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Garmin's New 'Big Rig' Nuvi 5000 GPS Features a 5.2-inch Screen
The Bottom Line
The new-for-2008 Garmin Nuvi 5000 features the biggest screen in the portable car GPS market, at 5.2 inches (diagonal) compared with the more typical 4.3-inch and 3.5-inch sizes. This provides a wider view of the map and navigation cues. The big screen is also designed to be more easily visible when mounted on a windshield that is far from the driver, such as those found in some recreational vehicles and trucks. The Nuvi 5000 is in fact marketed to RV and truck drivers, and some of its navigation features are a little different from typical units, and will help big rig drivers find optimal routes.Pros
- 5.2-inch diagonal screen is the biggest in the portable car GPS market.
- Audio-visual input jack and video display capability.
Cons
- No internal battery to allow programming when disconnected from a power source.
- Does not accommodate hands-free calling.
Description
- Display size: 4.5"W x 2.7"H (11.4 x 6.9 cm); 5.2" diag (13.2 cm).
- Display: 800 x 480 pixels, color TFT with auto dimming backlight.
- Battery: None. External power only.
- Accepts SD card.
- Stores 3,000 waypoints/favorites/destinations.
- MP3 player, audio book player, FM transmitter (to hear sound via vehicle speakers).
- Headphone jack/audio line-out.
- AV in line jack and video display.
The Garmin Nuvi 5000's big, 5.2-inch (diagonal) screen is good for truckers and RV drivers with windshields well ahead of the steering wheel, but the big screen has some advantages when used in a typical passenger car, as well. The abundant screen real estate gives you a wider view of the map, and a better preview of upcoming turns. After you use the Nuvi 5000's big screen, the small, 3.5-inch screen found on a lot of the lower-cost car GPS models seems like a peephole.
Also setting the Nuvi 5000 apart is an external audio visual input jack in its detachable mounting base. This NTSC composite video input is designed to accept input from a backup/safety camera, for example. You will need an AV adapter cable to that accepts multiple inputs to jack a video device into the single composite port on the Nuvi 5000. These are available from Garmin or from an electronics store. Through the menu system, you may select how the Nuvi 5000 switches to video mode when an AV cable is connected.
Another feature truckers and RV drivers will appreciate is customized routing, including via points (stops), a "detour" menu selection that lets you select from multiple detour options, and route preferences and avoidances.
On the down side, the Nuvi 5000 lacks an internal battery, so it must be plugged into the vehicle's power port to operate. Lack of an internal battery precludes out-of-vehicle route planning and use while walking a city street, for example.
Overall, the Nuvi 5000 can be a good choice for its intended market of truckers, RV drivers (especially if they want to connect a backup/safety AV feed), and those who like a little more screen real estate to show more perspective when navigating.
