Garmin nüvi 5000 5.2-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

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Garmin nuvi 5000, 5.2" screen nuvi, adds several other new features not previously found on the nuvi line. These include:

• External analog video (e.g., a back up camera)
• Customized routing to avoid select roads and areas
• Digital elevation maps that shows details about the surrounding terrain

Otherwise, the 5000 is similar to the nuvi 700 series, with items like multi-destination routing and the "Where am I?" safety feature. A couple of notes of interest though — unlike many high-end nuvis, the 5000 does not include Bluetooth for hands free cell phone use. Nor does it have an internal battery. That’s right, this beast only works when plugged into your car. On to the details of the review…

This super-sized navigator combines a big 5.2-inch display with the convenience and flexibility of a portable device and fits a full array of features into a a slim, easy to carry package that's just .8 inches thick. The nuvi 5000 was designed for RV and truck drivers, whose distant windshields can make a small screen hard to see and even harder to reach. In addition to its large, bright display, its features include preloaded maps for all of North America, a photo viewer and MP3 player, and an FM transmitter that lets you hear turn-by-turn voice navigation prompts, MP3s, and audio books through your vehicle's stereo. It's also compatible with FM traffic alerts or MSN Direct content (receiver and subscription required). It comes with Garmin Lock (an anti-theft feature) and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map. Optional plug-in SD cards let you add additional features to enhance your travel experience including language translation and detailed travel guides

Map screen and main menu

The map screen, pictured below, is similar to most Garmin nuvi devices, with a couple of exceptions. Note that a speed limit icon appears when the speed limit is known for major highways. There is also an icon for the MP3 player in the image below, but it only shows if you have been using the MP3 player.

Navigation extras

Just like the nuvi 700 series, the nuvi 5000 comes with some navigation extras not found on lower level units. The 5000 can display a track of where you’ve been (the thin blue line on the map screen in the previous section). This is helpful in large parking lots that don’t show on the map, detailing where you entered the lot and where you’ve searched for a parking space. To clear tracklogs go to Tools > My Data > Clear Trip Log.

Most useful perhaps is the ability to add multi-destination routes. Most nuvis only allow one destination point and one via. This feature would be even more useful if the nuvi 5000 had a battery so that you could pre-plan trips away from your car. However, it is possible to transfer routes, from Garmin MapSource on your PC, to nuvis with multi-destination routing. To access transferred routes, select Tools> My Data > Import Route(s) from file. You can then access the route from Where to? > Routes.

The screen shot below shows a route detail screen, where stops can be added, removed, or the order changed.

Note in the next screen shot the ability to "optimally reorder points," which can be used to select the most efficient route for multiple destinations,solving the so called "traveling salesman problem."

The Detour function will actually allow you to select specific roads to avoid.

Where am I?

This safety feature, as shown below, provides your coordinates, the nearest address, nearest intersection, and quick access to points of interest (POIs) for the nearest hospitals, police stations and gas stations.

Terrain maps

The nuvi 5000 has a digital elevation model built in, allowing you to visualize the surrounding terrain. Unfortunately, this only works in 2–D mode when zoomed out to at least 8 miles. The result is a nice piece of eye-candy, as shown below, but one that you are unlikely to really use.

Video

The nuvi 5000 accepts NTSC composite video, allowing you to view video sources on your device, including back up cameras.

Garmin nuvi 5000 pros

Any Garmin nuvi is a great navigation device; just look at our top ten best seller list to see what the marketplace says about nuvis. As a result, I’m not going to crowd this review with details about features common to all nuvis, but rather, I will focus primarily on features new to the nuvi 5000:

• 5.2" wide screen
• Light sensor automatically dims or brightens the screen according to the demands of ambient light conditions
• Includes nuvi 700 series features such as multi-destination routing, tracklogs, the "Where am I?" safety feature and the display of speed limits for major highways
• Custom route avoidances
• Context sensitive MP3 icon on map screen shows only when MP3 player has been engaged
• Music goes to background when navigation instructions given
• Dual speakers
• Choice of QWERTY or ABC keyboard layouts
• Volume setting found on main menu
• Analog video source display

• FM or MSN Direct traffic compatible (receiver and subscription purchased separately)
• Built-in FM transmitter allows navigation instructions and MP3s to be heard through your car stereo’s speakers

Garmin nuvi 5000 cons

• No internal battery
• No carrying case included in purchase price (even if the unit is designed to stay in your car, a case offers protection when you toss it in the glove compartment)
• No Bluetooth for hands free cell phone use
• Digital elevation model terrain mapping doesn’t work in 3–D mode
• No world clock or currency converter

Garmin nuvi 5000 recommendation

I’m a little reluctant to recommend the nuvi 5000 for most users, due to the lack of an internal battery. Having said that, the 5.2" wide screen could be a nice feature for the owners of large vehicles like an RV. And you can always plan routes at your computer (using Garmin MapSource) and transfer them to your nuvi 5000. So if the lack of an internal battery and Bluetooth (an overrated feature anyway) don’t bother you, this could be the device for you.

Description  Garmin nuvi buyer guide  Ranking Brands  Compare Price

It seems that Garmin is trying to create a nuvi for everyone, but with so many models in the marketplace, they’ve also created quite a bit of confusion. To help you navigate your way to the ideal nuvi, buyer guide written below will be useful starting point.

First of all, Garmin nuvi can be categorized into these groups.

