Are you planning to buy a Garmin GPS? You should do, they make the best GPS units as voted by nearly all our GPS units test across the board. Garmin is a fantastic company and makes a range of GPS units from the budget gps devices for your car, to those designed for your Truck, RV or even your motorcycle.
What’s more, there are even basic designed GPS units for those on a budget that don’t want to be spending a couple of hundred bucks on the best Garmin GPS for their car.
Garmin
Garmin was founded in 1989 by Gary Burrell and Min Kao in Lenexa, Kansas and by 2000 Garmin had sold three million GPS devices, and was producing 50 different models. Today it produces over 90 different models for a range of uses from car gps units, to handheld gps units that you can wear on your wrist and still give you direction. Products are sold in over 100 countries, however it still cannot shake off it’s major competition from TomTom.
Personally we prefer Garmin Products, and that not to say they we have never had any TomTom product, we have, however we have found that Garmin simple offer’s slightly better products that you should be buying, whilst TomTom has a little way to go before it catches up. As an example, all the latest Garmin GPS units come with free lifetime map updates and traffic alerts, whilst TomTom, you need to buy an additional subscription to be able to use traffic alerts. As a driver this is a major problem as the last thing that you want is to be stuck in traffic when you should be getting to your destination.
On this website we have reviewed nearly all the Garmin GPS units for your car and below we have given you the full choice models that we think you should be taking into consideration when you’re buying your next best rated Garmin GPS Device.
Garmin DriveSmart 55 with Garmin Traffic, 5.5" GPS Navigator, Edge-to-Edge Display
$269.99
Garmin DriveSmart 65 with Traffic is a road trip-ready 6.95 navigator featuring a crisp edge-to-edge display and map updates for North America as well as simple menus, voice control and 3-D map views of buildings and terrain. Garmin Traffic comes ready to use right out of the box without use of a smartphone. Plus, youll find lots of things to see and do by referencing The HISTORY Channel database of notable sites, a U.S. national parks directory and TripAdvisor traveler ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions plus millions of popular Foursquare points of interest. Driver alerts for things such as school zones and speed changes help encourage safer driving. And built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows for easy updates without a computer. Pair with your phone for real-time features such as hands-free calling, smart notifications, live traffic/parking/weather and more.
Garmin DriveSmart 65 with Amazon Alexa, North America
$299.99
With our premium navigator, Garmin DriveSmart 65 with Amazon Alexa, you can enjoy the ultimate voice-controlled, hands-free experience. Ask Alexa to play music or check the news, weather or your shopping list, and ask Garmin voice control for directions, POIs along the route and more while keeping your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. While listening to music, the album artwork appears on the crisp 6.95 edge-to-edge display. Pair with a compatible smartphone for hands-free calling, smart notifications and real-time features such as live traffic/weather/parking. This navigator is road trip-ready with preloaded and current TripAdvisor and Foursquare user data, the HISTORY network of notable sites and a directory of U.S. national parks. It also features easy-to-use Garmin Traffic with included cable and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity for easy updates.
Garmin DriveSmart 76 MT with Amazon Alexa, North America
$299.99
Simplify your drive with the Garmin DriveSmart 76 GPS navigator. Use Garmin voice assist to easily find and navigate where you want to go. The crisp 7 display and map updates of North America1 show you the way, providing alerts for speed changes and potential hazards ahead. Make the most of road trips with Tripadvisor traveler ratings, a directory of U.S. national parks and the HISTORY database of notable sites. Pair with the Garmin Drive app on your compatible smartphone for on-screen access to live traffic, fuel prices, parking, weather and traffic cams to help avoid delays and keep you on your way. With Alexa Built-in, you can ask to play music, listen to audiobooks, hear the news and more all while you keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Garmin DriveSmart 86 MT with Amazon Alexa, North America
$349.99
Simplify your drive with the Garmin DriveSmart 86 GPS navigator. Use Garmin voice assist to easily find and navigate where you want to go. The crisp 8 dual-orientation display and map updates of North America show you the way, providing alerts for speed changes and potential hazards ahead. Make the most of road trips with Tripadvisor traveler ratings, a directory of U.S. national parks and the HISTORY database of notable sites. Pair with the Garmin Drive app on your compatible smartphone for on-screen access to live traffic, fuel prices, parking, weather and traffic cams to help avoid delays and keep you on your way. With Alexa Built-in, you can ask to play music, listen to audiobooks, hear the news and more all while you keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Refurbished Garmin DriveSmart 61LMT-S North America 6.95 Inch Touch Screen GPS
