Finding a GPS device containing many features has been usually reserved for your car. You want a GPS receiver that contains city maps. And you want a device that will talk to you so you can concentrate on where you are going. But car GPS device in the past have been large and clunky. Garmin has created a GPS Quest that will give you all the advantages of a car GPS in a compact, handheld GPS unit.

The Garmin Quest GPS receiver is a compact 4.5 by 2.2 by 0.9 inches that weighs only 5½ ounces. Not only is it perfect for your car and as a handheld device, it can also be used in your boat. It is waterproof, submersible in 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

The 1.5 by 2.2 inch TFT color screen is easily readable in direct sunlight. It becomes more difficult to read on cloudy days and indoors. However, the screen overcomes this problem with an adjustable backlight setting. To the right of the screen are 9 rubberized function button which include a power switch, Find, Menu, Repeat Speak Command, and a page select. An OK button selects menu items. For viewing maps, there are zoom in and zoom out keys as well as an eight-way rock pad for panning through maps.

On the back side is an antenna that folds flat when not in use, an external antenna jack, a USB port for connecting to a computer, and external power and speaker jack. A windshield suction cup mounts the GPS unit and connects to the 12-volt adapter and speaker combo. This will hold your GPS Quest even on bumpy roads or on choppy waters.

The Quest has 115 megs of memory which is adequate for most situations. It lacks a memory card slot so large maps may not fit. California requires more than 122 megs for the entire state. You'll have to delete and reload maps if you plan any long trips.

Quest Features

The GPS Quest unit comes preloaded with City Select NT data that provides mapping detail throughout the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico (including rural areas). It displays residential streets, addresses, and business listings. This includes automatic routing capabilities, including highways and exits. Route Planner lets you save 50 routes, specify via points, and preview turns and auto sort multiple destinations to provide an efficient route for deliveries and sales calls

The voice-guided driving instructions only work when using the 12-volt adapter. However, text instructions are used when the speaker is not connected. The Quest Trip computer also provides large speed display, odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more.

Performance

You expect pinpoint accuracy from Garmin GPS receivers. This GPS unit is no exception. Once a satellite fix is acquired, it is difficult to lose. Most problems occur when only a narrow view of the sky is available such as between skyscrapers or deep canyons.

One problem is the Garmin Quest's screen size. If you are using it in a car, be sure to place the display close enough to easily see the text for streets and addresses. Although the rechargeable internal lithium-ion battery is rated for 20 hours, actual use will be more like 15 hours. Using the display's backlight is a big battery drain.

Rating

On a scale from 1 to 10, the Garmin GPS Quest receives a score of 8. We would like to see a memory slot added to hold larger maps.

Garmin Quest GPS Navigator with Flip-Up Antenna