2024 the best gps review


Price: $229.99 - $195.97
(as of Oct 31, 2024 23:29:08 UTC - Details)

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For drivers who love new adventures while traveling, the Garmin Drive Smart 55 GPS navigator is the ultimate road trip companion. Featuring simple menus and easy-to-read maps, Garmin Drive Smart 55 lets you view turn-by-turn directions at a glance on a bright 5. 5” edge-to-edge touchscreen display. Traffic and map updates are included along with helpful driver alerts to encourage safer driving.
Easy-to-use 5. 5” GPS navigator.External memory storage: This USB mass storage device is compatible with Windows XP or newer and Mac OS X 10.4 or later..Control Method:Voice.Special Feature:Voice Assistant; Wireless Updates; Live Traffic and Weather; Traffic Cams And Parking; Hands-Free Calling; Smart Notifications; TripAdvisor; History Database; National Parks Directory; Garmin Real Directions; Driver Alerts.
Simple menus and bright, easy-to-see maps, Display resolution: 1280 x 720 pixels
Garmin Traffic suggests alternate routes
Voice-activated and ability to pair with a compatible smartphone for hands-free calling
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity for map and software updates without a computer; BACKUP CAMERA COMPATIBLE: yes (BC 30 or BC 40)
Reviewer: Grim_Rodent
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Almost very please
Review: This is my 6th dash top Garmin gps. I have used Garmin Nuvi's for a long time. I like this one better than all the past ones. It is very easy to use and I really like the large size. It is easy to see even in bright sunlight, way better than any of my past models. I do not use the bluetooth function for the phone or the voice command so I cannot comment on them. It has built in wifi so once you connect it to your home network, it will automatically download upgrades without connecting to your computer. If you have purchased custom "voice" files, like Dr. Nightmare, they provide no way to install them...at least it is not documented. You can download them to your computer and then copy them manually to the proper folder in the GPS and they will work fine.I would recommend this GPS for anyone who wants to get from here to there with ease. It works great!!Dislikes! I do have a few....1. I do not like the way this model attaches to the ball mount. It take two hands to release it whereas all of my other models could be easily released with one hand and they were still very secure in their attachment.2. I am an avid geocacher, since 2003. ALL of my past models could easily display geocaches on the screen. All you had to do was put them in a .gpx file and copy them to the proper folder in the GPS. THIS model does not do that very well. You can follow the same procedure but instead of getting the neat little geocaching icons on the screen you get these big ugly icons that look like tabs or signs. I do not like this at all...big downer. But the overall good outweighs this downer. There is a "workaround". You can export your caches to a POI file and copy it to the POI folder in the GPS. All of the caches will then display on the screen using a much smaller, and less ugly icon. You can then select one and navigate to it. The upside to using POI is that you can have more of them. I easily put in over 3000. The name of each one will NOT display on the screen, but at least you can see them. If you touch one, you can navigate to it, or you can quickly find them in the menu. So.... it works well for geocaching but not quite as well as any of my older, smaller models.3. I use LINUX on my computer, not Windows. I also have a MacBook laptop. ALL of my older model Gamins would plug into Linux or Mac and display on the screen like a disk drive. You could then drag and drop your .gpx or .poi files over to the proper folder. THIS model GPS will NOT do that.... not on a Mac and not using Linux. You MUST have WINDOWS to transfer your files. This really sucks... I had to install Windows on my desktop using dual boot just to retain my sanity. I admit I am a Windows hater. I could give you reasons but I'll spare you. So if you are a Windows hater like me, plan on being disappointed. Again, the good of this GPS outweighs ever this. It is a keeper.4. Although this GPS is very very easy to use and easy to figure out, the documentation is poor. You might even say it sucks but not quite that bad. If you are a basic user, new to GPS, then the documentation is OK but if you want to do more complicated stuff, you just have to figure it out for yourself.

