GarminDriveSmart 86, 8-inch Car GPS Navigator with Bright, Crisp High-resolution Maps and Garmin Voice Assist

I got this to upgrade my very old Nuvi model. On those old GPS displays, the touch screen is SO frustrating and you have to really press and wait for it to recognize each tap. The old one was also frustratingly slow to recalculate the route if I detoured for something like a rest area or exit to get gas. The voice saying "Recalculating" becomes a running joke on long road trips.So, enough about the old one... the new Garmin models have a much more responsive touch screen just like cell phones. The processor in there is a lot faster to recalculate if you're doing a detour (and without the annoying voice telling you about it). It also supports extra nav systems besides GPS which seems to help it be even more accurate (with 10 feet is usually what I got). The old one would sometimes lose signals in valleys or downtown between buildings and might show me a hundred feet away, but this model does a great job of showing where I really am.The voice navigation is amazing. It was so cumbersome to type in addresses on the old one but with the nice touchscreen, that's a breeze, but what I really loved was being able to say "Okay Garmin, go to Walgreens" or something and then pick which one I wanted to go to from the list. I don't know how thorough the database of locations is, but on my recent 3500 mile road trip, I rarely asked it for something it couldn't look up. Fast food and gas stations are just fine, I even asked it to go to a Verizon store when we needed a new phone and it pulled up the nearby locations.My one gripe is probably about the connectivity to my Android phone. The Garmin Drive app works, but the GPS keeps wanting to change the volume of my phone on its own. I also connect to my car radio over bluetooth to play music, and I've setup the Drive app and GPS appropriately for that case, but it seems like when the GPS connects it wants to lower the volume of my phone (and thus how loud it plays music to the car stereo). I can turn it back up, but that only lasts until the next time I get going again. Very weird.I also had problems where the GPS would keep showing "Galaxy S8+ disconnected" over and over. I think that was the power savings on my old phone putting the Drive app to sleep... maybe? I disabled it from being able to sleep, but I haven't driven long enough after that to see if it helped, and then I updated to a newer phone anyway so the jury is still out on whether that's still an issue. That doesn't concern me too much because when I'm driving, I don't really need the GPS linked to my phone although, if I understand correctly, it can get data through that phone connection for even minor things like weather updates or road conditions that maybe the traffic data doesn't get? Or using that tether for software updates too if I'm not within range of my wifi (which really only happens when it's parked in the garage anyway).Overall I'm very happy I splurged for the update. I miss my old Nuvi 1390's ability to connect to the ecoroute module plugged into the OBDII port so I could see the real time gauges right there on the GPS, but I do have a bluetooth dongle for OBD that I can use to see that on my phone. It was just handy because I'd use that whole ecoroute stuff on the GPS to keep track of my gas usage between fillups and it would show my MPG. I got an app for that now, it just means manually putting in my mileage instead of having the GPS already know that. It'd be cool if Garmin added a gas tracker app directly on the GPS... shouldn't be that hard?

At 78 years of life, I grew weary of always squinting down at small screens of any type. The Garman GPS given to me by my son for a birthday gift was one such. I purchased this 8" Garman and WOW - what a difference! I use it in its vertical position (it can also be used horizontally). The "DEPTH OF FIELD" (DOF) that can be seen when used vertically is truly IMPRESSIVE! The shorter DOF found on all smaller models leaves you with the thought you're rushing up on your destination/turn because you can't see it all in one glance (be aware the 'vertical' position will have your arrow moving left or Right which can be VERY confusing). I prefer my arrow to be moving in the same direction I'm going. BOTTOM LINE: Greater view, greater DOF, large comfortable screen...buy with confidence. JCH

My Garmin DriveSmart 66, 6-inch Car GPS Navigator is VITAL because I get lost in a round room. Having used it for more than a year, I have only one complaint: She talks slower than I drive. (User error?) Thank goodness the "Recalculating" comment from the Garmin no longer sounds aggravated about recalculatig for re-routing to compensate. Alert notifications of exits, turns, etc. are actually timely enough as value adds to this Garmin. Screen size is also better than other GPSs I've either burnt out or she simply walked off her job.

