Customer Ratings & Reviews

The Garmin 2597LMT is a well-optioned GPS unit with a lot of features, including some, such as Bluetooth and voice command, that I’ll probably never use. Its combination of technology and price seemed about right to me. On the plus side: It is very easy to use. The touchscreen has just the right sensitivity, and all the choices are easy to understand. That’s good, because there’s no user’s manual in the box. If you want one, you have to download it from Garmin’s website. It is very capable. I tried entering addresses of a few restaurants as destinations, and in each case it came up with the right ones after I had typed in just a few characters. Based on my limited use, there’s little the 2597LMT can’t do from the standpoint of planning a trip. The display is clear, bright and sharp. I especially like the split-screen photo-realistic rendering of upcoming Interstate exits, and the Lane Assist feature that tells you what lane to get into for an upcoming exit. The spoken navigation directions are useful, clear and unobtrusive. It doesn’t babble at you if you don’t have to take any action. On the minus side: The process of updating the software and maps is poor. It took me an entire weekend, off and on, to do what should have been a simple task. The problem was that the Garmin Express software kept forgetting that the unit was connected to my computer via the included USB cable. This is a fairly common issue with the Garmin cable. I hooked it up with the USB cable from my Sony DSC-H5 digital camera, and it worked much better. It took me about nine hours to download everything. It seems like an unnecessarily slow and fragile updating process. If I had to summarize how well the 2597LMT navigates, I’d say “Meh.” Some of its instructions were bizarre. For example, it tried to send me a block out of my way, with three turns, to get to a street that I could reach with one turn. It told me to leave the Interstate four exits early to get to the airport. It suggested that I go back out onto an Interstate frontage road and “around the block” through a shopping center to get to a restaurant, when I was at the time sitting in the parking lot of said restaurant. Its navigation algorithms are certainly idiosyncratic, I’ll give it that. My bottom line: The Garmin 2597LMT is capable, flexible and easy to use. More times than not, it steered me in the right direction. It sometimes sent me on routes that made little sense, but it eventually got me to where I wanted to go.

I purchased this to replace an older 5" TomTom that did not have lifetime maps. I was getting tired of being nagged to pay for a map update on the older unit. Also I wanted to upgrade to a Bluetooth device. I am impressed overall with the speed and sophistication of this device. Connecting to a satellite is improved considerably. Seriously it just takes seconds. My last unit kept searching for a satellite connection so long I was afraid I'd get lost in the process. No more "recalculating" exclamations when you go off the suggested route. It quickly displays your new route with the suggested next turn. There are many more split screen "junction view" occurrences. These rarely appeared on my last unit. The user menu and graphical display has also been improved. The graphics appear cleaner and there is a menu tab on each screen. Regarding Bluetooth, The ability to use as a speaker phone when connected to your mobile device is nice. The Voice Command system is good but not great. it's fine when reciting pre-defined menu options but is hit or miss when speaking addresses. The build of the unit is solid. I'm happy with the improved performance of this unit.

Chose the nuvi 2597LMT to upgrade an older model Garmin. With the Garmin website software, the 2597 was easy to update and use. During my first test drive, the 2597 proved accurate for auto navigation. A great feature is a spoken lane assist so one is in the correct lane for upcoming turns The disappointment is that the 2597LMT is really just an LM, as the packaging and Garmin website detail is confusing and not totally accurate for the "•Lifetime traffic antenna/vehicle power cable." In the box is a Vehicle Power Cable and not the appropriate cable for the T #traffic# in the LMT. So if you are expecting to use or buy the 2597LMT for the traffic feature you are out of luck, unless you buy the appropriate cable--GTM™ 60 HD Digital Traffic Receiver or GTM™ 36, North America. The other minor disappointment is the saved favorite locations have been moved and renamed, now at a lower menu level. This takes a little longer to become familiar with. I should work at BestBuy as a Geek Squad rep, as in this instance in trying to get an exchange, I had to first work with staff to get to the same technical level of understanding for this nuvi LMT product--the distinction between a vehicle power charger and the charging unit GMT that actually makes the T #Traffic# functional. With that understanding achieved. BestBuy staff were very helpful in all of us determining that there wasn't any immediate solution to this problem. The new unopened 2597LMT boxes are packaged elsewhere and shipped to BestBuy, so they can't really do anything if the items included in the box--vehicle power charger--is the incorrect item to work with the T #traffic# in the LMT. If one isn't initially concerned with the traffic features, then there isn't an issue to the included vehicle power charger And last while the product works great for every feature, both BestBuy and Garmin need to give a clear LMT product description so one isn't misled by getting only a vehicle power charger and not the traffic receiver GMT to make the T #traffic# in LMT functional

the garman gps i purchased is worthless, hard to set directions, i don`t thank best buy should handle and sell this product

You are stuck in traffic and it's showing no traffic ahead I thought it suppose to be real time traffic update.

Coming from a bare bones Tom Tom that I really loved, this GPS has all the bells and whistles that it didn't. It definitely has updated maps and is pretty simple to use but I have a few issues with it. I can't seem to show miles to destination and time to destination on the main screen like I used to. Also, it doesn't have a male voice only female. Finally, entering addresses is not intuitive to me -- you have to keep entering the city/state or it just defaults to a multi-state region. Weird. Maybe its something I'll eventually figure out.

