Best Car Navigation Systems

With a price tag just under $250, Garmin’s DriveSmart hits a GPS sweet spot with features that are fun but also extremely useful. The DriveSmart was our pick for the best car navigation system because it performs well at all the essential tasks but also has lots of extra features to make navigating on the road safer and more convenient.

We like the big, clear screen, but we don't like having to manually x out every text message that pops up. And we like beating the clock as much as the next person, but the arrival times on this GPS were wildly inaccurate, sometimes by more than 10 minutes on a half-hour trip. Still, overall, these annoyances were minor compared to the features offered by the DriveSmart 61.

Like Garmin's other top models, the 785 has a bright, almost-7-inch screen, hands-free commands with your Bluetooth-connected phone, smart notifications, traffic updates, and built-in Wi-Fi for free lifetime map updates. Keep in mind that the Bluetooth features work best if you have an unlimited data plan, as they'll eat up data quickly. Voice commands can also be tricky, so it's a good idea to make yourself a cheat sheet so you can remember specific wording to get the info you need.

We couldn't let Garmin have all the fun. The TomTom GO is a GPS option for the adventurous traveler, because it's the only device on our list that offers world maps, not just North American maps. It takes onscreen text alerts to a new level by reading your texts out loud to you, and it also has hands-free calling. We also like that the TomTom MyDrive app lets you plan routes on your phone so you're all ready to go as soon as you get in the car. On the downside, it's glitchy and users report that it doesn't always take the best route.

We know this list is pretty Garmin-heavy, but the truth is that in all of our research, Garmin products consistently came out on top in user reviews for reliability and ease of use. I've personally had non-Garmin devices try to lead me into a lake twice and up a mountain hiking trail once, but my Garmin has never steered me wrong, so it was no surprise when the research backed my personal experiences. Garmin's software is simply more reliable when it comes to GPS navigation.

If you're in the market for a GPS system but you're on a tight budget, check Amazon for refurbished or "renewed" models. You can find used refurbished models of nearly every GPS navigator on this list—along with some of the older Garmin models—for nearly half the price of the same devices new. As long as you use the free map updates and keep the maps current, they perform just as well as the pricier brand-new models. If you're looking at a particular model, it's also a good idea to check the reviews on both the new listings and the refurbished listings, as they're reviewing the same product. The refurbished listings often have more user reviews.

The numbers in the names of GPS devices usually have to do with screen size, and the letters give you a hint to the features. For example, when shopping for a Garmin, the first digit in the number after the name will give you a clue to screen size (ex: 61 = 6 inches or bigger, 51 = 5 inches or bigger). The letters following the number indicate the kinds of features included on the model: LM = Lifetime Maps, T = Traffic updates, and  S = Smart features.

To choose the best GPS systems we thought about why people want a dedicated GPS rather than just a free smartphone navigation app and we searched for the most reliable devices with the highest ratings from real drivers. Our full methodology explains more about how we review various products.

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