The DriveSmart 76 is my second Garmin GPS. My first one was the DriveSmart 61 that I bought in 2018. The 61 and the 76 look virtually identical. They both have the same screen size (6.95” diagonally), and they both have the same screen resolution (both screens look very sharp). I’ll be comparing the two in my review.My older model 61 still works fine after six years of use. So, you may ask, why did I feel the need to upgrade to the model 76? Quite simply, the voice recognition on the model 76 is significantly better.Voice recognition is very important to me. I don’t use my GPS while mounted on the windshield or the dash. In my opinion, the moving-map display on a GPS is a major distraction. I see people all the time weaving in traffic because they’re playing with their phone and not watching where they’re going.A few years ago, a driver who was texting crashed into my car. I don’t want to be guilty of that kind of behavior. So when I’m driving, I keep my eyes on the road and my Garmin GPS laying facedown. Because I depend entirely on verbal commands from the GPS when driving, the voice-recognition of the device is very important to me.Voice Recognition: To begin a verbal search on my older model 61, say “Voice Command.” How well does it understand my request? On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d give it a five (5). Some searches are OK. But about half the time it thinks I'm requesting something completely different. This happens even though I’m speaking very clearly and distinctly, or even after repeating the name of a business or a restaurant numerous times. Quite often, the verbal search results on the model 61 are ridiculous, frustrating, and so bad they’re comical.To begin a verbal search on my new model 76, say “OK Garmin.” How well does it understand my request? On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d give it an 8.5. It’s not perfect, but it’s significantly better than the model 61. As a test, I drove around one day with the 61 and the 76 side-by side. The model 76 can usually understand my search request on the first try. However, there were many times when the model 61 failed to understand the exact same request after numerous attempts.Search by Category: Depending on the name of the place you’re looking for, some searches are easier to find on the model 76 by category. For example: You may be looking for a specific German restaurant. If the GPS is having a hard time finding the name of a particular restaurant (because of your pronunciation or some other reason), try requesting “German Restaurant”, followed by the name of the city and state. If there are any German restaurants in the requested area, you’ll be presented with a list to choose from.Improved Voice: Another thing that I like better about the model 76 is a much improved voice. For “American English” (with full “OK Garmin” capabilities), Garmin uses a female voice named Zoe. It’s more clear and natural-sounding than the voice on the model 61.Battery Life: The 61 and the 76 both have a rechargeable internal battery. When fully charged, you can expect the battery to only last about an hour. That’s not very long. But keep in mind that the unit will be plugged into a 12V outlet in your vehicle when in use.The internal battery is really only necessary to power the unit while it’s connected to your computer with a cable (or Wi-Fi), while downloading updates and maps. I find it very helpful to use an AC adapter when downloading updates. Amazon sells them, and they’re not expensive. What you want is an AC adapter that plugs into a standard home 110V AC wall outlet, and has a cigarette lighter socket that supplies 12 volts DC. This allows you to charge the GPS in your home, and also provides you with all the time you need to download updates without running out of power.Tip: When you press the power button on the model 76, it turns off the display and it appears to be off. Not so. It’s only sleeping. To completely turn off the unit and preserve maximum battery power, hold down on the power button. After a few seconds the screen will ask if want to turn off the device. Tap “OFF”, and the unit will be turned completely off. Note: When connected to an outlet supplying 12 volts, the internal battery will still be charged even though the unit is turned completely off.Note: After about five years of use, my model 61 got to the point where it wouldn't hold a charge for more than a few minutes. I replaced the internal battery myself. But to do so, you need the right tools, and you need to be comfortable with taking it apart and putting it back together. I expect the longevity of the model 76 battery to be about the same.Model 76 Likes: 1. Big and clear display. 2. Much improved voice-recognition. 3. Once you learn a few basics, the operation of the unit is pretty intuitive. 4. It has a more pleasant and natural-sounding voice than older models. 5. Free map and software updates. 6. You can sync this device with your mobile phone for phone calls and music. However, I use my model 76 as a stand-alone device.Model 76 Dislikes: 1. The voice-recognition is very good, but it’s not perfect. There are times when I have to repeat or rephrase my request. 2. The one-hour battery life isn’t any better than my older unit. 3. Garmin only provides one voice selection for American English that has all of the “OK Garmin” capabilities. Again, the voice is pleasant and natural-sounding. But it would be nice if they offered other voices for download. 4. Battery replacement could be easier. Garmin knows that no rechargeable battery lasts forever, and that at some point it'll need to be replaced. The internal battery in my model 61 needed to replaced at five years. I did it myself, but it required the right tools, and I was OK with taking it apart and putting it back together. Not all consumers may want, or otherwise have the skill to tackle the job. In five years or so, I expect the model 76 will also require a new battery. Garmin, why not make it easy for the consumer to replace the battery without the need for any tools or skill when the time comes?Final thoughts: I like the Garmin model 76 very much. In fact, I sold my model 61.