Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv Fish Finder
| Overall Rating | 94.4% |
| Grade | Very Good |
| Maximum Depth | Freshwater: 1750 ft; Saltwater: 830 ft |
| Sonar Frequencies | Traditional Sonar: 50/77/200 kHz; CHIRP (Mid and High); ClearVü 260/455/800 kHz |
| CHIRP |  |
| Display Size | 4.3 Inches |
| GPS | |
| Chartplotter |  |
| Down Imaging | |
| Side Imaging | |
| Transducer Included | |
| Suitability for Kayaks & Small Craft | |
| Water Temperature Sensor | |
Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv Review: What Anglers Are Saying
It’s no surprise the Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv is popular with anglers worldwide – it’s praised everywhere for its rock-solid quality. Right out of the box, you’ll appreciate the easy mounting and straightforward, multi-language setup guide.
Two features get mentioned again and again: the incredible screen clarity and the compact design, making it a perfect fit for kayaks and smaller boats. This fish finder delivers serious bang for your buck, packing in a high-performance nautical GPS.
Here’s the real kicker: As the most powerful 4-inch unit in our lineup, it includes Garmin’s ClearVü sonar. Finding that kind of high-end tech in a fish finder under $200 is almost unheard of and easily makes it one of the best values on the water today.
In this post, we’re breaking down our full review of the Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv, including a quick summary of customer feedback. Plus, we’ve listed out all the pros and cons of this fish finder for you.
Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv: The Official Editor’s Review
Maximum Depth / Sonar Frequencies / CHIRP
The Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv stands out as Garmin’s most powerful 4-inch fish finder. It boasts impressive depth capabilities, reaching a maximum of 1,750 ft in freshwater and 830 ft in saltwater.
When you switch to its high-resolution ClearVü scanning mode, you’ll get detailed images of structure down to 250 ft.
To achieve this performance, the Vivid 4cv operates on 50/77/200 kHz frequencies for traditional sonar and utilizes 260/455/800 kHz for its ClearVü imaging.
Thanks to its mid and high-band CHIRP technology, the unit delivers incredibly sharp, high-resolution images with excellent target separation. It’s important to note that while CHIRP provides the best image detail, it is not used to achieve the absolute maximum depth ratings.
When it comes to depth, the Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv is a true powerhouse. It’s rated for depths of up to 1,750 ft in freshwater and 830 ft in saltwater. In ClearVü mode, which provides a high-resolution, photo-like image of what’s beneath your boat, the unit scans to a maximum depth of 250 ft.
This performance makes the Vivid 4cv stand out as the most powerful model among Garmin’s compact 4-inch fish finders. It’s perfectly suited for fishing in deep freshwater lakes and capable enough for most saltwater fishing situations.
For comparison, the Garmin Striker Plus 4 and Striker 4 models reach slightly shallower maximum depths of 1,600 ft in freshwater and 750 ft in saltwater.
So, how does it achieve this? The Vivid 4cv uses multiple frequencies across its two main functions: it relies on 50, 77, and 200 kHz for its traditional sonar, and uses a separate range of 260, 455, and 800 kHz for its high-resolution ClearVü imaging.
Here’s a simple rule for sonar: low frequencies penetrate deeper into the water but offer less detail and target separation. High frequencies provide crystal-clear, high-resolution images but can’t reach as deep.
Modern fish finders like this one use both to give you the best of both worlds: one low frequency for reaching maximum depth and a high frequency for detailed views.
This fish finder also features advanced CHIRP technology. Instead of sending a single frequency at a time, CHIRP sends a continuous sweep across a range of frequencies.
This results in significantly clearer, higher-resolution images with excellent target separation. On this model, CHIRP is usable in the mid and high-frequency bands.
What this means for you on the water is that you get incredible detail, but the CHIRP technology can’t be used to hit the unit’s absolute maximum depth. To do that, you would need Low-band CHIRP, which is typically found on more expensive units.
Display Size / GPS / Chartplotter
The Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv features a bright, 4.3-inch screen with a 272 x 480 pixel resolution. It’s a vertical display that you can split, allowing you to view your sonar and maps side-by-side at the same time.
One of its standout features is the built-in, high-sensitivity GPS, which lets you mark your favorite fishing hot spots and easily navigate back to them later with an accuracy of just a few feet.
While it doesn’t have a full-blown chartplotter like more expensive models, its Quickdraw Contours software is an excellent and powerful alternative.
This game-changing feature allows you to create your own custom HD fishing maps, covering up to 2 million acres, with detailed 1-foot contours. Essentially, you can map any body of water you fish, giving you a huge advantage next time you’re on the water.
