As with most gadgets new models of the same device are always being released. The Garmin Street Pilot GPS line has released their 7200 model which is supposed to be the latest, greatest thing in the world of GPS. The question is-is the Garmin 7200 better than the earlier models?

The Features:

• The largest display screen yet at a whopping 7 inches.

• Text to voice command calls out driving directions and gives you a choice of voices.

• Auto calculates routes to any destination.

• Comes equipped with a built in A/V connector which allows you to hook up to a portable DVD player.

• Connects to either a Clear Channel or XM channel for up to the minute traffic and weather reports.

• Has a built in MP3 player and audio book player for driving entertainment.

A Very Entertaining GPS

This version of the Garmin Street Pilot GPS comes with many new bells and whistles. You can easily drag and drop music from your computer to your 7200 GPS without the need for extra software. Listening to audio books is also an option-great for long commutes or even longer road trips when regular radio stations are not available.

You also have the ability to hook up a portable DVD player and entertain those kids so you don’t have to hear “Are we there yet?” as much. All in all the Garmin Company has done a great job of adding extra entertainment features but these are all extras. When you’re buying a GPS for driving purposes does this newer and more expensive model really earn its keep?

So does it Get You There?

Most customers of this latest Garmin Street Pilot GPS system say the driving directions are very accurate. They love the huge screen which makes reading the displayed maps very easy. The added bonus of being able to pick up traffic and driving related weather conditions via two radio station options (Clear Channel or XM satellite) seems to be a real winner with the users of the 7200 Garmin GPS.

This model also lets you customize your driving routes to avoid certain areas or roads and gets you out of traffic jams en route with a quick recalculation. Most people who purchased this unit also rave about the model’s easy plug and play abilities. Simply mount this gadget to your dashboard, turn it on and you’re ready to start plotting your first driving route.

The Downside

Every gadget has its flaws and this model of the Garmin Street Pilot GPS is no exception. The most common complaints where that this model does not display street names on the displayed map like other, slightly older models do. This can be tricky if you want to plot a new route on the go and do not know what street you’re currently on. On the same note, some users claimed that unless you were driving on a major freeway this Garmin GPS system did not announce the names of the exit routes available.

There were also a few complaints about the mounting hardware that hold the Garmin Street Pilot 7200 in place. The hardware has to be permanently mounted to the dashboard which didn’t go over well with some. Yet others claimed they liked the mounting system and that the Garmin was easy to put in and take out of the mounting system, making it very portable. So it depends on if a permanent attachment to your dashboard bothers you or not.

The Bottom Line

Overall if you’re looking for a GPS that does more than just tell you where to go this is probably the unit for you. Alternately, if viewing street names on your maps is important to you then you may want to skip this newest version of the Garmin Street Pilot and instead try the Magellan Maestro 3200. It does not have all the extras as the Garmin does but it does show all street names and is less expensive.