My last GPS was a Garmin 265WT and that still works but developed a speech impediment. This new one is great with the voice commands. I have a stupid phone with blue tooth and it still will dial out using voice command. Just say “voice command”- “phone “– “dial” and then the phone number and it will dial for you, no hands needed! The voice command is great. So you really don’t need a smart phone to link up, but you will get more features with the a smart phone. You really never have to touch the GPS to get it to do things, tell it what you want to do. Love this GPS.

i have used garmin for several years, and my old one died...so i went online to look at reviews and came across this bad boy..i have to admit, i was sorely disappointed when i took it out of the box after purchase and tried it out for a few days in my car as i make deliveries every day and go to twenty or thirty addresses each day...the unit just was horrible! the voice commands didnt recognize half of what i said, it was also frustrating because it seemed that i had to practically scream at the top of my lungs for the unit to process any voice commands at all, and when i said 4201 main street, anytown usa, it would say, "did you say 6307 boyleston avenue, chicago illinois?" needless to say, i was ready to toss it out the window several times that week. and then i decided on a whim to go ahead and bring it into the house to hook it up to my computer and check for updates. I then downloaded the most up to date firmware (why such a newer unit was running out of date software is beyond me) and voila! it was like a brand new gadget, fresh out of the factory, and working flawlessly, like i had expected it to from the beginning. the unit now is spot on and i no longer have to scream at the blasted thing for it to process voice commands! and it is mostly accurate and gets me around. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, before the update, traffic and whatnot did not work, but after the update, it works like a dream. Bottom line, if you are in the market for a gps, there really is no reason to hesitate in picking this unit up, you can thank me later. Safe travels, one and all!

Routed incorrectly several times took it back within a week

I've had this GPS for a few weeks now and I use it all the time since I have a horrible sense of direction. It is easy to use and very accurate. I love the bluetooth because I can talk on the phone while driving hands free. The battery life is good. Buying this GPS was a great investment, because I hate getting lost. I only have one negative. The GPS needs to come with instructions, I'm still trying to find out how I store addresses.

I was upgrading from an older Garmin (nuvi 256) unit, and was very much pleased with the better accuracy and directions on this unit. I considered some newer models, but after doing a feature comparison, it did not seem worth the additional 100 bucks. If you are looking for a solid navigation device, I'd highly recommend this. Sure, it's not the best out there, but the extra bells and whistles provided by the newer version don't justify the additional cost. I dropped one star because the companion app (smartlink on Android) has a clunky UI, and never seems to get the location correctly when shared from Google maps.

The one I purchased before works better and it cost less

Got the nuvi 2597LMT as a Christmas present to replace my more than 5 year old GPS that has been giving me problems with staying charged. I really like this one so far. Haven't found any issues with it other than figuring out about the "sleep" mode vs the "off" mode. Also read another review about the speed limit not showing correctly with the actual speed limit on the road. Use some common sense people!! The sign on the road is the one you are to abide by. To me it is there to assist. Would recommend this model to anyone.

The Garmin nüvi 2597LMT inherits many of the positive characteristics of its more expensive sibling, the nüvi 3597LMTHD at $314.99, while leaving an extra $130 in your pocket. Is whether it's worth it to buy a dedicated device rather than using a free app on a smartphone. In the nüvi 2597LMT's case, the answer is a qualified yes—especially if you don't have, or want to use a smartphone. Garmin also offers free real-time traffic alerts as well as free lifetime map updates.

I purchased this Garmin as an update to one I had for five years. I really like what Garmin has done with the GPS. I no longer have to listen to "recalculating" when I go off course (YAY). The screen is much clearer and easy to navigate. The only function that I am having an issue with is voice command. I am hoping it just has to get used to me. The app for my Iphone works seamlessly with the GPS so I can send the address from cellphone. Overall a very good purchase.

I work as a Courier and this is the first GPS I have ever bought. I have used my phone for navigation up till last week. I researched a lot online. I tried it out in the store and the salesman demo'd the voice command function. I was sold. I dont have time to type in addresses so this function is well worth the extra. Lower priced ones are great if you dont have to use it daily. I use this thing 30 times a day. It hasnt failed me yet. Its easy to use and the bluetooth and Phonelink is a bonus. Not to mention its a great price and worth it.

Got this because of lifetime maps and traffic, never buy a GPS without the lifetime maps, and if traffic is important, lifetime traffic. Voice recognition was a plus, Bluetooth not important to me. Initial vocabulary for voice recognition is limited, but works well. Only occasional false triggers due to the radio. Works more reliably than the Tom-Tom that it replaces. You can actually speak an address and it can be found. It may take a few tries to find some places, but remember to say it fast. navigation wise, haven't had it long enough for it to learn my favorite routes, but the "avoid roads" works well. (a particular toll road I hate). works like the typical Garmin, would like to have a bit more information on screen, but the traffic is unobtrusive and only pops up when there's something to worry about. Like any traffic service, will not always be right, but will be somewhat helpful. Voice navigation on favorites and last found is by number of entry and "up" or "down" Nice feature of the voice navigation is that you have a passphrase to wake up the GPS, rather than having to hit the screen icon. Overall, so far, so good. Standard Garmin "falls off window when hot" feature.

traffic report was nice to have when we were in a busy area with slow moving traffic .I loved the time of arrival that showed when you would arrive up head feature was great to have so you knew where rest rooms or gas was available .and when you where in the state parks it would show you how to get out to the main road .there are so many great things about this gps 2597 lmt to many to mention . I would recommend this to everyone

Garmin is very good GPS at a decent price. Screen is easy enough to read and bluetooth is fine.

If you feel like a dummy getting lost all the time (like I DID)...then this is for you! Seriously, I kept getting lost...especially after dark. I mapped and printed directions, but could not read after dark while driving. Road signs can be difficult to see and read...especially on country roads. I cannot believe the change having this Garmin has made for me. Most especially so because you can speak to it....you do not have to type into it...just speak! As with anything, you may find minor glitches, but so few to be tolerable. I highly recommend calling Garmin customer service after purchase....best EVER. Patiently walked me thru set-up and answered all my dumb questions. Even had the online instructions printed and mailed to me. So, if you are anything like me with following directions so poorly...this unit is for you.