Which stand alone GPS model do you recommend?

On my recent trip, I used Scout GPS app that is integrated to my 2020 PP LE display. The quick conclusion, the app is a garbage. It requires phone data to be on and has to be connected to USB port in order to show the turn-by-turn map on the screen. The first destination I put in, the Scout GPS took me to a wrong destination, I had to call the shop and found out I was on the other side of town. G-map took me to the correct destination. The voice direction of the Scout GPS has a strong machine accent that I could not understand what it was saying. Second day when I tried using it, the Entune had to go through the update, and Scout GPS never finished loading on the car screen, although phone app was working OK. I then just used G-map on my phone as my sole GPS which worked fine.

Only thing was that I did not have phone holder, and my Android phone has pay-as-you-go SIM that cost me 6 cents a MB of cellular data. So, using a phone as sole GPS in the car is not very practical. Also, for many of my local areas, phone signal can get very patchy.

I don't have much need for NAV on my daily drive and especially with COVID-19 restriction and limited traveling I am doing nowadays, GPS is not the very important feature. But when I do have to go somewhere I have never been to, it quickly becomes an essential. We do have Garmin nuvi 5" GPS that is being used on our other car, but I think I will be getting separate one for my PRIME.

Any suggestion on new Garmin GPS models and a holder set-up on LE model?

 

Thanks. I haven't done much readings on the current line-ups of Garmin or other GPS navi units yet, but I am sure there are new models with a lot of new functionalities. But all I need is a basic map with clear voice direction with free map update. Yeah, the last update to 5"Garmin nuvi was probably close to 10 years ago, and that one still works much better than any of phone based apps such as G-map, Waze, or ScoutGPS or the in-car OEM GPS system I have used so far (both Toyota and Nissan). I don't think I need an integrated front camera in the GPS. I won't be keeping it on all the time. My use case is only once in a while (maybe be a few times a year) for the GPS needs only. I actually have a dash cam that I bought a few years back but never got to installing it.

 

I checked the one we have in our Pathfinder. It was 6" nuvi 2699LMTHD instead of 5" I thought it was. It has traffic info, bluetooth calling, voice activated commands, thousands of POI info. But to my experience it has been somewhat inaccurate or very slow traffic info. It usually tells me that there is a traffic delay after we are already stuck in it. But overall, it is a fantastic unit. Easy to use and the voice prompt is very clear to understand. Also the active lane guidance with voice prompt that shows bird's eye junction view in a split screen is a valuable tool to navigate very complex interchanges in unfamiliar locations. But the model is discontinued now. I am hoping a current basic one from Garmin will have similar functionality and quality as this old nuvi, but I am not sure.

 

I just checked Garmin site. It seems for car GPS, there aren't too many choices. Any one of them will be fine and includes lifetime map and traffic information update, but if I want the voice command then DriveSmart is better. DriveSmart also have WiFi connectivity, so the map and software updates are easier. No need to install program on my laptop and connect. I don't need it now, I think I will just watch for sale. I am sure by the end of year, I should be able to buy 5" DriveSmart for less than $200 or 7" DriveSmart for less than $250.

 

Yeah, depending on where you look, there seems to be many more models of Garmin GPS for sale. They must be discontinued older models. But at Garmin site there are really only three models currently sold. Drive 52, DriveSmart55, and DriveSmart65. Drive52 come with ($169) or without traffic ($149), but only $20 difference, so it's no brainer which is better buy. Then for DriveSmart either 55 (5") or 65 (7") and with backup camera or with Alexa are the only difference. I don't need backup camera nor Alexa. So base DriveSmart55 or 65 will do. If I want voice command and higher res, better responsive touch screen and WiFi, then it must be DriveSmart. If I can get a DriveSmart 55 (5" regularly sold at $229) for around $150, then that's what I will buy. Or if I can find DriveSmart 65 (7" regularly sold at $269) for below $200, then I may just take that option. On the other hand, if I see refub or used one or older models at bargain price of less than $100, I will likely to pick it over the newest models. One good thing is that with Garmin, even second hand unit can get lifetime free map update.

 

Thanks, but no I do not want to use phone based GPS app. I have used Here before, for my still in use everyday phone is Nokia Windows phone. I also have Android phone, but as I said in my previous comment, I don't use data plan on my phone. And looking at small screen on the phone is rather difficult task for me. I'd much rather have 7" dedicated display on the dash.

 

Yeah, our Garmin has given us some funny directions from time to time, but it has improved it's accuracy and usability when we upgraded to the current model 6" nuvi 2699LMTHD unit. I only have used Garmin in the past, but comparing to recent Toyota and Nissan OEM navigation system, Garmin offered far better directions, and comparing to phone apps like G-map or Waze, Garmin has much easier in car user interface and usability for our use cases.

I just found Garmin outlet store. There the refub DriveSmart65 (7" model) is at $159.95. If I go with older Garmin DriveSmart 61LMT-S model refub is only $129.95. I don't know the difference between 61 and 65 to make the $30 difference? Anyone care to explain the difference in those two models?

 

From doing some online search, I found this information in gps forum https://www.gpscity.com/questions?qid=77195

• The Garmin DriveSmart 65LMT has a built in Traffic Receiver in the GPS.
• The DriveSmart 61 LMT-S would require a Smart Phone with the Garmin Smart Phone Link App in order to receive Traffic.

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I can't confirm it, but if this is true, then $30 more for the DS65 is worth to me, since I have no intention of using phone App link and phone data connection to get the traffic info.

I also found in different review page stating that 65 can show 3-D Buildings and terrain whereas 61 can not.

 

I found the refub DriveSmart65 from Amazon $20 cheaper than Garmin outlet price.

 

Thanks for the review. Yeah, from what I read, older DriveSmart 61 uses the real-time traffic info off from the phone app linked to it. The newer DriveSmart 65 has a builtin traffic receiver in the GPS unit itself in addition to the app on the phone. That difference alone is worth $10 more for the DriveSmart65 if I decide to purchase one. I am not exactly sure how it works, but some Garmin traffic receivers are in the 12v power cord. I think my current Nuvi has such a set-up for HD traffic. When I upgraded the previous Nuvi to the current one, the 12v power cords were not interchangeable.