Review: Garmin Nuvi 200W Navigation System

When I bought my 2008 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited (which arguably has the longest name of any car, with the exception of the Rubicon and X versions) I elected not to get Jeep’s MyGig Navigation and Media Center. I was fearful that the LCD would be damaged by the hot Arizona sun when the top is not on, as well as it being a target for theft since much of the time I would not have a top (or doors) on the Jeep. Not to mention that it would have added something like $1700 to the cost of the Jeep.

In order to get a Navigation system of some kind, I could have also opted for the Jeep Magellen removable GPS and its dashboard add-on for an additional $75, but I was not impressed with its lack of integration with the stereo and it’s GPS functionality. Also, the same GPS retails for around $200.

But, alas I finally broke down and bought the Garmin Nuvi 200W last night for my road trip to California.

The 200W features all of the basic Navigation system features that you would expect, and not much else, which was exactly what I was looking for. I hate devices that try and do too much and ultimately hurt their core functionality. The best feature about the 200W is the screen, the 4.5″ LCD has a great matte finish that is easily seen even in direct sunlight, and for night is has a “negative” map, where the background turns from white to black automatically.

In addition to the top down map view that is standard on most GPSs it also offers what I call a “birds eye view” which is a view from above, but to the side. It shows you a pseudo 3D perspective so that you can actually see where things like off-ramps are located in relationship to the rest of the lanes. This came in hand in California since they tend not to standardize where their freeway off-ramps are located. Sometimes they are on the right, sometimes they are on the left, but either way they usually do not give you any warning.

I bought it at Best Buy (I probably should have bought it elsewhere, considering that their staff did not know anything about the various models.) after seeing it advertised for $219. In all I am satisfied with the purchase so far. It worked well in San Diego today, the real test will come tomorrow and over the weekend when I am in Los Angeles.