Reviewer: DL7a7
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Beautiful Screen, Amazing Features (Ex: Beep at 5-MPH- OVER the Speed Limit), Finds 98%
Review: I got this when I started a pizza delivery job. I drive 75% in the city and 25% in the country (Southern Illinois).I LOVE the subtle-ding the Garmin gives me when I hit 5mph over the speed limit (optional feature I enabled). It also displays the speed limit in most cases.The Voice Recognition is roughly what I expected. If I could rate the voice recognition on a 1-100 scale, I'd give it a 87. It recognizes well used streets well...but not quite as accurate on lesser known or said streets (or streets that could easily sound like something else). I always turn off the radio when I speak to allow it to hear me better. (But in most cases it can recognize with the radio on low).The SPEED at which I speak to the Garmin is Roughly 10-15% SLOWER than the Normal/Natural rate I would use if I were talking clearly to a Person. This seems to make it easier for the Garmin to read...But it could be slightly irritating to the impatient. Also the SPEED at which the Garmin Speaks to me (after I speak to it) will say something like, "Did you say, '123 Park Street".....Then I'll reply, 'Yes'....then then Garmin will say to me, 'WIll you like to begin Navigation', then I'll say, 'Yes' then it'll Beep/Chirp and say, 'Please Drive to the Highlighted Route'....The conversation of the paragraph above could be better....and could be worse....Once again (I only use the voice activation if I sense that it's an, "Easy' Street for it to recognize like Main Street or Park Street...not 'Chataqueaua Street' (That it mistakenly thinks I said, 'Choctaw Street' as an example)It finds roughly 98% of the addresses I look for. Usually is it doesn't find it...its because it's a new subdivision or street. It also occasionally happens when when it's WAY out in the country.Despite me griping about a few things...I only do so to highlght what I've noticed. Overall it not only have achieved my expectations...but it slightly exceeds it (Minus the voice activated aspect/Which I'd say it only reached my expectations)The other thing I'll say I love...Is How/When the Garmin decides to zoom in on the screen/Zig Zag Pattern of the Road as you get CLOSER to the destination. AS you get closer to the destination the Garmin Zooms in on the REMAINING portion of the route which REALLY helps out on knowing what to expect further down the road.My lights are about to be replaced (Older Mini-Van) BUT...If I were driving in the country (Little to No Street Lights)...It is a LIfesaver to be able to SEE/KNOW sharp curves ahead of time by looking at the Garmin.Also...if you're in an older part of town (With a lot of one way streets)...It's nice to have an audible voice Warn you as a backup, "You are going the WRONG way down the Steet"...HahaThings that could be better...And it could be worse:The ability of the Garmin to find the exact apartment number (In an apartment complex/Mobile Home Community).If I could rate that on a 1-100...I'd give it only a 35. (Granted it's not something they claim to have)Small gripe I have. I drive a GM vehicle and I have to sometimes turn the headlights on/off twice before my headlights go off...Sometimes when I do this the Garmin will say, "Say a Command" and while it's speaking it sounds like somebody pulled the plug on it WHILE it was speaking...it sounds a little harsh WHEN this happens (Which isn't ALL the time/But it DOES happen occasionally). It's not something that can't be dealt with (and isn't Too loud...but it's slightly irritating when it happens)If Garmin could eventually master knowing all the apartment numbers/mobile home communities and on which face/side of the building they're located on...it'd make things MUCH easier though (Delivering Pizza's). Believe it or not....Sometimes it takes less time to get to an apartment complex vs finding the right building. Less people have addresses well lit/Visible on their homes/mailboxes than you'd think.Overall I'm VERY happy with the purchase. On the rare 2% of the time I couldn't find an address....my cellphone would always get me there.**Also, I bought the Backup Camera from Garmin** It's DIRT-Simple to install (A child/elderly person) could install it themselves unassisted. The 2 Lithium AA batteries I purchased (**NOT**-Included-by-the-Way)...lasted Roughly a month (Jan-Feb 2020).

Reviewer: Farouk
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I have been using Garmin for years. The earlier version did not have traffic. I purchased Garmin Smart 66 a year ago but sold it after 8 months. It had too many features which were useless to me. They were also confusing.Garmin Drive 55 & Traffic has just the right amount of features. When going out I do a search on Garmin Drive App on my mobile phone in my home. When I get into the car I send the directions to the Garmin Drive.I love my Garmin drive 55 for these features. 1) Lovely uncluttered screen. 2) Excellent directions when driving on highway. It gives ample warning on what lane to be in. Speed limits is clearly visible and when I exceed it there is a beep. This alone will prevent me from accidentally speeding with all the traffic cameras in Toronto.The traffic information is fair. When driving to a specific location in the busy city like Toronto I use GoogleMaps which is much more accurate and detailed.Voice recognition is poor. I only use it for "Go Home"

Reviewer: Tavo Espinosa
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Excelente producto lo compré para un viaje a Los Ángeles sabia que tenia que rentar un coche y necesitaba un gps, es preciso y dinámico no necesita de nada solo actualizarlo

Reviewer: Noel Ng
Rating: 1.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Navigator come with US and Canada maps only.Assume that as I am buyin from Singapore through Amazon Singapore, it should be preloaded with Singapore Maps.Tried to download from Garmin web Singapore map but has been unsuccessful too.Navigator comes with good review even though no more in production but ridiculous if it cannot download the maps I want.Not sure if Amazon has a solution or can I return the product.

Reviewer: Robinson G.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Todo bien, Cuenta con los napas de México lo Recomiendo...

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I had to replace my old Garmin Nuvi after 12 years because it dropped and the the screen broke. I bought the Garmin Drivesmart 65.It’s very clear and easy to use. The difference is amazing mainly because it’s much larger and clearer. I liked that I could update all the maps by hooking into our home WIFI without having to go through a computer. I haven’t had much chance to test the traffic app, but it seems good so far. It’s paired to my phone as well, but I’m not sure if I’ll use that much.So far, it’s a great choice for not too much money.

Customers say

Customers like the ease of use, value for money, and quality of the GPS. They mention it's easy to program destinations, input information, and perfect for directions when driving. Some are also satisfied with the display quality, screen size, and features. However, some customers have different opinions on functionality and voice recognition.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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