Garmin DriveSmart 86 review: Trying and failing to compete with the smartphone

Our Verdict

The Garmin DriveSmart 86 is a competent GPS device that has a lot of not bad features built in. Unfortunately it also doesn't offering anything especially special, and compared to a smartphone's mapping capabilities it feels redundant, especially for such a loftier cost.

For

Alexa support
Live traffic and fuel information
Solid navigation

Confronting

Very expensive
Offers zilch your phone can't likewise do
Vocalism controls are temperamental
Tin't sympathise postal/ZIP codes

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Garmin DriveSmart 86 is a competent GPS device that has a lot of great features built in. Unfortunately it also doesn't offer anything peculiarly special, and compared to a smartphone's mapping capabilities information technology feels redundant, especially for such a high toll.

Pros

+
Alexa support
+
Alive traffic and fuel data
+
Solid navigation

Cons

-
Very expensive
-
Offers nil your telephone tin can't besides do
-
Voice controls are temperamental
-
Tin can't empathize postal/Zilch codes

Garmin DriveSmart 86: Specs

Price: $350
Size: 7.5 x iv.5 ten 0.75"
Display: 8-inch touchscreen
Design: Suction Cup
Audio: Wired (3.5mm), Bluetooth (via mobile app)
Bombardment life: one hour
Ability: USB-C to 12V
Smarts: Alexa, Garmin voice command, live traffic and weather
OS: Android vi.0, iOS 13 or newer

The Garmin DriveSmart 86 feels like the kind of device you would probably dismiss pretty quickly. Back in the day, a dedicated satellite navigation organization was an absolute godsend, because the only culling was a paper map.

That'due south no longer the case, and hasn't been for several years. Thanks to the ubiquity of smartphones and powerful navigation apps from the likes of Google and Apple, the boilerplate car user doesn't need to buy a separate gadget to piece of work out where to become.

But this hasn't stopped Garmin from trying its very best with the DriveSmart 86. This standalone GPS packs a agglomeration of useful features that ways it can do a lot more than than only feed y'all directions. But even though it has an eight-inch screen, built-in Alexa, hands-costless controls, and live traffic updates, the device only feels redundant.

Garmin DriveSmart 86 review: Toll and availability

The Garmin DriveSmart 86 is available now for $349.99, and can exist purchased on the Garmin website or at major electronics retailers. Smaller models are available including the 7-inch DriveSmart 76 ($300), 6-inch DriveSmart 66 ($250), and the 5-inch Bulldoze 52 ($170).

Garmin DriveSmart 86 review: Blueprint

The DriveSmart 86 isn't dissimilar from a run-of-the-mill tablet, albeit one that doesn't take the full might of Android or iPadOS behind information technology. The 8-inch loftier-definition display measures roughly 7.5 inches broad, 4.5 inches high, and about three quarters of an inch deep without the stand attached.

Garmin drivesmart 86 display on dash — (Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

The stand is a uncomplicated adjustable suction loving cup that clips onto the back of the DriveSmart tablet. Power comes via USB-C cable and adapter that plug into your machine'south 12V cigarette lighter socket. While the DriveSmart 86 does seem to accept a small-scale battery, it's just rated for an hr of use. So to avoid completely dying, the tablet will automatically switch off when the power supply disconnects — but not until it's tried to update its mapping data. The idea being that it volition do this when yous get home, and your habitation Wi-Fi network will be within range.

The adapter itself is quite interesting, featuring a 3.5mm audio output port, a USB 3.0 port (for the DriveSmart itself) and an additional USB 2.0 port. While the DriveSmart does seem to be able to draw ability from any standard USB-C cable, cars without Bluetooth will need the included power adapter to ensure sound comes out through their car's speakers

The screen tin can too be oriented in portrait or mural manner, which should make it a piddling easier to find a suitable location to position it.

The DriveSmart comes with a suction cup mountain, which you're going to demand if you want to display it securely during your drives. Unfortunately the suction cup itself was adjacent to useless on my dashboard. I've had this issue before with weak suction cups, but this is by far the worst I've experienced. The suction was so weak information technology might likewise have not been at that place.

On the few occasions I did get the cup to stick it would lose its grip about a infinitesimal or then later. Meanwhile my £24 non-brand phone mount, far from 1 of the best auto phone mounts out there, has been stuck to that same surface without any bug since May.

Fortunately the suction cup does get a stiff grip on drinking glass, and crucially doesn't come up complimentary of its own volition. That means you can adhere it to your windshield or window without whatever issues.

Garmin's navigation arrangement is powered past Here Maps, a proper noun that volition exist very familiar to anyone who ever owned a Windows Telephone or a pre-Android Nokia. And honestly? Information technology's non too dissimilar from the likes of Google Maps and Apple tree Maps.

That said, it doesn't offering anything particularly special either. Much like how Google Maps vs Apple tree Maps is a pretty even fight, largely dependent on your device of option, there'southward nothing about the DriveSmart's Here Maps that would brand yous want to switch.

