Budget car GPS Garmin nuvi 1350T *Est. $155
Big-screen GPS Garmin nuvi 1490T *Est. $195
Best overall GPS learns traffic patterns Garmin nuvi 3790T *Est. $250
Internet-connected GPS device Garmin nuLink 1695 *Est. $320

See All Auto GPS

Garmin nuvi 260

Discontinued

Reviewed

November 2008

Pros

Text-to-speech at a low price
Typical Garmin ease of use
Top-notch navigation

Cons

Fewer features than other models
No widescreen display

Where to Buy

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The Garmin nuvi 260 is one of the least expensive units you can buy with "text-to-speech," or the ability to speak street names (e.g., "Turn right on Elm Street in 100 feet" instead of just "Turn right in 100 feet.") Experts and users both say text-to-speech makes it much easier to follow a GPS unit's directions. The nuvi 260 shaves costs by sticking with a small 3.5-inch screen. The entry-level nuvi 260 offers Garmin's top-notch navigation and ease of use, but few extras. Experts prefer newer Garmin nuvi models that add photo-based navigation, traffic compatibility, Garmin's new faster routing, satellite lock and more.

ConsumerReports.org conducts unbiased comparison tests between the Garmin nuvi 260 and dozens of other GPS units. Kiplinger.com doesn't test or review the nuvi 260 in-depth, but it does a good job explaining how the unit compares with other GPS devices in its price range. GPSTracklog.com does not post a full review of the nuvi 260, although it does offer buying advice. Consumers who use the nuvi 260 have posted their impressions at Amazon.com and Epinions.com, and although these user reviews aren't as informed and unbiased as expert reviews, they paint a fairly consistent picture of how the nuvi 260 is likely to perform in real life.

Where To Buy

Garmin nüvi 260 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

(584 reviews)
Buy new: $482.13 $199.00 26 Used & new from $43.00

In Stock.

Store Rating	Notes	Total Price
1,219 store reviews	In Stock. Earn 2% eBay Bucks on qualifying purchases! Backed by eBay Buyer Protection Program. Terms and Conditions apply.	$166.99	See It
541 store reviews	In Stock.	$125.88	See It
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Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

ConsumerReports.org tests the Garmin nuvi 260 along with many other auto GPS models. A detailed ratings chart ranks the units from best to worst. ConsumerReports.org also writes an individual report on each model, and user reviews and ratings are posted.

Review: Garmin Nuvi 260, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

2. Kiplinger.com Details/Subscribe

The Garmin nuvi 260 is the least expensive text-to-speech model in this roundup by senior editor Bob Frick. Frick explains which features are worth the extra cost on an entry-level GPS.

Review: The Best GPS for $300 or Less, Bob Frick, June 2008

3. GPS Tracklog

GPSTracklog.com has dropped the Garmin nuvi 260 from its buyer's guide in favor of more recent models. However, reviewer Rich Owings still calls the nuvi 260 "the nicest of Garmin's budget-line nuvi 200 series." This dedicated nuvi 260 page briefly describes the unit's features and links to reviews from outside sources.

Review: Garmin Nuvi 260 Review, Rich Owings, Sept. 11, 2007

4. Amazon.com

More than 530 users have posted reviews of the Garmin nuvi 260 at Amazon.com, providing good insight into the nuvi 260's real-world performance and giving the device an average rating of 4.5 stars (out of five). Unfavorable reviews are posted, but most users like the nuvi 260, with more than half rating it a perfect five stars.

Review: Garmin Nuvi 260, Contributors to Amazon.com

5. Epinions.com

This site attracts far fewer user ratings than Amazon.com, The Garmin nuvi 260's average rating of four stars (out of five) is based on more than 50 reviews, but some of the reviews are actually for different models. If you can sort through the confusion, reviews here tend to be detailed and lengthy.

Review: Garmin Nuvi 260 Car GPS Receiver, Contributors to Epinions.com

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