Skip to main content

Garmin’s Drive GPS units tell you where to hike, sight-see, and eat

Garmin Drive CES 2019
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Standalone GPS units face life-threatening competition from smartphone apps like Google Maps, and from the navigation systems that are increasingly built into a car’s infotainment system. Garmin still believes the old-school GPS has a bright future. The firm traveled to CES 2019 to reveal its updated line of Drive navigators packed with new, road trip-friendly features.

More CES 2019 coverage

The 2019 Garmin Drive lineup includes four models with a 5.0-, 5.5-, or 6.95-inch display. Regardless of size, the high-resolution screen provides accurate, turn-by-turn directions with 3D buildings and terrain information. For example, the Drive might say “turn left at the city hall after the traffic light” instead of instructing the driver to “turn left on 500 South.” This feature takes a lot of the guesswork out of getting from point A to point B in a city you’ve never driven in before.

That’s what we’ve come to expect from standalone GPS units in 2019, though. Garmin’s Drive units go above and beyond by giving road-tripping motorists information about noteworthy places they’ll drive past (or through) during their trip. Users can access a directory of the national parks in the United States, information about notable sites provided by the History Channel, points of interest from FourSquare, and the TripAdvisor rating of thousands of monuments, restaurants, and hotels. Finally, to lure adventurers, every member of the Drive family provides the location of visitor centers, picnic areas, campgrounds, and trailheads in national parks. This information is programmed directly into the device so it’s accessible regardless of whether or not there is a reliable data connection.

The user-friendly features that helped Garmin’s GPS units survive the app blitz remain. They’re still intuitive to use, they boast voice-recognition technology, and some models even provide real-time traffic information. The more advanced (and, inevitably, more expensive) devices stand out by sending drivers alerts, like when they need to slow down because they’re in a school zone, or when they’re about to drive under a red-light camera.

Garmin’s new GPS units will go on sale nationwide in January 2019. The lineup includes the 52 — which is available with or without traffic information –, and a pair of always-online units called 55 and 65, respectively. Pre-tax pricing ranges from $150 to $270.

Garmin can’t stay entirely smartphone-free, however. The 55 and 65 devices pair with a smartphone app named Garmin Drive that provides live traffic information, parking information, and other useful notifications via Bluetooth. Garmin Drive also gives motorists access to photos from over 10,000 strategically-located traffic cameras across the nation to let them check weather and traffic conditions.

Editors' Recommendations

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Tesla Model 3 vs. Hyundai Ioniq 6: Which electric sedan is best?
Front three quarter view of the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6.

There are finally some more electric sedan options. For years, the Tesla Model 3 was really the only good electric sedan that comes at a reasonable price -- until, Hyundai recently launched the Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 6 certainly takes some cues from the larger Ioniq 5, but is smaller and sleeker, with a design seemingly inspired by the Porsche 911.

But the Tesla Model 3 is still clearly an excellent option for those looking for an electric car, and who don't want a larger crossover. Which is better? Here's a look.
Design
The exterior design of the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 is quite different. If you've seen a Tesla car before, then you'll immediately recognize the Model 3 -- it looks largely like a slightly different version of every other Tesla (except the Cybertruck).

Read more
Scout Motors Electric SUV: rumored price, release date, design, and more
Scout SUV Teaser

There's another electric SUV on the way, and this one comes with a familiar name. Volkswagen is reviving the classic Scout name for a new electric SUV that's billed as being an "RUV," or a rugged utility vehicle. And, it could well prove itself as the best electric SUV in its price range, when it does finally come out.

The new EV isn't due out for quite some time, but there's already a fair bit that we know about it. Curious to learn more? Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming Scout SUV.
Design
There's very little we actually know about the Scout SUV so far, but we do know a little about the eventual design. A few teasers for the upcoming vehicle have been released, showing sketches of both the SUV and the accompanying pickup truck, along with what's presumably the front of the SUV -- though in a dark environment, with little detail.

Read more
Volkswagen ID.GTI concept is another icon reimagined as an EV
Front three quarter view of the Volkswagen ID.GTI concept.

Volkswagen reinvented one of its most iconic models with the ID.Buzz, a modern, all-electric homage to the classic Microbus. But that's not the only fan favorite vehicle currently in the automaker's catalog.

Debuting at the 2023 Munich Auto Show, the Volkswagen ID.GTI concept aims to do for the Golf GTI hot hatchback — VW's signature performance car — what the ID.Buzz did for the Microbus. VW claims a production version has already been given the green light, although it won't say when it will appear.

Read more