Customers are impressed with the DriveSmart 66's ease of use, accurate GPS navigation, and clear screen. Many appreciate the lifetime map updates and convenient voice command features, finding the device easy to operate and reliable in getting them to their destinations. However, some users experienced issues with battery life and reported that the volume could be improved. A few also noted occasional performance glitches.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 2 Showing 21-40 of 469 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Screen size
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Garmin
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Good size, easy to use.
Not many Garmins used anymore, Ltd selections
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Mr.Will
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Very nice gps love the size of it very easy to work and use.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Drive 66
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Posted . Owned for 6 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Garmin DriveSmart 66 is a strong U.S. navigation device with a bright 6″ display, clear guidance, and reliable routing even in areas without cell service. It includes hands-free calling, voice assist, and lifetime U.S. maps, plus live traffic, fuel prices, and weather when paired with a smartphone. The larger screen makes directions easy to read, and setup is simple. However, the voice command system can be inconsistent, and some rural or newly developed roads may lack detail compared to smartphone apps. Still, for drivers wanting a dependable, distraction-free GPS with modern conveniences, the DriveSmart 66 is an excellent choice.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Good GPS
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Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Easy to use and no issues right out of the box, real time traffic updates are nice. Good size, the dual port power converter is a nice little add on in an older vehicle.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Overall performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Updated my old Garmin with this new(er) model: AOK
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I just bought this device to replace a much older Garmin model that died the other day. It was a straightforward install as I could reuse the mount of my previous Garmin. The screen is a big improvement and I was able to transfer most of my data from the previous model using the PC app (which I also used to update the firmware). It works great and no issues so far.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Gps
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Love this Garmin SmartDrive 66!¿
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I purchased the agar in GPS Smartdrive 66 about 3 weeks ago. I read all information and used it this weekend while I was traveling. The set up was easy, just plug the Garmin in
To the AC of my car, attach it to the window mount, send directions including address to the GPS with my IPhone and the download starts. Maps or routes are wonderful colors, routes are marked well, with North, south east and west clearly visible. I like that there is an audible alert when entering into a different speed zone. It is connected to my iPhone and car by Bluetooth. It worked very well. The price was reasonable and this was a great purchase for me. I did purchase 1 year insurance available. Finally, B/C I purchased at BestBuy, I knew that if I had any questions that the Geek Squad was there to help.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Map updates
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great features
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Both of our cars have a navigation system, but I prefer to use my Garmin. I like the clear display, being able to easily find things like food or gas along my route, easy map updates via Wi-Fi, and being able to customize some display items. Getting information such as traffic conditions and gas prices from a linked phone are also great.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent Upgrade
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
My last Garmin lasted 13 years and the only reason I got a new one was because the cord was fraying and they don't make that same charger anymore. Bought this one and love the updates, bigger screen, NP stops, traffic. Excellent choice for us.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Product
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I love this product. This GPS is my guardian angel that gets me wherever I need to go. The screen is nice and large with easy instructions. It is simple to use and the best tool for long trips.
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Battery life
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Good for emergency use not for daily use
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Before talking about the Pros and Cons, I'll say that there's no standalone GPS which will outperform the most popular phone-based GPS out there. So, don't expect this device to be better than your phone GPS, but there's 1 thing that makes a standalone GPS like this one still useful in almost 2025 compared to a phone GPS: It's the satellite navigation which doesn't need a phone nor internet to work.
Pros:
1. Screen not freezing compared to 7" and 8" versions
2. Not heavy compared to the 7", 8" versions
3. New updates allow us to search the full address: street# 4. streetName, City, State ZipCode, all at once. Comments on Amazon say this was not possible(my Nuvi can't do it).
5. You can control your phone notifications from the Garmin GPS screen(play music, pickup calls, even search an address from the phone's Garmin app instead of typing on Garmin slower than a phone touch screen)
6. Garmin can display nearby gas stations, restaurants, ATMs on a portion of the screen.
7. USB C cable: you can use one USB cable for both your phone and the GPS instead of having multiple cables like on the DriveSmart 55 and 53 that use old usb mini B.
8. You can use the same mount for your phone for the Garmin DriveSmart 66(just the mount with the round head; not the phone holder) instead of having to install 2 mounts
Cons:
1. The GPS mount is located in a position that is obstructing the view in the dash cam version. Never buy the dash camera version or you'll regret it.
