Garmin StreetPilot c580 Review

What the reviewers like:
Reviews say GPS reception is very fast and routing is accurate and efficient. The Garmin StreetPilot c580 has the text-to-speech feature which pronounces street name, and reviewers say it works well enough that you don’t need to look at the screen. Features include Bluetooth and MP3 playback. The screen and the interface are both said to be very good. Some reviewers like the MSN Direct traffic service.

What the reviewers don't like:
Reviewers say the MSN Direct service is not up-to-date or accurate, and it can be very slow to cough up locations of gas stations and get movie showtimes The service also takes a long time to readjust when you travel to a new area. This older style auto GPS unit is not as readily portable as the Garmin nüvi series.

Garmin StreetPilot c580 review highlights

The Garmin StreetPilot c580 typically sells for about $50 more than the StreetPilot c550, with the difference between the two units being the one-year subscription to MSN Direct service that comes with the c580. This service alerts you to real-time traffic problems, and can route you around problems, but it isn't available in all cities. Like the c550, the c580 is easy to use, has excellent routing and reception, and offers MP3 playback and Bluetooth. The Garmin nüvi 680 (*est. $600) is the only other GPS unit capable of receiving MSN Direct, so if you want that service, the StreetPilot c580 is a less expensive alternative, but the StreetPilot unit is bulkier.

The Garmin StreetPilot c580 auto GPS is essentially the same device as the StreetPilot c550 (*est. $300), but the c580 is bundled with a one-year subscription to MSN Direct traffic service. The more expensive c580 is not reviewed as often as the Garmin StreetPilot c550, but nearly everything said in reviews of the c550 also applies to the c580, since they share the same design. The reviews of the c550 by GPS Magazine.com, GPS Lodge.com, and Consumer Electronics Net are more helpful than any reviews we found of the c580. CNet.com has a decent review of the c580. User reviews at Amazon.com are also helpful.

Also see full report: Auto GPS

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. CNet.com
Garmin StreetPilot c580
Bonnie Cha
Feb. 14, 2007

This review of the Garmin StreetPilot c580 is largely cribbed from CNet’s review of the nearly identical StreetPilot c550, with the addition of some needed additional testing and explanation. Coverage of the MSN Direct service – the distinguishing factor between the two units – is good. No other models are compared here, but Bonnie Cha expresses a preference for the c580 despite criticisms of the traffic service.

2. SciFi.com
Review: Garmin's c580 makes fast work of other GPSes
Ken Sander
20-Jun-07

This is a reasonably informative amateur review that is basically an account of the writer’s day trip using the Garmin StreetPilot c580. Ken Sander’s experience with the MSN Direct service is very similar to Bonnie Cha’s experience (see CNet.com above), so the results are confirmed.

3. Frostedside.com
Garmin streetpilot c580 cheers and jeers
Rich
26-Jul-07

As the title implies, this blog entry is a list of pros and cons about the Garmin StreetPilot c580. The blogger adds a paragraph or two of explanation to each item, and comparisons with other Garmin models he has apparently owned. Rich lists seven “jeers,” which is inconsistent with his conclusion that he is “100% satisfied with the unit.” While this review is missing many of the elements of a great review, it does reveal a slew of strengths and weaknesses of the c580 that aren’t covered in other reviews.

4. GPS Information.info
Garmin's StreetPilot c580
Sam Penrod
9-Jun-07

Calling this article a review is a stretch, but it is a very good informational article, and it offers a tad of evaluation in the conclusion. Sam Penrod tests the Garmin StreetPilot c580 for 1,700 miles.

5. Gizmodo
Hands On Garmin's Streetpilot C580 GPS: Instant Traffic, Movies, Gas Prices...with a Catch
Brian Lam
Mar. 13, 2007

This short review of the Garmin StreetPilot c580 is entirely subjective. It rises above user reviews because Brian Lam clearly speaks from experience with at least a few other GPS units. Illustrations are artistic. Lam concludes that the flawed MSN Direct service is not worth the price difference from the Garmin StreetPilot c550.

6. Amazon.com
Garmin StreetPilot c580 Reviews
Contributors to Amazon.com

About 50 owner/reviewers posting to Amazon.com contribute to the StreetPilot c580's high overall score. Most of the more recent reviews are from owners who received it as a Christmas gift.

Also see full report: Auto GPS

Garmin StreetPilot c580 Review