$165.00
Refurbished Garmin DriveSmart 61LMT-S Product # 010-01681-02The Garmin DriveSmart 61LMT-S is a advanced navigation that features a 6.95 Inch high-resolution touchscreen display and provides users with a wealth of information in great detail with traffic avoidance and lifetime free traffic updates. Preloaded with detailed, street-level maps of North America along with POI's this GPS makes it easy to find addresses. DriveSmart 61LMT-S features voice-activated navigation which operates device with spoken commands and lets you enjoy hands-free-calls with built-in microphone and speaker when paired with a compatible Bluetooth phone. DriveSmart 61LMT-S Features: - GPS Vehicle Navigation System- 6.95 Inch Glass WSVGA Touchscreen GPS- Bluetooth Enabled- FREE Lifetime Traffic Updates- FREE Lifetime Map Updates- Speaks Street Names- Voice-Activated Navigation- Battery : Up to 1 Hour Per Charge- Wireless Backup Camera Compatible- Pinch-to-Zoom For Quick Close Look- Preloaded Maps - North America- Lane Assist with Junction View- Smartphone Link Compatible- Speed Limit Indicator- microSD Card Slot Includes: - Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S- Lifetime Maps & Live Traffic- Vehicle Suction Cup Mount- Vehicle Power Cable- USB Cable- Quick Start Manual
Refurbished Garmin Nuvi - DriveSmart 60LMT-R Garmin DriveSmart 60LMT - North America
$119.93
Refurbished Garmin Nuvi - DriveSmart 60LMT(North America)Includes One Year Manufacturer's WarrantyThe Garmin DriveSmart 60LMT is an advanced navigation that features a 6" high-resolution touchscreen display and provides users with a wealth of information in great detail with traffic avoidance and lifetime free traffic updates. Preloaded with detailed, street-level maps of North America along with POI's this GPS makes it easy to find addresses. DriveSmart 60LMT features voice-activated navigation which operates device with spoken commands and lets you enjoy hands-free-calls with built-in microphone and speaker when paired to a compatible Bluetooth phone.DriveSmart 60LMT Features:GPS Vehicle Navigation System6" Wide Touchscreen EnabledFREE Lifetime Traffic UpdatesFREE Lifetime Map UpdatesSpeaks Street NamesVoice-Activated NavigationPreloaded Maps-North AmericaLane Assist w/ Junction ViewSmartphone Link CompatibleSpeed Limit IndicatorRoute AvoidanceCustom POI'smicroSD Card SlotTrip PlannerTrip LogFoursquareDirect AccessKey Definitions:Bluetooth Enabled:Bluetooth wireless technology and built-in microphone enable you to make calls using your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone.Choice of Route Setup:With this fun and innovative feature you can customize your travel experience. Easily set up your route on the basis of time, distance or scenery. If you are in a rush you can direct your GPS to give you directions that will get you to your destination as fast as possible. Maybe you are not so concerned about time but would like to cover less distance. Program your GPS to travel within the city, so you can minimize mileage. This function also allows you to take a less traveled route. Choose directions that are less direct, but offer you great, scenic views.Custom POIs:With the custom POI's function you can add additional points of interest to your GPS internal memory. Load restaurants, shopping areas, or tourist spots that interest you and may not be recognized by your system. You have the choice of either entering your custom location manually or transferring it from your computer to your GPS system with the appropriate software.Lane Assist w/ Junction View:The Lane Assist feature on Garmin GPS systems guides you to your correct lane when approaching a turn or exit. Easily navigate through unfamiliar areas when viewing the lane assist page. This function also offers a view of upcoming road junctions and a bright colored arrow that indicates what side of the junction you
Best Garmin GPS 2021
Garmin has really come on in the last 12 months with a range of new gps units, however whilst we do love some of the new models below, we still think that the 2015 Garmin 2797LMT that we reviewed here is as good and if not better than some of the new models that have been brought out over the last year.
The all new 2021 range of Garmin gps units consists of The DriveSmart range of gps unit, the Drive Assist 50LMT which comes with both turn-by-turn directions and a built in Dash-Cam to help you record your journey and any problems that you have and finally the Garmin DriveLuxe 50 NA LMTHD which is the top of the range gps model and comes with a range of new and improved features that have been designed to help you with your directions and ensure that you drive in drive in a safe manner and thus provide you with a range of connection features and driver alerts to keep you on the road.