• Basic Model (nuvi 2xx)
• Crossover model (nuvi 5xx)
• High end without voice control model (nuvi 7xx)
• High end with voice control model (nuvi 8xx)
• Portable GPS navigators (nuvi 12xx,13xx,14xx,16xx,5000)
• GPS navigators for RV and truck drivers (nuvi 5000)

Basic Model (nuvi 2xx)

• It has maps of the entire U.S., except for Alaska (49 states). Like all the nuvis, the it has around 6 million points of interest (POIs), name of geographic point that may be of interest to you.
• 3.5 inches screen size
• Track display – See where you’ve been. It can be helpful in finding your way in unfamiliar areas.
• Speed limit display – First implemented for major highways, we’re now starting see it on other thoroughfares as well.

• Live traffic – A nice feature that isn’t quite ready for prime time. Expect lots of inaccurate reports as well as incidents that aren’t reported. Delivered via FM, this service is provided by the Traffic Message Channel, hence you will sometimes see it referred to as FM-TMC. Unlike most other brands, Garmin traffic receivers are incorporated into the vehicle power cable. Also see MSN Direct for another traffic option.
• MSN Direct – This service provides gas prices, live traffic, weather and movie times. For nuvi 7xx and 8xx series models, second-generation MSN Direct adds even more features, including “Send to GPS” via the Internet. In terms of which is better for traffic, MSN Direct or FM-TMC, this often depends on which metro area you are in.

• Maps of all 50 states and Canada.
• Speaks street names – Formally known as text-to-speech, this function allows the device to call out the name of the street for upcoming turns, so you’ll get “in one-half mile, turn left on Oak Street,” rather than just “in one-half mile, turn left.” A very helpful feature.

• Live traffic
• Bluetooth for hands-free cell phone use

Crossover model (nuvi 5xx)

High end without voice control model (nuvi 7xx)

• MP3 player – Some people don’t like this, but I really do. It’s nice to have the name of the artist and song on the GPS screen. Though it varies by model, typically the music is paused or the volume reduced when navigation instructions are given.
• FM transmitter – This can work well enough in small cars in rural areas, but expect problems in urban areas with a crowded FM band. The distance to your antenna impacts reception quality, which can be problematic in larger vehicles with the antenna embedded in the rear window.
• Multi-destination routing – A very nice feature, but not a critical one. if the model doesn't have it, you can only enter one destination and one via point. This isn’t problematic since you can easily find locations under Favorites or Recently Found.
• Lane Guidance - With the new Lane Guidance feature built into the nuvi 7x5 series, you'll never question which lane you should be driving in again. It provides you with a view of what lane you should be in for upcoming turns. And with the 3D Lane Assist Junction View, you'll be able to see a photo-realistic screen that shows you both the road detail as well as the signs as you will see them on the road. The signs that aren't needed for navigation are faded compared to the appropriate lane signage. This features is included in TomTom One 140-S which is the budget model of TomTom. However this feature isn't included in basic model of nuvi.

High end with voice control model (nuvi 8xx)

• 3-D buildings
• A2DP Bluetooth
• ecoRoute
• Recent cities and streets folders that speed searches (though these aren’t really necessary if you’re using voice commands)
• Customizable data fields

• Removable battery
• Dual speakers
• Voice command
• Custom avoidances (avoid specified streets or areas)
• Backup camera input

Portable GPS navigators (nuvi 12xx,13xx,14xx,16xx,5000)

GPS navigators for RV and truck drivers (nuvi 5000)

• External analog video (e.g., a back up camera)
• Customized routing to avoid select roads and areas
• Digital elevation maps that shows details about the surrounding terrain

Discontinued model which I don't recommend

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At the risk of upsetting the nice PR folks who provide me with review units, I've decided to share my thoughts on what brand of GPS is best. Clearly this is subjective — its my opinion and mine alone. And things do change. However, based on models I've tested over the past year, this is how I see things shaking out.

• Garmin – Garmin receivers are intuitive, easy to use units with an uncluttered interface. If you want a simple out of the box solution that just flat out works, this brand’s for you. They are easy enough that your parents or even grandparents can use them. While Garmin isn’t always the first to introduce new features, they generally nail them when they do. Finally, all their nuvi units have around six million Points of interest (POIs), name of geographic point that may be of interest to you, whereas most other brands will drop the numbers on lower level models.
• TomTom – The one place TomTom out paces Garmin is on customization. If you want to tinker with your device, get under the hood and play with settings, a TomTom may be your best choice. That flexibility can cost you though – there are more menus to navigate and a more cluttered screen. Having said that, TomTom does the best job of balancing lots of options with an intuitive interface. TomTom often leads the way in innovation too, though first to implement doesn't necessarily make for the best implementation. One other note — TomTom uses Tele Atlas maps while Garmin uses NAVTEQ. Both do well in urban areas, but in my experience, Tele Atlas maps underperform NAVTEQ in rural America.
• (TIE) Magellan and Navigon – These brands will perform basic navigation and get you from point A to point B, usually as well as a Garmin or TomTom. But along the way you may experience frustrating things like confusing interfaces, excess steps, lockups, etc.
• Mio – Before switching to the Navman interface, I would have ranked Mio higher. They dropped some advanced features in the changeover though, and I found routing problems in recent review units. Perhaps next year’s switch to Windows Embedded NavReady will improve their rankings.
• All the rest – Don’t go there. Stick with one of the companies above that have been doing this for years. Check the GPS rankings on Amazon and after scrolling way down to find the off-brands, read their reviews and you’ll see that the problems just get worse.

Car GPS Brand Summary

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