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?
Garmin DriveSmart 76, 7-inch Car GPS Navigator with Bright, Crisp High-resolution Maps and Garmin Voice Assist
4.4 | 2,434 ratings
Price: 188
Last update: 04-19-2025
About this item
7” high-resolution navigator includes map updates of North America .Special Feature:Easy-To-Read Display; Voice Assist; Hands-Free Calling; Live Traffic and Weather; Traffic Cams and Parking; Smart Notifications,Driver Alerts; Tripadvisor; National Parks Directory; Find Places by Name; Garmin Real Directions Feature.
Hands-free calling when paired with your compatible smartphone with BLUETOOTH technology and convenient Garmin voice assist lets you ask for directions to places you want to go
Road trip–ready features include the HISTORY database of notable sites, a U.S. national parks directory, Tripadvisor traveler ratings and millions of Foursquare POIs
Driver alerts for things such as school zones, sharp curves and speed changes help encourage safer driving and increase situational awareness
Access live traffic, fuel prices, parking, weather and smart notifications when you pair this navigator with your compatible smartphone running the Garmin Drive app
With Alexa Built-in (Drivers should focus on driving and only use this function when safe to do so. Must pair with the Garmin Drive app running on your compatible phone), you can ask to play music, listen to audiobooks, hear the news and more — all while you keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows easy map and software updates without a computer
Included dual USB charger provides an extra charging port for phones, tablets or other electronics
Hands-free calling when paired with your compatible smartphone with BLUETOOTH technology and convenient Garmin voice assist lets you ask for directions to places you want to go
Road trip–ready features include the HISTORY database of notable sites, a U.S. national parks directory, Tripadvisor traveler ratings and millions of Foursquare POIs
Driver alerts for things such as school zones, sharp curves and speed changes help encourage safer driving and increase situational awareness
Access live traffic, fuel prices, parking, weather and smart notifications when you pair this navigator with your compatible smartphone running the Garmin Drive app
With Alexa Built-in (Drivers should focus on driving and only use this function when safe to do so. Must pair with the Garmin Drive app running on your compatible phone), you can ask to play music, listen to audiobooks, hear the news and more — all while you keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows easy map and software updates without a computer
Included dual USB charger provides an extra charging port for phones, tablets or other electronics
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 0.75 x 6.81 x 3.9 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 8.5 ounces |
| ASIN | B09D5PW315 |
| Item model number | 010-02470-00 |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
| Customer Reviews |
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars
(2,228)
4.3 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #2,188 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #2 in Car In-Dash Navigation GPS Units #2 in Vehicle GPS Units & Equipment |
| Wireless communication technologies | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Connectivity technologies | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB |
| Special features | Driver Alerts; Tripadvisor; National Parks Directory; Find Places by Name; Garmin Real Directions™ Feature, Easy-To-Read Display; Voice Assist; Hands-Free Calling; Live Traffic and Weather; Traffic Cams and Parking; Smart Notifications |
| Display resolution | 1024 x 600 |
| Other display features | Wireless |
| Human Interface Input | Touchscreen |
| Scanner Resolution | 480 x 272 |
| Color | Black |
| Whats in the box | Garmin DriveSmart 76, vehicle suction cup mount, traffic receiver/vehicle power cable, USB cable and documentation |
| Department | mens |
| Manufacturer | Garmin |
| Country of Origin | Taiwan |
| Date First Available | October 13, 2021 |
Top reviews from the United States
MadPBNice bright display, responsive touch screen, fast routing
mark mBetter than OEM GPS systems
James KillianPerfect!
dbNice Garmin GPS
Amazon CustomerGreat Navigation & Camera GPS
gary