The Striker Vivid 4cv is built around a 4.3-inch display with a 272 x 480 pixel resolution, the same size found on its sibling, the Garmin Striker Plus 4, another popular choice in Garmin’s entry-level fish finder lineup.
A great feature of the screen is its vertical split-screen function. This allows you to display two different, easy-to-read views at once – for example, you can have your map with waypoints on the top half and your traditional sonar view on the bottom.
For any angler fishing on medium to large bodies of water, GPS is essential for marking hot spots and navigating back to them. The Striker Vivid 4cv comes with an integrated, high-sensitivity GPS that can pinpoint your location within 3 to 7 feet under good conditions.
Now, it’s important to understand the difference between this and a full-blown chartplotter. A true chartplotter is a navigation device that displays detailed electronic nautical charts, primarily used by captains of large boats to identify and avoid shallows.
Those systems are typically found on mid-range units like the Humminbird Helix 5 G3, and often require you to purchase the expensive charts separately.
For anglers, the Striker Vivid 4cv offers a fantastic and arguably more useful alternative: Garmin’s Quickdraw Contours.
This built-in software is a game-changer. As you drive your boat, it allows you to create your own custom HD fishing maps in real-time.
You can map a massive 2 million acres, complete with detailed 1-foot depth contours. This means you can build a personal library of incredibly accurate maps for any body of water you fish.
Fish Finder Features / Down Imaging / Side Imaging
The Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv offers split-screen zoom, Fish Symbol ID, AutoGain technology for clearer images, an adjustable depth line to measure fish and object depth, an A-Scope for a real-time display of fish, a water temperature sensor, and depth range shading.
It uses detailed ClearVü technology (comparable to Downscan/Down Imaging from other brands) for the view beneath the boat. A SideVü feature is not included with this model, but is available starting with the 7-inch models in the Vivid series.
The Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv is equipped with smart features that make finding fish much easier.
The split-screen zoom allows you to get a closer look at specific areas without losing the overall view, letting you analyze potential hotspots in detail. The Fish Symbol ID is especially practical, as it helps identify sonar returns as fish targets on the display.
Thanks to AutoGain Technology, clutter in the sonar image is minimized and targets are maximized, giving you a clearer picture of what’s below.
The adjustable depth line is excellent for showing the exact depth of fish and also measures the depth of underwater objects like submerged trees or rocks, which are often great hiding spots for fish.
With the A-Scope, you see fish in real-time as they pass through the transducer’s beam. This is a huge advantage for reacting quickly to moving fish. An included water temperature sensor provides vital information, as water temperature is often a decisive factor in fish behavior and location.
Lastly, Depth Range Shading helps to highlight specific depth ranges with color, which is useful when you know fish are holding at a certain depth during a particular time of day or year.
The Striker Vivid 4cv features ClearVü technology. This provides a highly detailed view of a narrow area directly beneath the boat. It’s like an X-ray view looking straight down, showing structure, vegetation, and fish with sharp clarity – ideal for precisely identifying bottom structure and the fish holding to it.
On Lowrance and Humminbird units, the comparable technology is called Downscan Imaging and Down Imaging, respectively.
The following models from our comparison also have this feature for highly detailed views under the boat:
In contrast, SideVü scans a much wider area of water on both sides of the boat. It’s like being able to “see” what is happening to the left and right, making it excellent for quickly scanning large areas for schools of fish, submerged objects, or ledges without having to drive directly over them.
On Lowrance and Humminbird units, this technology is called SideScan Imaging and Side Imaging, respectively. The Striker Vivid 4cv does not have the SideVü feature. In Garmin’s Vivid series, this function is first available on the 7-inch model (the Striker Vivid 7sv).
Transducer / Suitability for Kayak Fishing
The Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv comes with the CV20-TM transducer, which supports both CHIRP and ClearVü sonar. Its compact 4-inch size makes it ideal for smaller vessels like inflatable boats, kayaks, and float tubes where space is limited.
The Garmin Vivid 4cv’s package includes the CV20-TM transducer, which supports CHIRP and ClearVü functions. This means there are no additional costs to purchase a transducer.
On an inflatable boat, kayak, or float tube, there is very little space available to mount a fish finder, which is why small 4-inch units are best suited for this purpose. The Garmin Vivid 4cv is very popular with anglers using these small vessels due to its compact size.
The following 4-inch fish finders are also very well-suited for use on inflatable boats, kayaks, or float tubes:
Inflatable boats typically have a solid transom at the stern where you can mount the transducer. For belly boats or float tubes, there are special strap systems with a mounting plate that can be attached to one of the pontoons.
The situation is different for rental boats, where you usually can’t permanently install a transducer by drilling holes. In this case, you can use a portable transducer arm or a suction cup mount for the transducer.
