What you won’t see in the reviews, and what the manufacturers ads don’t tell you is that this unit does not show street names on the map. If you program in an address and want it to guide you to a specific place, it shows the next street you are going to cross, and will tell you every turn to make and when to make it. And it does that very well, most of the time. I have had it take me on a circuitous route that never ends if you keep following the directions, but that is rare. A much more common problem is that on some freeways it does not know when I take the entrance ramp, and still thinks I’m on the service road. At a certain point before each new entrance it starts telling me to take the next entrance ramp, in spite of the fact that I’m already on the freeway. And as I pass the entrance and it thinks I have missed the ramp again, it says “recalculating route” in what seems to me a reproving tone of voice. Very annoying. Also, unless you’re on a major Interstate Highway, it does not tell you the name of your exit. If I’m on Northwest Freeway a mile from my exit at 34th Street, it says “Take exit to Northwest Freeway in one mile”, etc.

Looking back on it, it was the one feature that I didn’t research. But then I guess I just assumed that it would have the street names on the map. After all, I wouldn’t ask if a Rand McNally Road Atlas had street names. Every GPS I have ever seen shows the street names.

I have to admit, this unit works as well as a yellow pages if you’re sitting in a strange place and need to find a gas station or restaurant. It lists every conceivable place you might want to go, along with address, phone number, and directions.

But if you are simply parked in a strange part of town and want to know what street you are on, forget it. It shows you the street layout, but you have no way of knowing the street names. What if I just want to use it as a regular map? If I’m simply driving down the street and want to know what street I’m on I have to look for a street sign or pull out the old Key Map Guide that I thought I’d never have to use again. If you need directions to get somewhere specific and know the address, this unit is great. But what if you’re lost and need a map? Forget it. There’s just no way to use this “map” as a map. You can zoom in on an area and see the way the streets run, but not the street names.

I’ve contacted Garmin twice… surely there must be a way to see the street names… to turn this feature on? I was told that the system was not designed to show street names, there is nothing I can do to make it show street names, and the reason for that is that it would be too cluttered, and might distract me while driving.

Maybe that’s true, but I think I should have the option to see the names of the streets just like a regular map, and be able to make my own decision whether to turn it off if I feel distracted, instead of Garmin making that decision for me. The reason I BOUGHT the big screen was so that I could see the street names better. Every other unit I’ve seen, even other Garmins, show street names, and most have smaller screens than the 7200.

A friend just bought a 2008 GMC Sierra 2500 with a factory installed in-dash Kenwood GPS, with a swing out screen about the same size as the 7200. When I first saw it, I was amazed to see the same basic layout and graphics as my Garmin, and that it in fact uses Garmin software. I was helping him set it up, and I have to admit that deep down I was kind of glad that he too would no longer have the street names on his GPS, like his old one did. Maybe the old adage “misery loves company” has some truth to it. Just as I was having to bite my tongue to keep the glee out of my voice as I commiserated with him over the fact that now he, too, was going to have to do without street names… well, I could hardly believe my eyes. On this screen that looked just like mine, using the Garmin software I have gotten so familiar with and with Garmin actually written on the screen, just as it was on mine… all the street names within a two-mile radius popped up! I’m actually very happy for him. It’s just that he never researches anything. He just goes out and buys the most expensive one of whatever it is, and everything always seems to work out great. And I research it and compare models for months and buy a top of the line GPS and… OK… I’m not really happy for him at all. I wish I had his unit and he had mine.

And before you ask, no, this software will not work on my 7200. I tried to purchase it on the Garmin website the same day I saw his Kenwood and they acted like I was crazy for even thinking it might work.

Well, I’ve had my 7200 for almost a year now, and it stays stored in my center console most of the time, unless I have a specific address to go to, or need to know where the closest What-A-Burger is (like I don’t already know the exact location of every What-A-Burger in the Greater Houston Area!)

I’m very envious when I’m in a friends car, and even though I may have to put on my glasses because their screen is one third the size of mine, I can see every street name. I thought I had done all the research, but I was wrong and would have looked further if I had known this unit lacked the basic ability to display the names of the streets on the map. I just wish I had it all to do over again. Even if I had to spend more to get what I want, it would be worth it. And needless to say, I would NOT buy a Garmin… even one that shows the streets.

First, the ads say that this is designed for larger vehicles. Not agreed. The impression from the on-line descriptions is that the screen size is HUGE, for example, the same as your office PC. Not true, it is a 7 inch diameter screen, so it is still relatively small, the same size as most current built in expensive auto GPS screens. Compared to the 2730 model, the 7200 has perfect size touch screen inputs while on the go. For the extra money, recommend the 7200 with the larger screen over 2730 which has the same features. So, the touch screen size of the model 7200 is great for viewing and input of addresses on any size vehicle.

I was very impressed with connectivty during heavy weather and recommend the external antenna option (sticks to the inside windshield by suction cups).

The voice commands are excellent with advance warnings of upcoming turns and then the next anticipated turn.

Screen is bright and automatically adjusts to light.

No need to change anything in the initial settings, they are great. Just plug in and go. User friendly screens.

Easy to upgrade to the latest software as shown on the garmin web site from your PC to the unit. No need to insert update chips.

The on/off switch. Should press and hold down. Just a light press does not do anything.

I was disappointed that the software bundle included in the package did not include the NT navagation database software, and had to purchase it separately. The PC software allows you to pre-plan your route on your PC and download this to your 7200 so you do not have to load addresses on the go. I tested this and it works great.

If you are in a traffic jam, press “Detour” and you will taken around the jam to your destination. Be prepared however to go through back roads and areas that you may not know.

I did not test the special features of sat. nav. traffic, audio, nor books yet.

Update: I have used this now on a dozen trips and the navigation is very trustworthy. My wife is a Realtor and she loves it.