Garmin’s newest GPS navigation system is built for RV travel, from the device’s larger display screen to its pre-downloaded database of RV campsites and off-road areas across the county. Garmin International, Inc. announced the new RV 890 GPS navigator today.
A series first, the RV 890 features a large 8-inch touchscreen display that can be viewed in portrait or landscape mode. Garmin is producing three options for attaching the screen in an RV cab, with suction cup, screw-in and RAM ball adapter options. In addition, the RV 890 uses the new Garmin voice assistant to simplify searching along the route and adjusting settings.
Don Schmidt, senior product manager for automotive at Garmin, said this new iteration of Garmin’s RV navigation products is even more so catered to the modern adventure traveler than other current offerings. He said the RV 890 comes pre-installed with maps of more off-the-grid areas in addition to traditional cross-country routes, along with a database of “tens of thousands” of RV parks and campgrounds nationwide.
“We’ve looked at how RV users change the way they do things, like moving away from traditional campsites into this off-roading, overlanding and boondocking,” Schmidt said. “If they’re in and out of cell service, the last thing you want to do is get lost because you can’t connect. They’ll always know where they’re going, and they can always find a campground.”
Schmidt said the RV 890 is the largest display the company has ever put in an RV product. The new system also uses a much faster processor, he said, which allows for noticeably better performance when searching maps or recalculating routes.
“Because the RV market tends to have rather long routes, because of that there’s a lot of options we have to work through on the device,” Schmidt said. “We made those improvements based on learning the market.”
Garmin leaders highlighted the new product’s size and ease of access, as well as the added benefits of connecting the GPS navigator to a users’ smartphone through the Garmin Drive app.
“The RV 890 introduces the largest Garmin display in portable RV navigation,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “Whether you’re the driver or co-captain, the larger 8-inch screen makes it notably easier to oversee your route while discovering interesting stops along the way.”
The RV 890 provides custom RV routing that takes into account the size and weight of the camper or trailer to find an appropriate route option, and road warnings allow users to foresee upcoming hazards including sharp curves and steep grades. A preloaded directory of RV Parks and Services and TripAdvisor traveler ratings also comes with the RV 890. Users can also take advantage of preloaded travel content that includes Ultimate Public Campgrounds, KOA, iOverlander, a directory of U.S. national parks, Foursquare points of interest and street maps for North America.
Additionally, travelers can benefit from other RV 890 features that add convenience and encourage safer driving. This includes Bluetooth hands-free calling and a revamped Garmin voice assistant option that simplifies startup commands to “OK Garmin” so drivers will be able to speak to the RV 890 and keep their hands on the steering wheel. Built-in Wi-Fi allows the navigator to perform map and software updates without connecting to a computer.
Owners can pair the RV 890 with the Garmin Drive app to import and share GPX files before or during a trip. Additionally, the Garmin Drive app will allow users access to live fuel prices, traffic and weather, and the option to view smartphone notifications and photoLive traffic cameras. The RV 890 can also be paired with the BC35 wireless backup camera or third-party compatible backup cameras5 to clearly see behind the RV when moving in reverse.
Available now, the RV 890 GPS navigator has a suggested retail price of $499.99.
The RV 890 is latest from the consumer automotive segment of Garmin, a worldwide provider of portable navigation devices for automobiles, motorcycles and trucks.