Customer Review Roundup: Feedback from Real Owners
On Amazon, the Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv has earned over 3,300 customer reviews. Overall, this fish finder holds an impressive average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Here’s a summary of what buyers had to say:
- The Garmin Striker 4cv with transducer has really impressed me. It’s one of the best value-for-money fish finders available. It is very easy to set up and get started. The 4.3-inch color display on the Striker 4cv is vibrant, sharp, and easy to read in both bright sunlight and low light conditions. The CHIRP sonar is top notch. The GPS is reliable and accurate. The entire system is designed to withstand tough conditions, and the screen is scratch-resistant.
- Just a few years ago the technology you get in this little package would have cost hundreds more. It’s truly amazing!
- Why are you reading the reviews you better get it before they’re gone.
- It’s practical for its size, perfect for a kayak or small boat. It has GPS, a clear screen, and is easy to use. 5 stars.
- My Striker 4 was acting up, so I bought this as an upgrade. I ended up receiving the VIVID 4cv instead, but since the features are functionally the same, I went ahead and used it. I’m very satisfied, as the Quickdraw Contours mapping has led to better catches for me.
- I bought this for my kayak. It has a ton of features, so it’s not really aimed at complete beginners.
- Perfect for the kayak
- Amazing detail, clarity, and ease of use. Highly recommended and worth every penny!
- Can’t go wrong with a Garmin. My husband is a boat captain. They are user friendly and good quality.
The Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv is clearly a global favorite, with positive feedback coming from an international community of anglers in countries like Japan, Mexico, and Canada. The consensus is that the unit delivers a powerful and reliable experience that resonates with boaters and kayakers worldwide.
Owners consistently report that the 4.3-inch color display is vibrant and sharp, remaining easy to read even in direct sunlight. The sonar technology earns high marks across the board.
The CHIRP sonar is frequently described as being of the highest quality, while the ClearVü function often leaves users amazed by its clarity and ability to detect underwater structure.
The unit’s GPS is considered both reliable and accurate, but the Quickdraw Contours feature often stands out as a true game-changer. One user even credited the mapping software for directly leading to improved fishing success after upgrading from an older model.
Its compact and practical size makes the Striker Vivid 4cv an ideal choice for vessels with limited space, and it is a go-to unit for many kayak and small boat owners.
While many praise its user-friendly nature and simple setup, some also point out that the extensive feature set can present a slight learning curve for those completely new to modern fish finders.
Ultimately, a recurring theme is the unit’s exceptional value. Many anglers note that the level of technology included would have cost significantly more just a few years ago.
The combination of durability, a respected brand name, and powerful features leaves most owners feeling extremely satisfied with their purchase and confident in its performance on the water.
We agree with the overwhelming customer consensus. For under $200, the Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv offers advanced ClearVü (Down Imaging) technology, GPS, CHIRP, and live mapping, making it one of the best fish finders in this price category anywhere in the world.
It’s our Top Pick because it’s the most powerful device in the 4-inch fish finder category and offers an unbeatable price-to-performance ratio.
Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv: Pros and Cons
The Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv is a popular and powerful 4-inch fish finder that has established itself as a top pick in its class. It offers impressive ClearVü technology for under $200 and its compact size makes it ideal for inflatables, kayaks, and float tubes.
Additionally, the Quickdraw Contours feature allows users to create their own custom depth maps. Its only real drawback is the lack of Low CHIRP, which is standard for a fish finder in this price category.
Pros
- Reviewed by over 3,300 customers on Amazon
- Our Top Pick
- The most powerful 4-inch Garmin in our comparison
- Features ClearVü sonar for under $200
- Ideal for kayaks, inflatables, and float tubes
- Create your own custom maps with Quickdraw Contours
Cons
- No Low CHIRP (which is standard for this price point).
The Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv solidifies its position as our Top Pick, a status backed by the real-world feedback of over 3,300 customers on Amazon. It stands out as the most powerful 4-inch Garmin unit in our comparison, offering advanced ClearVü sonar – a high-end feature rarely found for under $200.
A major advantage is the ability to create your own custom depth maps using the built-in Quickdraw Contours software. These capabilities, combined with its compact size, make it the ideal fish finder for smaller vessels like kayaks, inflatables, and float tubes.
The only notable limitation is the absence of Low CHIRP, which is a standard omission for all fish finders in this price category and not a specific flaw of this device.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv
Does the Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv have a chartplotter?
No, the Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv does not have a traditional chartplotter. It features Quickdraw Contours software, which allows you to create and save your own custom depth maps as you drive your boat.
What are the main differences between the Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv and the Striker 4 or Striker Plus 4 models?
The Garmin Striker Vivid 4cv is more powerful and can reach a greater maximum depth than the other two models. It also features ClearVü, which is Garmin’s Down Imaging technology.
