10 Best Gps Units For Cars 2025 in the United States

The Garmin DriveSmart 66 is a solid choice for a car GPS unit with its bright and sharp 6-inch high-resolution touchscreen, which makes maps easy to read while driving. It covers North America with up-to-date maps and includes a large variety of points of interest like national parks, Tripadvisor-rated spots, and a history database, helping you find interesting places along your route. It offers live traffic updates, fuel prices, parking info, and weather through smartphone pairing, which can make your trips smoother by avoiding delays.

The built-in voice assistant and hands-free calling via Bluetooth let you keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, enhancing safety and convenience. Mounting options are flexible, with both dashboard and windshield suction mounts included. One downside is the short battery life of about 1 hour, so it’s best used while plugged into your car’s power. The device also supports Wi-Fi for easy map updates without needing a computer, and it has dual USB ports to charge your phone or other devices.

Although it does not have some advanced features found in premium models, this unit balances useful functions and user-friendly design, making it a good fit for drivers who want reliable navigation with helpful extras but prefer not to rely solely on their phone’s GPS.

The Garmin DriveSmart 76 is a robust car GPS unit with a large 7-inch, high-resolution display that enhances map readability. It offers comprehensive map coverage of North America, with the added benefit of free updates via built-in Wi-Fi. The device excels in providing live traffic updates, fuel prices, parking information, and weather reports when paired with a compatible smartphone, making it ideal for those who frequently travel in varying conditions.

Voice guidance is available, and the Garmin Voice Assist feature is particularly user-friendly for hands-free operation, complementing its Bluetooth hands-free calling capability. However, users must ensure their phone is compatible for these features to work seamlessly. The presence of driver alerts for school zones and sharp curves adds a layer of safety, while the inclusion of a HISTORY database, U.S. National Parks directory, Tripadvisor traveler ratings, and millions of Foursquare POIs makes this unit a great companion for road trips.

The device can be mounted using a vehicle suction cup mount, but some users might find this less secure compared to other mounting options. Battery life can be a limitation if the device isn't consistently connected to power, though the included dual USB charger helps mitigate this issue. The scanner resolution of 480 x 272 might be underwhelming for some considering the high display resolution of 1024 x 600. This GPS unit is well-suited for everyday drivers and road trip enthusiasts seeking an intuitive, feature-rich navigational aid.

The Garmin DriveSmart 86 is a solid choice for anyone looking for a reliable car GPS unit. Its standout feature is the large 8-inch high-resolution display, which makes it easy to read maps and navigate. With voice assistance and hands-free calling, it adds convenience, allowing you to stay focused on the road. The device comes with comprehensive map coverage of North America and includes live traffic updates, which can help you avoid delays and find the best routes in real time. Additionally, it has smart notifications when paired with a smartphone, giving you access to traffic, weather, and even parking options right on your dashboard.

One of the key benefits is the extensive Points of Interest (POI) feature, including Tripadvisor ratings and a national parks directory, making it great for road trips. The driver alerts for school zones, sharp curves, and speed changes are also beneficial for safer driving. Plus, built-in Wi-Fi ensures that you can easily update maps and software without needing a computer, which is a nice touch.

The Garmin DriveSmart 86 is a feature-rich GPS unit that excels in navigation and safety features, making it ideal for regular drivers and road trip enthusiasts.