Garmin Nuvi 205 / 2X5 Series | nuvi 265T, 265WT and 275T with Hands-free Bluetooth and Lifetime Traffic Alerts Review

Garmin’s nuvi 205 / 2X5 (both designations have been used by Garmin) series has been expanded from just the 205 and 255W to include the Garmin nuvi 265T, 265WT and 275T. Garmin advertise the 205 series as their simple-to-use, low-cost personal navigator. The new models add two popular premium features – traffic alerts (signified by the T) and hands-free calling. Significantly, the new models come with lifetime traffic alerts rather than an introductory subscription. The lifetime traffic alerts from NAVTEQ Traffic mean there are no extra subscription costs for the data to allow you to steer clear of traffic accidents, road closures and construction. Bluetooth hands-free connectivity provides the convenience and safety of being able to place and receive phone calls, using the unit’s built-in microphone and speaker, without taking your eyes off the road ahead.

garmin nuvi 265WT

Differences between three additional models are minor (fully detailed below). Briefly, the nuvi 265T is the base model while the 265WT has a 4.3 inch widescreen (vs 3.5 inch) and the nuvi 275T has Transatlantic maps (North America + Europe) vs North America only for the other two models.

All Models have Built-in Traffic Receiver and Lifetime Traffic Subscription

All the Garmin nuvi 205T models have a FM TMC (Traffic Message Channel) traffic receiver. Even, if most of your travel is along routes you are familiar with, real time traffic information is a beneficial service which could influence you to purchase a GPS. Accessed via a FM TMC traffic receiver, the traffic data received can provide traffic warnings and allow your GPS to calculate new routes around problem spots. TMC data provides quick, accurate notification of situations impacting traffic such as accidents, road construction, police and emergency services. Traffic severity is displayed in a color coded format (green – low severity to red – high severity along the route you are currently driving on.

Digital traffic data is available from specific FM broadcast stations in a fast growing number of major metro areas throughout the United States and Europe.

The inclusion of lifetime access in the purchase price is a significant change to how Garmin have previously marketed Traffic services with a limited trial and a subscription required if you wish to continue use.

Hands-Free Calling - Bluetooth Wireless Technology

Using Bluetooth wireless technology, the nuvi 205T models allow hands-free cellular calls improving driving safety as your eyes can stay safely on the road. Incoming phone calls are displayed and a tap of the screen accepts the call. As with other systems, any other audio is automatically muted during phone calls. Calls can be made using the nuvi’s touchscreen keypad. Phone numbers can also be entered from a selected POI, your personalized phone book or your cell phone’s call history log.

Garmin’s HotFix Satellite Prediciton Speeds Location Fix Time

Garmin’s 205 models have Garmin’s HotFix capability which automatically calculates and stores satellite position data to reduce satellite acquisition time. In fact, HotFix can predict satellite positions for up to 3 days after the device was last turned off.

Garmin Connect Photos – Visual Navigation by Geotagged Photos

Garmin Connect Photos, Garmin’s free web service, lets users search the extensive range of photos on the Panoramio website by address/location. Using Garmin Connect, geotagged images can be downloaded and used to provide the destination for turn-by-turn directions. The GPS uses the position information the photo was geotagged with. Some compatible Garmin GPS devices include the 205, 205W, 255, 255W, 760 (Asia only), 850, 860, 880 and 5000.

Garmin Nuvi 2×5 Models Redesigned Map Screen

Garmin have introduced a new map interface. The Map View page has the following icons to touch;

1. Turn Indicator to view information about the next turn in your route and to repeat the instruction for your next turn.
2. Text Bar to preview the upcoming turns in your route.
3. Traffic Icon to open the Traffic Menu
4. + and – for zoom
5. Speed to view information about your trip, such as the odometer
6. Menu to return to the menu page
7. Arrival to display a map of your route

Speed zones are also conveniently displayed next to your current speed at the bottom left of the screen.

Navigating with the Garmin Nuvi 2X5 Models

Garmin provide numerous ways to enter your destination including searching for or entering an address, searching for or selecting a POI, using a favourite, selecting home or a geotagged photo (see below). It’s possible to set waypoints (Garmin refer to them as via points) and request a reroute while navigating your plotted route.

It’s possible to ask your nuvi 205 to choose routes by faster time or shorter distance. If there are highways, intersections or tollways you would like to avoid you can use the route avoidance feature. There is a large library of pre-loaded POI (points of interest) but, you can add your own custom ones.

At any time it’s possible to find exactly where you are by tapping the GPS display. You can display your exact coordinates, nearest address and intersection as well as the closest intersection. On-screen navigation instructions can be via both 2D and 3D map views.

So that you can confirm you are on the correct route without taking your eyes off the road all models have text-to-speech announcing street names as part of voice navigation instructions.

Other Features

. JPEG picture viewer
. 1000 Waypoints/favorites/locations
. Garmin Lock theft prevention using PIN
. World travel clock, currency & unit converter, calculator

Read our detailed review of the Garmin nuvi 705 series.

Differences in the Garmin nuvi 2X5 Models - Summary

Garmin nuvi 205 no hands-free calling with Bluetooth wireless, not FM traffic compatible
Garmin nuvi 255W no hands-free calling with Bluetooth wireless, not FM traffic compatible
Garmin nuvi 265T 3.5 inch screen, traffic receiver, lifetime traffic alerts from NAVTEQ Traffic, hands-free calling with Bluetooth wireless, North America maps, micro SD memory cards
Garmin nuvi 265WT 4.3 inch widescreen, hands-free calling with Bluetooth wireless, traffic receiver, lifetime traffic alerts from NAVTEQ Traffic, North America maps, SD memory cards, Qwerty or ABC keyboard.
Garmin nuvi 275T 3.5 inch screen, traffic receiver, lifetime traffic alerts from NAVTEQ Traffic, hands-free calling with Bluetooth wireless, Transatlantic maps (North America + Europe), micro SD memory cards

Additional Features Available with the Garmin nuvi 705 Series

The following additional features are available with the nuvi 7X5 series.

Lane Guidance for easier navigation of larger intersections
Multi-destination routing for fastest route between multiple destinations
3D building views for easier recognition of your surroundings
Multimedia Features including MP3 player and Audiobook player
Quickly find your parked car – the 705’s remember the position where it is removed from it’s mount.
MSN Traffic (nuvi 785 only)