Even the similarities between Google Maps and Waze accept that deadlock broken by the fact Waze has a unique method of getting you lot effectually in the shortest time possible. As the joke goes, Wase would send you through an active war zone to shave v seconds off your ETA. Without that killer feature, it'southward difficult to recommend Here Maps over whatsoever of the alternatives.

Navigation is pretty self-explanatory. You ask the DriveSmart 86 to take you lot somewhere, and it'll bring up a list of search results for you to pick. Later finding the one you want, you lot can either have the default directions, select a specific route, or have the screen navigate y'all to the parking lots nearest your destination.

That last option is the just real difference between Here Maps and the competition. I don't recall Google, Apple, or even Waze offering to take me to my destination's nearest parking lot unless I specifically searched for 1. It's a small characteristic, but it's definitely a welcome i.

Beyond that, the navigational experience is much the aforementioned. There's a map, a route to follow, and a bar on the side of the screen with of import information like arrival time, how long you'll be travelling, as well equally how fast you lot're going at any given time. Cipher overtly special, though the more than obvious placement of GPS-tracked speed does come in handy if you have the speed limit alert activated.

However Hither Maps, or at to the lowest degree the version installed on the DriveSmart 86, has its fair share of problems also. The primary one is that it tin can struggle to find the right locations at times, and the search function seemingly has no understanding of what postal or zip codes are. That's something that GPS units have been able to handle since earlier the days of smartphones and Google Maps, so the fact this one can't do it is a huge cherry flag.

Calculation stops to your route is as well a little convoluted, since yous accept to search for a new location while your existing route is agile. Doing so causes a new screen to pop up request if you want to get-go a new road, add this location as a stop on your existing road, or add together it as your current route's terminal stop. Google and Apple have shown u.s.a. it doesn't accept to exist this hard, by having this feature every bit an extension of the normal navigation bar.

The navigation app also had a tendency to freeze at sure points — primarily when I was trying to practice something to the map itself. Tapping on a location or whatever on-map graphics causes a filibuster of several seconds, while the characteristic that lets you edit a route manually was then laggy the tablet seemed to surrender on even letting me try.

Generating directions to certain places, peculiarly long distances away, can as well take a fair bit of fourth dimension, but that's actually pretty common among GPS apps. Fortunately, the live navigation functioned exactly as it should, with no noticeable lag or location issues.

It'south also worth mentioning that the DriveSmart needs an cyberspace connection to stay upward to engagement on traffic and road closures. Still, this is done past connecting to your abode Wi-Fi network since information technology doesn't have a standalone data connectedness. Meanwhile live services, like traffic updates, only work if you're connected to the Garmin Drive app.

Garmin DriveSmart 86 review: Features

Naturally the DriveSmart 86 comes with more than but the ability to get you around. It has hands-free control, which we've already discussed, simply there are other features thrown into the mix besides.

Connecting the DriveSmart 86 to your phone via Bluetooth besides gives it bones control over music playback (skip forward or back and pausing) too as the option to make and receive calls. Unfortunately, basic is the operating discussion where music is concerned, since any shuffling or queue management needs to be washed on your phone.

While not its most important characteristic, the DriveSmart does include Foursquare and Tripadvisor integration. Like Apple Maps, which likewise features support from both these services (among others), the idea is you lot can encounter of import information nigh locations and businesses from the DriveSmart itself. So you can make a decision in that location and and so, without having to wait up a detail restaurant, hotel, or whatever else on your phone.

Prototype 1 of 2

Paradigm 2 of 2

Similarly, connecting to the Garmin Drive app means y'all tin also cheque live fuel prices from DriveSmart. Again, that'south another useful tool to help you lot plan your routes more efficiently, and not get caught out by overpriced gas when you desperately need to refuel.

At that place's too some very basic commuter assistance tools. But these are nothing nearly every bit fancy every bit those y'all'd observe in some of the best dash cams from Garmin, which offering forward collision and lane difference warnings.

Still, the DriveSmart 86 does ping you when y'all go over the speed limit, when speed limits are due to change, and if at that place are any hazards upwards alee — all of which are genuinely useful features.

The tablet informs you of this about a 3rd of a mile abroad from each adventure, and then counts down the distance until y'all go there — all while keeping a prominent, just besides not-distracting, warning bar at the top of its screen. Any drivers prone to speeding will find this especially useful, since the tablet will keep pinging at you lot until you dull downward. Every driver assistance feature, speed warning included, can be switched off in the settings if y'all'd prefer. But patently we don't condone speeding, and the cops definitely won't appreciate information technology.

Yet again, Google Maps and Apple Maps offer like features that do near the same affair. So while useful, the DriveSmart still isn't offering annihilation unique in this regard.

Garmin dash cam owners can also connect them to the DriveSmart and view archived video footage. Pairing with a Garmin Backup camera (bachelor from $150) also lets you lot utilize the tablet to encounter what's behind your car, in case your vehicle doesn't have its ain born camera system.