We like them all, but we feel that the DriveAssist comes with a range of features that you’re going to only once, the Garmin DriveLux is too expensive, but the Garmin DriveSmart range of three gps models are firmly the best Garmin gps models in 2020
Garmin GPS Reviews
In this section we’re looking at the best Garmin gps on the market and to do this we have reviewed all the Garmin gps models from the latest range, the 2020 range of navigators and the 2021 range of naviagtors.
Garmin DriveAssist 50 NA LMT
- 5-Inch Screen With Pinch-To-Zoom Display
- Driver Alerts to include sharp curves, speed changes, nearby red light and speed cameras
- GPS Indicator such as current street, current speed, speed limit and arrival time
- Garmin’s Real Direction to help you follow your directions
- Built in Dash-Cam to record where and when you have been and images from the front and rear of your car
- Camera Assisted Alerts such as Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and much more.
- Free Lifetime Maps and Traffic Updates
Garmin DriveAssist 50LMT GPS Navigator with Built-in Dash Cam & Camera Assisted Alerts
Garmin DriveAssist 50LMT North America is a five-inch auto navigator with pinch-to-zoom display, built-in dash cam and driver awareness features to encourage safer driving. DriveAssist records your drive, automatically saving collision footage on impact. You also receive "go" alerts when you're stopped and the traffic in front of you starts moving. Garmin Real Vision feature displays a camera view when approaching select destinations. Other features include Forward Collision and Lane Departure Warnings, Bluetooth hands-free calling, voice-activated navigation, maps of North America with lifetime updates, free lifetime traffic and much more.
$218.20
Garmin DriveSmart 50NA LMT
- 5-Inch Screen With Pinch-To-Zoom Display
- Preloaded maps of North America
- Super Easy to Use Interface and Menu design to easily get yourself around your device.
- Easy To Follow Turn-By-Turn Directions that talk to you like a friend. Active Lane Guidance to help if you reach a difficult junction.
- GPS Indicator such as current street, current speed, speed limit and arrival time
- Driver Alerts to include sharp curves, speed changes, nearby red light and speed cameras
- Extra Features to include Bluetooth hands-free calling, voice-activated navigation, and onscreen smart notifications (calls, texts and other app alerts)
- Free Lifetime Maps and Traffic Updates
Garmin DriveSmart 55 with Garmin Traffic, 5.5" GPS Navigator, Edge-to-Edge Display
Garmin DriveSmart 65 with Traffic is a road trip-ready 6.95 navigator featuring a crisp edge-to-edge display and map updates for North America as well as simple menus, voice control and 3-D map views of buildings and terrain. Garmin Traffic comes ready to use right out of the box without use of a smartphone. Plus, youll find lots of things to see and do by referencing The HISTORY Channel database of notable sites, a U.S. national parks directory and TripAdvisor traveler ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions plus millions of popular Foursquare points of interest. Driver alerts for things such as school zones and speed changes help encourage safer driving. And built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows for easy updates without a computer. Pair with your phone for real-time features such as hands-free calling, smart notifications, live traffic/parking/weather and more.
$269.99
Garmin DriveSmart 60NA LMT
- 6-Inch Screen With Pinch-To-Zoom Display
- Preloaded maps of North America
- Super Easy to Use Interface and Menu design to easily get yourself around your device.
- Easy To Follow Turn-By-Turn Directions that talk to you like a friend. Active Lane Guidance to help if you reach a difficult junction.
- GPS Indicator such as current street, current speed, speed limit and arrival time
- Driver Alerts to include sharp curves, speed changes, nearby red light and speed cameras
- Extra Features to include Bluetooth hands-free calling, voice-activated navigation, and onscreen smart notifications (calls, texts and other app alerts)
- Free Lifetime Maps and Traffic Updates
Garmin DriveSmart 65 with Amazon Alexa, North America
With our premium navigator, Garmin DriveSmart 65 with Amazon Alexa, you can enjoy the ultimate voice-controlled, hands-free experience. Ask Alexa to play music or check the news, weather or your shopping list, and ask Garmin voice control for directions, POIs along the route and more while keeping your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. While listening to music, the album artwork appears on the crisp 6.95 edge-to-edge display. Pair with a compatible smartphone for hands-free calling, smart notifications and real-time features such as live traffic/weather/parking. This navigator is road trip-ready with preloaded and current TripAdvisor and Foursquare user data, the HISTORY network of notable sites and a directory of U.S. national parks. It also features easy-to-use Garmin Traffic with included cable and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity for easy updates.
