Drive smarter with this Garmin/Amazon combo
Garmin's DriveSmart 76 portable GPS navigator doesn't just offer accurate directions and helpful travel aid with a gorgeous 7" display — it also boasts Amazon Alexa digital assistance for reminders, music selection, and simple tasks. With DriveSmart on your dash or windshield, you're free from the tyranny of your smartphone to keep in touch and get things done, so you can be more productive while keeping your hands on the wheel. Garmin also includes free map and traffic updates for the life of the navigator, so you can arrive on time and keep your current, no matter where you roam.
A generous 7" display leads the way
The cinematic high-resolution display gives you access to preloaded maps of the U.S., Canada, most of Mexico, and several Caribbean islands, along with millions of points of interest. You can even add your own favorite destinations. You can find and select businesses right on the map screen without having to go through time-wasting menus. Garmin also includes a directory of U.S. National Parks for the adventurous. The smooth glass screen's pinch-to-zoom interface lets you scale and move the map easily for the best view. And with one tap of the screen, you can view "Up Ahead" details for services that lie ahead on your route, including restaurants, gas stations, and more.
Turn-by-turn directions keep you on the right path
You'll see 3D representations of select buildings, landmarks, and terrain aspects on this Garmin's screen, making it easier to figure out where you are. