Garmin - DriveSmart 66 6" GPS with Built-In Bluetooth, Map Updates and Traffic Updates - Black

I really like the Garmin DriveSamrt 66 - Garmin has crammed a lot of tech into this little box. I've put around 5,000 miles on this device over the first month of operation, including a 4,000 road trip that included multiple trip changes enroute using the voice control. Most of the time this was pretty seamless. In a nutshell, here are the highlights, and some lowlights... For reference, the device is being used in a 2015 Honda Accord XLE... The good... - Route calculations are pretty quick - seldom taking longer than 4 or 5 seconds. There is no aural message when it recalculates, it just does it - a plus in my book. - The unit can use the car audio through an AUX port, or entirely over Bluetooth. I used the AUX port, using the plug provided in the device charger (and my own cable). I used this mode so the Garmin controlled audio when notifications were made, they didn't compete with the music. - To get the most bang, use the Garmin Drive app on a smart phone which provides traffic, weather and amenities notifications. Delay notifications for the most part were pretty accurate, albeit I didn't use it in really congested areas. During the trip, we were rerouted due to a road closure without a hiccup, saving a headache. - Using the "OK Garmin" interface, searches for rest areas, fuel and meals are now easy to get, and can be added to the current route without touching the device. - The device is pretty light, the ball suction stuck to a dash-disk without any issues, even during hard braking or cornering. The supplied power cord was ample for my use, and the extra fast-charge port for a phone is a nice touch. - Audio played on the phone using the media player was acceptable, and provided decent separation and clarity. If you want hands free Pause, Play, Next, or Replay functionality, you'll need to use Alexa, which I didn't enable. "OK Garmin, Show Volume" will display the control for use though, for example. - Route planning options for fastest, shortest or cheapest routes (avoid tolls) are easy to use. - The unit responded to when power was provided to the plug, and when it was removed - it turned on and off with the key. - My phone is a 4 year old Android, Drive and other functions appeared to work well. - The Drive phone app works with all Garmin Drive enabled devices - the same app runs an RV-890 in my tow vehicle. - Updates are over Wifi, so for me, it can update in my car in the driveway using my home hotspot. Most updates are pretty quick, but full map updates can take 30 minutes or more. - For the most part, the "OK Garmin" voice interface work well. Most searches worked just using the name of a location - "OK Garmin, go to Devil's Tower National Monument". If there are multiple responses available, voice commands can scroll the list, select the desired destination, add it to a current rip, or be canceled. Critique... - When you open the box, there is a label stating "This device is ready use...". It's not. I returned my first one when it didn't turn on out of the box. After 30 minutes of charging, it wouldn't turn on. The replacement unit did the same thing. Instead of taking it back, plugged it into the car charger and left it - after around 45 minutes of driving around, it turned on by itself. I'm sorry Best Buy, as the first unit was also probably functional, but... - Only 2 data elements can be displayed on the bottom of the display, and speed can't be removed. I like to have Speed, Altitude, Time of Arrival, and Distance to Arrival - so I have to adjust it if I want to change. The DriveSmart 86 8 inch display will provide up to 4 elements, but the 76 7 and 66 6 inch displays only provide 2. My 11 year old Garmin Novi (5 inch display), which this replaced, provides 4 elements... - The Drive phone app (at least Android), doesn't have a quit function. Once you load it, it becomes a service, not an app. To turn it off, you have to go into Android, and disable it, or, forget the device. Since it does use some battery, it should have a "Quit" function. This issue is a bigger problem when 2 phones which talk to the same device are present they compete, and it isn't pretty. Such a simple fix for what can be a really annoying problem. - When playing music (I use VLC for Android), when the Garmin turns off, the phone plays for a couple seconds until it senses the disconnection. Not a Garmin issue, but worth mentioning. - When playing music through the Garmin, the sound quality is a bit less than playing directly off a flash drive, which I usually do. I suspect much of this is since my phone only has BT 4.0 - newer phones with a more recent version of Bluetooth will probably have better chips, and better sound quality. - There were some locations "OK Garmin" just didn't understand. For example, "Go to La Grande, Oregon" didn't result in a find. Turns out with that location, it wanted "Grande" pronounced "Grandee" using 2 syllables. So some practice may be required. Saying the full address instead, usually got good results. Indifferent... - As I noted earlier, while the device may be Alexa capable, I chose not the enable it. I'm wary of personal assistants in general as their primary purpose is to track user actions in order to target ads. Not using Alexa didn't notably inhibit the functionality I was looking for out of this device. - I suspect my criticisms or appreciations for this device would apply also to the DriveSmart 76 and 86 units also (although the 86 should be able to display more data). - My old Garmin Novi had an "At the pump" app that I really liked for tracking fuel mileage and usage - especially on trips. I really wish Garmin would add this back as an app. In summary - I'd definitely recommend the DriveSmart 66 to anyone looking to use a standalone GPS in their vehicle. The display is very crisp, calculations are pretty quick, and overall, the Drive app is worth running when on a trip.

We bought it as a back gps navigator during our pacific northwest road trip up to Victoria and Vancouver, Canada. It worked prettry well!

Garmin DriveSmart 66 has the best overall. It has the best-in-class directions, points-of-interest data, driver alerts, and free map updates with the best multi-touch display. Did you know if your accustomed to using you phones GPS and use you lose cell coverage, you also lose GPS. That’s why purchasing Garmin GPS is a must. Imagine trying to find a location and losing cell phone coverage. With Garmin it’s uses Satellites, which mean it’s extremely unlikely your are going to lose GPS coverage.

A great Navigator it is completly updated and so happy I bought this one .. Easy to use and very wonderful directions . Some states like Mass changed their exit numbers and thiis navigator has all the correct exit numbers.

I had this product for a year and a half now and i use it for work. The battery life is TERRIBLE and now it will turn on at all. For 300 that i paid for at the time i feel like it wasnt work the cost. Had a one year warranty and now im screwed. Works perfect other than that. Just doesn’t last long.