVs, are measured diagonally from top right to bottom left across the screen and not from side to side, however, the comparison from one model of GPS navigation system to another is still a valid size comparison. This unit has the larger 4.3 inch screen and this makes the touch screen easier and more convenient to use. Variuous reviewers have commented on the smooth refresh of screen feature which is a benefit while driving and the high screen definition makes for sharp clear buttons, good colour and map details.

Speed
The Garmin Nuvi 855 features fast re-routing calculations so if you make a mistake and over-shoot the turning you were supposed to take according to your rout, the unit will quickly re-calculate your new route and will not ask you to turn around to take the original turning. One of the most imortant issues for some people is the speed of satellite aquisition as without this, determination of your current position is impossible. The Nuvi 855 has a speedy satellite aquisition and so can get the unit up-and-running quickly. In the reviews online, people often comment on this model’s feature. Possibly unusual to most GPS navigation systems, this model does not power off completely, but goes into hibernation mode which vastly speeds up the ‘power on’ to use time gap which is where other makes and models appear to fall down.

Large Points of Interest Database
A large POI database is extremely useful in a GPS navigation system unit and to a certain extent this depends on the amount of memory available and the amount taken up by other features. The Garmin Nuvi 855 has an extensive Points of Interest database and allows you to add your own with ease. All POI can be displayed on the map, so it is easy to see where these are in relation to your current position.

Custom Routing
The easy pre-programming of custom routes can be undertaken at home or in the car with the Garmin Nuvi 855 GPS navigation system and extra via points can be added to existing routes without difficulty. Up to 10 custom routes can be stored inside the unit for use at different times and so these are not lost when the unit is switched off as in some other models.

Conclusion
Overall, I feel that the Garmin Nuvi 855 GPS Navigation System has many useful features and benefits. It is made by a top GPS navigation System manafacturer whose resources and market position cannot be questioned. The fact that there are so many units made by this manafacturer in the Amazon Electronics bestsellers top 25 list means that this make has authority and respect from the public. If you are looking for a GPS Navigation System for your car you would be well advised to consider one of these units.