Last Updated October 30, 2008   Product Rating   Lane-Assist View Lifetime, free live traffic updates 3D Navigation   Location-based advertisements

GPS navigation devices are being quite a top seller and if you commute to work on a freeway, you've probably seen other motorists with GPS devices on their dashboard guiding them on their way. They make an excellent companion to your commute even if you are familiar with your route, because they can provide live traffic information as well as alternate routes should there be any backups and closures in your route. Prices have come down on these in-car units to the point where they are very affordable.

The Nuvi 755T from Garmin is another addition to the ever-growing spectrum of GPS products. Garmin has been a trusted company for GPS-related products for years now and they have made some really great products in the past. The new feature added to the 755T is life-time free traffic updates using Navteq's traffic network. This is really a great addition because with past GPS models, live traffic updates were optional and were not free (usually a yearly subscription cost). The device can either suction-cup to your windshield or mount on your dashboard. In total, the Nuvi 755T measures about 3 x 5 x 1-inches and features a 4.3-inch touch screen display.

The coolest feature of the Nuvi 755T is the new traffic interface with something called lane-assist view, which is basically a 3D virtual view of the highway complete with the road signs to let you know what lane you should be in for any specific exit. It also will display signs for other exits and roadways, which is really a nice tool because it brings the device to a while new degree of both accuracy and reality. The speed limit tool has been updated a little and now appears right next to your current speed. It shows you the speed limit of the road that you are currently on as long as the road is in the database, but most freeways and major surface streets are. The traffic interface has also been revamped a little to include navigation buttons for one-touch access to overlay traffic data on the map and to search for accidents near your current location or along your intended route. If there is traffic or accidents on your route, the Nuvi 755T can automatically search for a clearer route for you to take and provide you with the directions (voice-prompted as well) to get you there.

The Garmin Nuvi 755T GPS navigation device includes a new feature called "Lane-Assist", which gives you a 3D view of the route that you are currently travelling on and where you need to go to continue on your planned route.

Another near feature added to the Nuvi 755T is a geotagging image system which allows you to download images that are tagged for a specific location to your Nuvi. This feature is called Garmin Connect Photos and it's a nice way of sharing your travels and destinations with the rest of the Garmin community.

There is one new feature to the Nuvi 755T that we could have done without, and those are advertisements. Each unit will come preloaded with vendors (ranging from gas stations to drug stores). Every so often, a little popup bar on the bottom of the screen will appear with an option to do a search for locations of these paid-advertiser locations that are near you and provide you with directions. These ads are not terribly distracting and they don't appear while you are moving either...and they don't block your view of your current route as well.

Overall, the Garmin Nuvi 755T is another fantastic GPS navigation unit from Garmin and works very nicely. It's small size allows for dashboard or windshield mounting options for easy viewing and use. The lifetime, subscription-free traffic updates is really nice and is essential for anyone with a commute on a freeway. Other features of the Nuvi 755T, including the lane-assist view and an overall excellent navigation system, make it a GPS unit that is definitely worth a look.