Garmin - DriveSmart 55 & Traffic - 5.5" GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Black

I bought my first drivesmart 55 in mid march 2019. Replaced a Garmin 3597 that had served me well for almost 5 years and 270,000 miles. I was very interested in the upgraded features and immediately started using the unit. After buying, I figured I should update software and maps. Went through process on the first night and everything went well. Got in the car in the morning and started my work day. About 5 minutes after starting out, I tried to type an addresss. Unit informed me that there were 'no maps installed' rendering it useless. Had to pull out old unit and use it until I got to a Best Buy. Brought it back and got another. Updated everything. Next day, voice control stopped working and screen locked up. Another Best Buy and traded for a 65. Updated everything. Week later, voice control again stopped working and unit would not acquire satellite. Back to Best Buy and back to a 55. Tried to update, but software failed. Within a week, voice control again gone, and very intermittent satellite reception (On highway in farm country none the less). Called Garmin from road. Very helpful gentleman gave me some tips but needed me to be in front of computer. Took a couple days until I called back. Got the update figured out, but could not troubleshoot satellite problems. Told me to send in unit and they would repair. Not after 1 month!!! Back to Best Buy(3PM on a Tuesday). ANOTHER 55 and I was out the door. did not update. Wednesday (today) tooling along through the countryside and the satellites get lost yet again!!! Tried turning unit off, and it wouldn't turn back on. Called Garmin and let loose!!! Again, asked me to send in and I told him no way. Back to Best Buy. To Heck with the 55!!! I bought a Drive Assist 51 and left. So far so good. I have had many Garmin products since 1995 and have had only minor issues that were dealt with easily. However, Automotive GPS appears to be a much smaller part of Gramin's business now, and this model is sub-standard. The tech support guys did allude to some issues with the 55 and the Garmin Express software, but would not go so far as to call it a POS. Very disappointed with the whole ordeal, and will be expanding my brand search for future units.

Absolutely love ❤ ❤ ❤ this newly released 2019 Garmin Navigator. Exponential technological advancements over GPS devices of only a year ago. High-definition has finally arrived to the automotive GPS market with 1280 x 720 pixels multi-touch, glass HD color TFT with white back light, allowing for superb resolution on the perfectly-sized crystal-clear display. Feature-rich Garmin DriveSmart 55® & Traffic Navigator marks another milestone in the auto GPS market sector. Using a SmartPhone for routing travel on a small phone display is no longer necessary. Travel and safety is far too critical to rely on one of the dozens of SmartPhone GPS apps playing double-duty as your techy side-kick best suited to be used for talk/text/data and tasks for which is was intended. Finally, an automotive GPS navigator that puts FUN back in local driving and long distance travel. Read the specs, decide for yourself, and don’t settle for a cheap GPS (there is a BIG difference) that doesn’t measure up (and none of them do.) Live it, Love ❤ it, Buy it, i.e., the Garmin DriveSmart 55® & Traffic Navigator.

The Garmin 55 plus Live Traffic is exactly what we needed for both US and Canada route maps. Be careful when you choose a Garmin. Only select Garmin’s have Canada available (entire North America). Garmin 55 does have this feature. In addition, it has live traffic. It was nice to see weather updates available, and it can be voice controlled. I don’t think we will use all the features, but you never know. The big plus is that when you travel to Canada, you won’t incur international charges, unlike a phone plane when searching for locations in Canada. This feature will pay for itself, especially when traveling between countries in North America. I haven’t had this Garmin for very long, but this is replacing our Garmin Nuvi, which about ten years now.

I used this GPS for my first Colorado trip, it was okay, was able to go to all the places, it worked on the mountains. Few issues that I found were 1. It reroutes to longest route while my iPhone showed shortest root when I missed the turn, you need to reconfirm by using map on your phone. 2. Road closure, repairs can't be understood with this devise, we have to keep close watch while driving on the route suggested by this devise. 3. The exits per GPS are correct, but the exit photos shown are outdated or inaccurate in some cases. 4. The voice over blue tooth is poor, one respite is that you don't need to operate phone, the text or any alert on your phone is shown directly on the GPS. Overall, an average devise, can't expect answers to all of your need.

After my old gps failed to update with the satellite reboot, I found this Garmin-Drivesmart 55. I didn't realize all the features I was missing all these years. Of course smartphones can do most of these features, but I don't use my smartphone as a gps. Have you ever driven in a remote area with no cell service. The app that connects your phone to the gps can do traffic updates, and update the maps. The display is great, and voice commands make it hands free. I love how it displays text messages as you drive.

bought this as an upgrade to an ancient nuvi and the advancements are staggering. much faster resolution of maps. crisp, clear picture and voice. The bluetooth feature easily connected to my phone and it can be used as a hands free. it alerts when you exceed the speed limit and when there are red light cameras in play. it has voice command which is nice but be sure to keep the ambient noise down or it seems to not hear well. all in all a great upgrade.

This is a very intelligent GPS, thin, small bezel and the perfect size for a smaller vehicle. The voice assistant works as well as can be expected in a car moving down the road, better when it is quiet. The search feature is nice and destination addresses can be dictated to the unit while you drive. It connects wonderfully to my phone and handles text messages in a very safe way. It was so worth the additional cost over the cheaper models.

Trip from Jacksonville to Miami with no issues. I was saved several times by its beeping noise once you go 1 mph over the speed limit. Miami has a lot of red light Cameras, the Garmin was able to detect the ones that was actually "live". I was able to set the preference to avoid tolls and Expressway lanes; the sharp bells and dings made sure I did not go near those avoidance. The built in command also tell you what lane to get in "get in any 2 lanes on the left".