The Garmin Nuvi 710 improves on an impressive range of in-car sat-nav solutions from the GPS giant, which has been among the most successful at combining efficient performance on the road with a range of accessible extras. The new 7-series from the Nuvi range offers a similar set of features across the board, with the main difference between models being the map coverage on offer. The 710, being the cheapest, only offers UK and Europe, but you can expand this via the built-in SD/MMC card slot if you're planning on heading abroad.

The device itself is pretty slim and compact, with almost the entirety of the front taken up with the bright and colourful 4.3-inch screen. Inside the box you'll find a car kit that includes an integrated TMC module for traffic reports, leather-effect carry case and compact windscreen mount.

Impressively, you're given a lifetime subscription to UK-based TMC information as standard, and you'll also find a safety camera database pre-loaded for audible alerts. Considering there are often extra fees involved for these sorts of services, this is a good start, and it's just the beginning of the wide range of features on offer.

Garmin's toolkit also includes a media player, picture viewer and travel assistance in the form of a world clock, sample language guide, currency and unit converter. There are also a few handy bonuses such as the 'Where Am I?' utility, which reports your current location along with the nearest address and junction and offers shortcuts to the nearest hospital, police station or garage; handy for emergencies. Comprehensive help comes in the form of a range of guides that outline many of the features of the unit, so it's pretty easy to find your way around.

When it comes to navigation we didn't notice any radical changes in Garmin's latest mapping software, which has always been pretty clean and clear. You'll find typical route planning involving address or POI searches, the ability to pre-plan and store routes or navigate to cities if you just need pointing in the right direction.

When you're up and running on a route you'll find that directions are clear and accurate, and although there is no advanced intersection warning, something we've seen starting to appear on rival products, the clarity of the display is such that you're rarely left confused as to your next move. If you wish you can send audible directions to your car's stereo using the built-in FM transmitter, and when you add Bluetooth support for mobile phones you'll find an impressive degree of integration with your existing in-car equipment.

Since most major manufacturers have pretty much cracked in-car navigation accuracy, you'll find that buying decisions are more likely to be made based on factors such as usability and extra features. This is an area in which the Garmin certainly impresses. The effective display combined with large, accessible controls makes it very easy to use on the move; you're given an impressive amount of information on the road and a nice collection of additional tools and media control.

It may lack a couple of the extra innovations found on recent releases from rivals such as TomTom and Medion, and may be a tad more expensive than we'd have liked, but this is a solid offering overall that puts you in an excellent position to take advantage of the range of features to be found on these modern navigational marvels.

Verdict
Garmin's 710 rates among the top few most capable sat-nav devices on the market at the moment, and despite a few niggling issues it offers all you need to stay informed and entertained on the move.

Company: Garmin

Contact: 023 8052 4000

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