The name is certainly odd and unique, but the Garmin Nüvi 855 GPS receiver is a user-friendly, practical device with outstanding features.

The 855 model offers speech recognition for voice commands as well as text-to-speech to guide you on your way. Tap the screen or speak a menu option and you’ll get 2-D directions to your destination and 3-D landmarks, if you wish.

Garmin nuvi 855 Portable Automotive GPS System w/ Lane Assist & Voice Recognition

Simply press a button on the remote that can be attached to your steering wheel to activate the speech recognition program. A simple spoken “Find Address” followed by the address you want to locate brings up the data you need. A brief and dependable ‘training’ is required for the unit to learn your voice, and the 855 improves with additional use.

Turn-by-turn directions will guide you easily through optimized routes. The Nuvi 855 announces the names of exits, streets, and additional features as you drive. If you ever lose your way - which is difficult with this unit - the Nuvi will get you back on track with the “Where Am I?” Command. It will give your exact latitude and longitude, along with the locations of the nearest hospital, police station, and closest address and intersection.

But even if you take a wrong exit or make a wrong turn, there is no need to worry. The Nüvi 855 can dynamically recalculate your route and get you back on route quickly. If you choose to operate the unit by hand, you’ll find the touchscreen easy to use.

That same screen is easy to read, also, for those occasions when you don’t want to rely on the audio to guide you. While it allows drivers to keep both hands on the wheel, there are times when you might want to get an overall view of your route. That’s easily accommodated thanks to the clear, 4.3″ color display that can be viewed from any angle and in full sunlight.

“Lane Assist” is one of the more innovative features of this model. The Nuvi notifies you of upcoming exits or turns by suggesting the best lane to be in. That gives you plenty of time to make the change safely. If you want additional detail, simply use the Junction View. The realistic view of the landscape provides road detail, signs and more just as you would see them on your trip.

As you travel you can enjoy any of nearly 6 million Points of Interest programmed into this excellent Garmin GPS receiver. Navteq provides the map data for a huge database of restaurants, hotels, gas stations, and even ATMs in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. And you can also add your own custom POIs.

As you are driving, you can enjoy your GPS receiver even more, thanks to a built-in MP3 player. You can play music or other audio stored on SD memory cards that fit right into the unit. The Nuvi mounts easily onto your window or dashboard, so you can have the songs right where you want them. And it’s so slim and lightweight (3.9″ x 3.1″ x 0.7″ - 6.1 oz) you can place it in your pocket when you leave your car.

Try the new Garmin Nuvi 855. You will see that GPS receivers now can do a lot more than just draw a map.

Garmin nuvi 855 Portable Automotive GPS System w/ Lane Assist & Voice Recognition

Stay ahead of the curve with the Garmin nüvi 855. This premium navigator features voice-activated navigation and lane assist with junction view. Now you can keep both hands on the wheel, tell nüvi where to go and maneuver complicated interchanges with ease.