Product review: Garmin Zumo 220 satnav with Bluetooth headset

By Steve Farrell -

Parts & accessories

 23 November 2012 11:46

Garmin Zumo 220 satnav with Bluetooth headset, £399
Time owned:
One year

What’s good: Its industrial in its level of reliability and durability. Mine has bounced along the road (my own stupid fault). A plastic border around the screen came off and went back on. Otherwise it was unscathed. It's as tough as a rubber ball.

It's waterproof and has a good five hours' battery life, or you can wire it up to your bike. It works just as well in a car or even on foot or a pushbike. It has  western and eastern Europe maps.

And it's available for much less than the £399 recommended price. At the time of writing, it was £299 on www.ebuyer.com.

What's not: In a year I've learned that, while it nearly always gets you to your destination, I don't think it's ever by the most efficient route. Some of its routes are quite peculiar.

Using its petrol station function is a bit like asking someone who is too embarrassed to admit they don't know. It will direct you somewhere but the chance of it being a fuel station is about 50/50.

The Bluetooth headset doesn't have great sound quality. And £399? Really? Because it's waterproof?

I happen to know that you can get an EU satnav for under £160 from Tesco and a roll of cling film for £2.20. The Garmin is still a good solid device though.

Contact: www.garmin.com/uk
Rating: 3/5

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