One thing the DriveSmart doesn't have is an option to change your vehicle type. The software lets you lot choose your fuel blazon and emissions ratings, simply from every fashion I look information technology's clearly been built for auto users. In other words, you can't ready it up inside a big van, truck or some other kind of vehicle and have the road planning take that difference in size into business relationship.

Garmin DriveSmart 86 review: Setup

Setting up the DriveSmart 86 was remarkably elementary, and the software itself walks yous through the entire procedure. The whole procedure took a couple of minutes, maximum, including the time it takes to download and annals with the Garmin bulldoze app.

Garmin drivesmart 86 app set up — (Paradigm credit: Garmin)

The Garmin Drive app connexion isn't mandatory, merely you do need it to get the about out of the DriveSmart 86. Garmin Drive is how the tablet gets access to real-time fuel prices, live traffic and weather information, as well hands-free vocalization command. Information technology'south also where yous ready upward Bluetooth sound, provided your car supports it, otherwise you take to connect the charging unit to your car's stereo with a three.5mm aux cable.

The Drive app will also set up Alexa for you, if you want information technology, provided you have the Alexa app installed on your telephone. Alexa doesn't offer much in the style of practical use, just it does requite you lot a better connexion to any Repeat devices you already own.

Garmin DriveSmart 86 review: Easily-gratuitous control and Alexa

I bonus feature in the DriveSmart 86 is the inclusion of Amazon'south Alexa voice assistant. Similar the Amazon Echo Auto, the brandish connects to the Alexa app on your phone via Bluetooth and acts equally the middleman. And so yous are effectively talking to the DriveSmart display, but your phone is doing all the legwork.

Alexa can exercise most of the things y'all'd practice with an Echo device, including controlling smart home gadgets, reading news bulletins, playing games and answering full general questions you might accept.

Alexa even connects to the navigation arrangement in the DriveSmart tablet to assistance you become around. That way you don't need to fiddle with the screen a lot when y'all're driving. Unfortunately, the Alexa integration is more limited than you might like, and there are some notable features missing.

For example, calling and messaging with Alexa has been disabled; attempting to practise either will effect in the voice assistant telling yous to use your phone. Also, Alexa itself has no control over the DriveSmart tablet itself, and doesn't seem capable of connecting to whatever streaming services beyond the ones owned by Amazon. And then no Spotify, only Amazon Music and Audible.

Garmin'south built-in voice control has the upper manus here. Not simply can it make and receive calls from your phone, hands-gratis, but a 'Hey Garmin' command can likewise be used to do a bunch of other interesting things.That includes checking on traffic weather, check footage recorded on Garmin's own range of automotive cameras, and rudimentary control over the tablet itself.

And by that I mean you tin use your vocalization to change volume or brightness levels. Unfortunately Garmin doesn't seem to control music playback, which is a pretty baroque oversight.

All in all, the easily-complimentary support on the DriveSmart 86 seems like a huge missed opportunity. Including Alexa and 'Hey Garmin' in one device was completely unnecessary, especially since they share the same chief characteristic: offering up directions. Garmin can't play trivia games or search for stuff online, but it does have better control over the tablet itself.

Information technology certainly doesn't help that both assistants aren't the best at figuring out where you demand to go from voice alone. It's a trouble shared by all sorts of voice control, but both Alexa and Garmin really had trouble trying to effigy out where I wanted to actually become. I found it was much easier to ditch the voice completely and practise everything manually earlier I gear up off.

In the end, it feels similar the DriveSmart's hands-gratuitous controls are well-intentioned but poorly executed. Both administration are a bit of a mishmash, and no thing which one you choose there will usually be something you tin can't do. Honestly, I feel like you'd get better hands-free back up by using your phone on its own and relying on Google Assistant or Siri.

Garmin DriveSmart 86 review: Verdict

The Garmin DriveSmart 86 is a competent device, in that location's absolutely no denying that. Information technology has its issues, but for the most part it's able to do its job admirably. Unfortunately, that's also its primary trouble. Standalone satellite navigation and GPS units have been fabricated pretty much redundant past the ubiquity of smartphones.

Had the DriveSmart 86 offered more than tailored support for trucks, RVs, or other larger vehicles that are physically unable to use certain roads, it might have had a chance. Instead information technology'south trying to offering an alternative to smartphone navigation without offering anything your telephone tin can't do right out of the box. Worse, this detail model asks $350 for the privilege.

The DriveSmart 86 may be able to show directions on a larger screen, only that'due south hardly a serious selling signal. For starters, a lot of mod cars have their ain screens that are a similar, if not larger size. Too, drivers without modern car infotainment systems could option upwardly something like the Intellidash Plus, which offers total Android Machine or Apple CarPlay, for the exact aforementioned price.

In short, it'south a shame considering the Garmin DriveSmart 86 does what information technology can do pretty well. But it simply doesn't offer enough to brand it actually worth ownership.

Tom is the Tom's Guide's Automotive Editor, which ways he can ordinarily be found knee deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. It'due south long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, when pretty much everything was on the table. He's unremarkably found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very big cups of java, or complaining that Ikea won't let him buy the stuff he actually needs online.