Garmin DriveSmart 66: The Ultimate Car GPS Navigator for 2023

 

Garmin DriveSmart 66, 6-inch Car GPS Navigator with Bright, Crisp High-resolution Maps and Garmin Voice Assist on Amazon

Are you looking for a car GPS navigator that can make your driving experience more convenient, safe, and enjoyable? Do you want a device that has a large and clear display, voice-activated navigation, hands-free calling, and live traffic updates? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should consider the Garmin DriveSmart 66, one of the latest additions to the Garmin DriveSmart series of portable car GPS navigators.

In this article, we will review the features, benefits, and drawbacks of the Garmin DriveSmart 66, and compare it with some of its competitors. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about this device, and help you decide if it is the right choice for you. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of what the Garmin DriveSmart 66 can do for you, and how it can enhance your driving experience.

What is the Garmin DriveSmart 66?

The Garmin DriveSmart 66 is a 6-inch car GPS navigator that has a high-resolution display, Garmin voice assist, hands-free calling, and live traffic and fuel prices via the mobile app. It is designed to bring a new level of simplicity and freedom to drivers, by providing them with easy-to-follow directions, relevant information, and helpful alerts along the way.

The Garmin DriveSmart 66 comes with detailed maps of North America, and lifetime map updates. It also comes preloaded with TripAdvisor traveler ratings, a directory of U.S. national parks, the HISTORY database of notable sites, and millions of popular points of interest from Foursquare. You can also access real-time traffic, photoLive traffic cameras, weather, and fuel prices when you pair the device with your compatible smartphone using the Garmin Drive app.

One of the most impressive features of the Garmin DriveSmart 66 is the Garmin voice assist, which allows you to use plain language spoken requests to search for locations and addresses, start routes with turn-by-turn directions, place hands-free phone calls, and more. You can simply say “OK, Garmin” and make a spoken request, and the device will respond to you. You can also stream media and Alexa responses to the navigator, and connect it to your car’s speaker system via AUX cable or Bluetooth.

The Garmin DriveSmart 66 also excels with driver alerts, which help you drive more safely and confidently. You can receive warnings for upcoming speed changes, sharp curves, school zones, red light and speed cameras, railroad crossings, animal crossings, and other potential hazards. You can also get alerts for fatigue, wrong-way driving, and parking availability. The device also supports backup camera compatibility, which allows you to see what’s behind your vehicle when you reverse.

Understanding Garmin DriveSmart 66: A Versatile Navigation Solution

The Garmin DriveSmart 66 redefines navigation excellence with its intuitive interface, precise mapping, and real-time traffic updates. This GPS navigator offers a user-friendly experience, boasting a 6.95-inch edge-to-edge display for clear visuals and easy interaction while on the road.

Features That Set Garmin DriveSmart 66 Apart

Equipped with voice-activated navigation, hands-free calling, and Bluetooth connectivity, the Garmin DriveSmart 66 ensures a safe and convenient driving experience. Its built-in Wi-Fi connectivity facilitates hassle-free map updates and access to live traffic and parking information.

Unmatched Performance and Accuracy

Experience unparalleled accuracy with detailed maps and directions that provide reliable guidance. With advanced driver alerts for potential hazards, sharp curves, speed changes, and more, this GPS navigator keeps you informed and safe throughout your journey.

Enhanced Navigation with Live Services

Navigate confidently with access to live services such as live traffic, weather forecasts, and parking information. Stay ahead of traffic jams and detours, ensuring a smoother and stress-free travel experience.

Seamless Integration and Customization

The Garmin DriveSmart 66 seamlessly integrates with your smartphone, allowing you to receive notifications, messages, and calls hands-free. Customize your navigation experience with personalized settings and points of interest for a tailored journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Garmin DriveSmart 66 Car GPS Navigator

1. Q: Can the Garmin DriveSmart 66 be updated with the latest maps? A: Absolutely! The device offers built-in Wi-Fi for convenient map updates and access to live traffic information.

2. Q: Does the Garmin DriveSmart 66 provide real-time traffic updates? A: Yes, it does! The device keeps you informed about live traffic conditions, helping you avoid delays.

3. Q: Is the Garmin DriveSmart 66 compatible with smartphones? A: Definitely! It seamlessly integrates with smartphones, allowing hands-free calling and message notifications.

4. Q: How often does the Garmin DriveSmart 66 provide driver alerts? A: It offers timely alerts for potential hazards, sharp curves, speed changes, and more, ensuring a safe journey.

5. Q: Can I customize my navigation preferences on the Garmin DriveSmart 66? A: Absolutely! Personalize your navigation experience by setting preferences and adding points of interest for a tailored journey.

Top Reviews

MadPB

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice bright display, responsive touch screen, fast routing

Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2023

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?

Robert Eaton

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Easy To See GPS Navigator

Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2023

I know, you already have a smart phone with a few free map apps. So do I! All too often I get a call right in the middle of driving somewhere right when I really need the directions! Also, I've had my share of freezes and app issues that needed rebooting the phone. Not helpful! I also like to have redundancy when I travel, so I've always had a GPS type unit and also my smart phone ( for as long as you could do that with a phone). In any case, I love the sheer size of the screen. That feature alone helps to determine where an upcoming turn is located. I like being able to see more of the surrounding area on the Garmin screen than I can with the small (by comparison) phone's screen. The DriveSmart 86 has a whole host of other features that you would expect. The features I really like are the large screen and the volume of the unit itself. I find it's very easy to hear as well as see! I found it very capable. It locates addresses quickly and gives voice prompts in a timely manner. I'm very pleased with my new Garmin!

Ron

4.0 out of 5 stars Great screen layout

Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2023

Easy to see- the information is laid out well what you need see is displayed. Does not search well for addresses or anything. I hate having to put the street number in then go to next screen and put in city -state. For around town use your phone- longer trips in unfamiliar cities use this. Searches use your phone

Michael J. Myers

5.0 out of 5 stars Great GPS

Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2023

Have had a number of Garmin's over the years and this by far beats them all. WiFi updates and Realtime traffic updates VIA the phone app. I don't use the Voice Recognition. Can't beat this GPS!