Smartphones are usually not one of the best navigation instruments. There, I mentioned it. It’s not that I’ve something towards smartphones – I’ve 100 apps for journey, leisure, and group that I exploit every day. However after a 12 months of touring throughout the Florida Gulf Coast, street tripping throughout North Carolina, and exploring small cities in Virginia, I noticed a smartphone was simply not one of the best navigation device.
That’s once I returned to utilizing a Garmin automotive GPS system.
There are plenty of nice navigation apps for smartphones like Google Maps, Waze, and Roadtrippers. With knowledge connections, these maps can immediately discover updated details about locations you need to go to and supply visitors updates.
However there are drawbacks to utilizing smartphones for navigation.
Constantly utilizing a smartphone for navigation drains the battery, and repeatedly holding the telephone plugged right into a cost is unhealthy for the battery. It’s a lose-lose scenario. Smartphone navigation can be unimaginable if you lose knowledge sign except you suppose forward and obtain maps for offline use.
Though these are usually not world-ending complaints, they had been sufficient for me to change it up and take a step backwards in navigation. I reached out to Garmin about testing a few of their newest units. And that’s once I realized I wasn’t taking a step backwards – the brand new automotive GPS units had been taking an enormous leap ahead.
I examined all their units for a number of weeks earlier than writing these evaluations. You’ll want to try the record of options – a few of these units supply rather more than smartphones.
Garmin Drive 52
The Garmin Drive 52 is the bottom mannequin – and also you don’t need it. Beginning at $149.99, the Drive 52 has a 5-inch touchscreen and comes preloaded with North American street maps. The system options turn-by-turn instructions and visible guides that can assist you discover the right lane for journey.
The $169.99 Garmin Drive 52 & Site visitors encompasses a suitable charging cable with built-in visitors receiver. Alerts are supplied when visitors alongside your driving route begins to snarl from street building or an accident.
However that’s the place the options of the bottom mannequin come to an finish. The Garmin Drive 52 doesn’t embody voice-activated navigation, wi-fi connections, or a high-resolution display.
Options
Basic
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Professionals: Lowest worth
Cons: No voice-activated navigation, tedious to replace the street maps, small display measurement
Garmin DriveSmart 66
The Garmin DriveSmart 66 represents a big enchancment over the Drive 52 – but it surely’s an enchancment you’ll should pay to get. The $249.99 system encompasses a 6-inch high-resolution touchscreen with backlit glass that makes it simply readable day or night time.
The most important enchancment is the addition of voice-activated navigation. Converse the phrases, “Hey Garmin,” and provides numerous instructions for locating factors of curiosity, particular road addresses, or adjusting settings like quantity and brightness.
The DriveSmart 66 options turn-by-turn instructions, visible guides, visitors alerts, and comes preloaded with North American street maps. The system additionally encompasses a Bluetooth connection for easy wi-fi map updates. Amazon customers will even benefit from the built-in Alexa system for controlling sensible units and listening to music.
Options
Basic
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Professionals: Constructed-in visitors updates, voice-activated navigation, Bluetooth connection to smartphone for map updates
Cons: 6-inch display is a bit small, and the worth is a bit excessive
Garmin DriveSmart 86
For the previous month, I’ve been touring with the Garmin DriveSmart 86 fastened to the sprint of my Honda Pilot. The system options a powerful 8-inch, high-resolution touchscreen – the identical measurement display present in most fashionable automobiles.
The $349.99 DriveSmart 86 consists of the identical options of the DriveSmart 66. The DriveSmart 86 will also be rotated vertically for a special orientation – apparently, it makes the Garmin system appear as if an outsized smartphone. Use the Randconcept Dashboard Mounting Pad to suction cup mount the system to the sprint as a substitute of the windshield.
The Garmin DriveSmart 86 is my high really useful automotive GPS system for private automobiles. The massive display is simple to learn particulars of maps, the voice-activated navigation is sort of flawless, and the smartphone connection retains the system updated and related to dwell visitors studies.
Options
Basic
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Professionals: Giant display measurement, smartphone connection, built-in visitors updates, voice-activated navigation
Cons: Worth
Garmin RV 890
The Garmin RV 890 is not only a special mannequin quantity – it’s a completely completely different navigation system particularly designed for RVers. The $499.99 GPS system features a function for consumer to pick out their RV sort, enter dimensions and weight, after which obtain notifications about upcoming street obstacles like low clearance bridges and steep inclines.
The 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen is an efficient measurement for RVers touring in pickup vans whereas towing journey trailers of fifth wheels. The windshield mount encompasses a magnetic connection to the system, making it straightforward to take away and retailer if you happen to’ll be away from the car. The system is preloaded with North American street maps, options voice-activated navigation and turn-by-turn instructions, and consists of extra info on campgrounds.
Options
Basic
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Professionals: Specialised routing for RVs, magnetic mount connection, Bluetooth connection to smartphone
Cons: Small display measurement if driving a bigger car, Android working system will appear overseas to Apple customers
Garmin RV 1090
The Garmin RV 1090 is the highest really useful GPS system for Class C or Class A RVs. The Garmin RV 1090 encompasses a whopping 10-inch high-resolution touchscreen. The HD show is definitely readable day or night time whereas touring on the freeway. The system features a suction cup to connect the magnetic mount to a windshield, but in addition a plate for completely attaching with screws to the dashboard.
The $699.99 RV 1090 consists of all the identical options of the Garmin RV 890.
Options
Basic
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Professionals: Giant display measurement, specialised routing for RVs, Bluetooth connection to smartphone
Cons: Worth, the system is heavy and ponderous
Garmin Overlander
The Garmin Overlander is the reply to GPS navigation for many who like to go away the paved roads behind. The $699.99 system encompasses a 7-inch high-resolution touchscreen, a snug measurement for many off-road automobiles just like the Toyota Tacoma.
Inside, the system is like different Garmin GPS units. The system comes with preloaded North American maps, however extra maps can simply be uploaded – after buy – to the 64GB inner reminiscence. Voice-activated navigation and turn-by-turn instructions will hold your eyes on the street and palms on the wheel. The Garmin Overlander options the identical choices because the RV 890 for including details about the dimensions and weight of your car.
Exterior, the Garmin Overlander is a really completely different sort of automotive GPS system. The housing is constructed to U.S. army commonplace for thermal and shock resistance and has an IP5X mud score. The magnetic mounting plate encompasses a 1” ball with AMPS plate for attaching to RAM mounting methods.
The Overland is suitable with Garmin’s InReach satellite tv for pc communicators. With a service plan, the $399.99 InReach Mini 2 permits for two-way textual content messages, SOS alerts, and climate updates. Connecting with the Garmin Overlander offers a safter and extra alert expertise when exploring off roads.
Options
Basic
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Professionals: Specialised routing for RVs, 1” ball mount, satellite tv for pc communication compatibility, rugged housing
Cons: Value of the complete system