$299.99
Garmin DriveSmart 70NA LMT
- 7-Inch Screen With Pinch-To-Zoom Display
- Preloaded maps of North America
- Super Easy to Use Interface and Menu design to easily get yourself around your device.
- Easy To Follow Turn-By-Turn Directions that talk to you like a friend. Active Lane Guidance to help if you reach a difficult junction.
- GPS Indicator such as current street, current speed, speed limit and arrival time
- Driver Alerts to include sharp curves, speed changes, nearby red light and speed cameras
- Extra Features to include Bluetooth hands-free calling, voice-activated navigation, and onscreen smart notifications (calls, texts and other app alerts)
- Free Lifetime Maps and Traffic Updates
Garmin DriveSmart 76 MT with Amazon Alexa, North America
Simplify your drive with the Garmin DriveSmart 76 GPS navigator. Use Garmin voice assist to easily find and navigate where you want to go. The crisp 7 display and map updates of North America1 show you the way, providing alerts for speed changes and potential hazards ahead. Make the most of road trips with Tripadvisor traveler ratings, a directory of U.S. national parks and the HISTORY database of notable sites. Pair with the Garmin Drive app on your compatible smartphone for on-screen access to live traffic, fuel prices, parking, weather and traffic cams to help avoid delays and keep you on your way. With Alexa Built-in, you can ask to play music, listen to audiobooks, hear the news and more all while you keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
$299.99
Garmin DriveSmart 55 with Garmin Traffic, 5.5" GPS Navigator, Edge-to-Edge Display
$269.99
Garmin DriveSmart 65 with Traffic is a road trip-ready 6.95 navigator featuring a crisp edge-to-edge display and map updates for North America as well as simple menus, voice control and 3-D map views of buildings and terrain. Garmin Traffic comes ready to use right out of the box without use of a smartphone. Plus, youll find lots of things to see and do by referencing The HISTORY Channel database of notable sites, a U.S. national parks directory and TripAdvisor traveler ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions plus millions of popular Foursquare points of interest. Driver alerts for things such as school zones and speed changes help encourage safer driving. And built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows for easy updates without a computer. Pair with your phone for real-time features such as hands-free calling, smart notifications, live traffic/parking/weather and more.
Garmin DriveSmart 65 with Amazon Alexa, North America
$299.99
With our premium navigator, Garmin DriveSmart 65 with Amazon Alexa, you can enjoy the ultimate voice-controlled, hands-free experience. Ask Alexa to play music or check the news, weather or your shopping list, and ask Garmin voice control for directions, POIs along the route and more while keeping your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. While listening to music, the album artwork appears on the crisp 6.95 edge-to-edge display. Pair with a compatible smartphone for hands-free calling, smart notifications and real-time features such as live traffic/weather/parking. This navigator is road trip-ready with preloaded and current TripAdvisor and Foursquare user data, the HISTORY network of notable sites and a directory of U.S. national parks. It also features easy-to-use Garmin Traffic with included cable and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity for easy updates.
Garmin DriveSmart 76 MT with Amazon Alexa, North America
$299.99
Simplify your drive with the Garmin DriveSmart 76 GPS navigator. Use Garmin voice assist to easily find and navigate where you want to go. The crisp 7 display and map updates of North America1 show you the way, providing alerts for speed changes and potential hazards ahead. Make the most of road trips with Tripadvisor traveler ratings, a directory of U.S. national parks and the HISTORY database of notable sites. Pair with the Garmin Drive app on your compatible smartphone for on-screen access to live traffic, fuel prices, parking, weather and traffic cams to help avoid delays and keep you on your way. With Alexa Built-in, you can ask to play music, listen to audiobooks, hear the news and more all while you keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Garmin DriveSmart 86 MT with Amazon Alexa, North America
$349.99
Simplify your drive with the Garmin DriveSmart 86 GPS navigator. Use Garmin voice assist to easily find and navigate where you want to go. The crisp 8 dual-orientation display and map updates of North America show you the way, providing alerts for speed changes and potential hazards ahead. Make the most of road trips with Tripadvisor traveler ratings, a directory of U.S. national parks and the HISTORY database of notable sites. Pair with the Garmin Drive app on your compatible smartphone for on-screen access to live traffic, fuel prices, parking, weather and traffic cams to help avoid delays and keep you on your way. With Alexa Built-in, you can ask to play music, listen to audiobooks, hear the news and more all while you keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Refurbished Garmin DriveSmart 61LMT-S North America 6.95 Inch Touch Screen GPS
$165.00
Refurbished Garmin DriveSmart 61LMT-S Product # 010-01681-02The Garmin DriveSmart 61LMT-S is a advanced navigation that features a 6.95 Inch high-resolution touchscreen display and provides users with a wealth of information in great detail with traffic avoidance and lifetime free traffic updates. Preloaded with detailed, street-level maps of North America along with POI's this GPS makes it easy to find addresses. DriveSmart 61LMT-S features voice-activated navigation which operates device with spoken commands and lets you enjoy hands-free-calls with built-in microphone and speaker when paired with a compatible Bluetooth phone. DriveSmart 61LMT-S Features: - GPS Vehicle Navigation System- 6.95 Inch Glass WSVGA Touchscreen GPS- Bluetooth Enabled- FREE Lifetime Traffic Updates- FREE Lifetime Map Updates- Speaks Street Names- Voice-Activated Navigation- Battery : Up to 1 Hour Per Charge- Wireless Backup Camera Compatible- Pinch-to-Zoom For Quick Close Look- Preloaded Maps - North America- Lane Assist with Junction View- Smartphone Link Compatible- Speed Limit Indicator- microSD Card Slot Includes: - Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S- Lifetime Maps & Live Traffic- Vehicle Suction Cup Mount- Vehicle Power Cable- USB Cable- Quick Start Manual
Refurbished Garmin Nuvi - DriveSmart 60LMT-R Garmin DriveSmart 60LMT - North America
$119.93
Refurbished Garmin Nuvi - DriveSmart 60LMT(North America)Includes One Year Manufacturer's WarrantyThe Garmin DriveSmart 60LMT is an advanced navigation that features a 6" high-resolution touchscreen display and provides users with a wealth of information in great detail with traffic avoidance and lifetime free traffic updates. Preloaded with detailed, street-level maps of North America along with POI's this GPS makes it easy to find addresses. DriveSmart 60LMT features voice-activated navigation which operates device with spoken commands and lets you enjoy hands-free-calls with built-in microphone and speaker when paired to a compatible Bluetooth phone.DriveSmart 60LMT Features:GPS Vehicle Navigation System6" Wide Touchscreen EnabledFREE Lifetime Traffic UpdatesFREE Lifetime Map UpdatesSpeaks Street NamesVoice-Activated NavigationPreloaded Maps-North AmericaLane Assist w/ Junction ViewSmartphone Link CompatibleSpeed Limit IndicatorRoute AvoidanceCustom POI'smicroSD Card SlotTrip PlannerTrip LogFoursquareDirect AccessKey Definitions:Bluetooth Enabled:Bluetooth wireless technology and built-in microphone enable you to make calls using your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone.Choice of Route Setup:With this fun and innovative feature you can customize your travel experience. Easily set up your route on the basis of time, distance or scenery. If you are in a rush you can direct your GPS to give you directions that will get you to your destination as fast as possible. Maybe you are not so concerned about time but would like to cover less distance. Program your GPS to travel within the city, so you can minimize mileage. This function also allows you to take a less traveled route. Choose directions that are less direct, but offer you great, scenic views.Custom POIs:With the custom POI's function you can add additional points of interest to your GPS internal memory. Load restaurants, shopping areas, or tourist spots that interest you and may not be recognized by your system. You have the choice of either entering your custom location manually or transferring it from your computer to your GPS system with the appropriate software.Lane Assist w/ Junction View:The Lane Assist feature on Garmin GPS systems guides you to your correct lane when approaching a turn or exit. Easily navigate through unfamiliar areas when viewing the lane assist page. This function also offers a view of upcoming road junctions and a bright colored arrow that indicates what side of the junction you
For the test, I bought a Magellan, a TomTom, and a Garmin
The others are terrible when compared to the Garmin and they actually do answer their phones when I had a question
I have an older NUVI #1350 that powers off by itself, even though it is connected to my car’s cigarette lighter.
I bought a ‘lifetime’ program of updates but haven’t used it for a while
The unit is plugged in now to my PC but will not come on
Can you help me?
Thank you
Sadly “Lifetime” is the lifetime of the unit rather than your lifetime. Realistically the files are going to be too big to update your older Nuvi 1350 and you’d do better to buy a new unit.
does the Garmin 2797 LMT have enough memory install all the files for 2021 maps
I dont know the answer, but I would think not. The files are pretty big these days.