2. The 7" and 8" versions screens are known to freeze a lot
3. Setup is complex. Don't try to complete the full setup at once or you'll be stuck. Complete the connection to your computer first by downloading Garmin Express, then use their provided USB 3.0 cable(blue inside the plug) and plug it to a USB 3.0 plug otherwise your computer or the GPS might not detect the cable. Once the cable is detected, start the GPS search on your computer and on Garmin GPS, choose connect to computer and then choose Transferring files option. Every time the connection is disconnected, you must unplug the GPS, wait 5 seconds and restart the setup from scratch. I have a fairly strong Ethernet connection and a powerful PC and it still took me 1hr to complete the setup.
4. Using different cable or cigarette plug than the one provided might automatically reduce the GPS brightness and no way to increase the brightness. Test your USB C cables with the GPS so that if in the future, the GPS cable doesn't work anymore, you won't be surprised to find out that some USB cables don't charge nor turn on the GPS.
5. The battery indicator doesn't show how much percentage of battery is left, and there's no way to check it. All Garmin car GPS I've owned have batteries that don't last 30 minutes but this GPS is the first that can't show how much power is left in the battery.
6. Only fast path route is usefull on the GPS. Garmin removed the shortest path(just like google did on Map longtime ago because communities complain about GPS re-routing many cars on their small roads). There's a straight line option but it's useless because it doesn't show you the roads to your destination. It shows straight lines from origin to destination and if there's no traffic, you can guess your own shortest path from that.
6. Suction mount won't stick well to windshield. It's even worse for the 7" and 8" screen sizes because they're larger and heavier than the 6".
7. You cannot use old Garmin mounts for the current DriveSmart 66, 76, 86.
8. You cannot use your phone mount for version 76 and 86 because they need a bigger round head(compared to the smaller ball head for phone mounts) to hold them.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Buy
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Shipping was fast. Packed very well. Great GPS, very easy to use. USB-C connector should last longer than old mini-USB. Touchscreen is large, easy to read, and very responsive. Transferred old garmin gps saves using garmin express software. BestBuy had the best price.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Garmin GPS, just what I needed
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Very happy with it. I need the satellite coverage because of where I travel. Gives me a lot of piece of mind. I like the size. Big enough to see easily but doesn't take up too much space. Easy to operate.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Gps, Map updates
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The Right Choice- Garmin
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’m already a Garmin user but needed an update. My initial updated Garmin purchase was a larger version of this one. I quickly realized I wanted something that fit more reasonably on my dashboard. From the minute I set it up, I knew I’d made the right choice- for me. It provides everything I wanted: better fit on my dashboard, Bluetooth, map updates and traffic, plus the screen is clear and easy to read. My only challenge was pairing it with my Iphone, the Best Buy rep was later kind enough to advise me to do it in my car. Voila, it worked like a charm!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Overall performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Perfect GPS for Work
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Posted . Owned for 1 year when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I bought the Garmin DriveSmart 66 for my work vehicle after constantly draining my phone’s battery by using it as a GPS for hours a day and even burning the maps app into the screen. After getting a new phone, I decided to invest in a dedicated GPS, and I’m so happy I did! The GPS works perfectly, and I love the Bluetooth feature, which allows me to input addresses directly from my phone into the Garmin app. I’ve even used the built-in Alexa to settle debates with a coworker during my commute. This has been a game-changer for my daily drives. I would definitely buy it again and highly recommend it!
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Connectivity
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Nice GPS
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Really enjoy the GPS. The only complaint I would have is that it’s hard to sync with your car stereo. I had some difficulties with it. I called Garmin 4 to 5 different people who could not help me and just read from the instructions which I did myself. I finally figured it out.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Overall, happy with it.
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Long time Garmin Nuvi user and didn't know what to expect from the new Drive series. I miss not being able to have it in portrait orientation and the lack of data fields displayed all of the time, but I really like how much easier it is to find gas stations, restaurants, etc. along the route. Overall happy with it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use
Cons mentioned:
Volume
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Good Garmin Product
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great product, easy to set up and use, updates were easily done.My only negative is I wish it had more volume for verbal directions
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Ease of use
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Love My Garmin DriveSmart 66
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Easy to see and hear. Gives great directions! Super easy to program!
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
No issues so far. About a month in
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have enjoyed this item so far. I use it daily around my city. I didn't find the set up to be complicated on my pc but did need to download software. I will be testing this on a longer drive in the upcoming weeks, but so far, I have not had any issues. Many complain about the part that attaches the unit to a window. I personally haven't had issues with it sticking, however, am going to get a backup stand for future use. Love the product and it allows me not not need a phone for navigation. It does feel a bit lighter than expected. Some might say cheap feeling. However, the device is straight forward and probably doesn't need a massive amount to function. No qualms.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Awesome GPS
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Awesome, great size and easy to use. I find it more accurate than google.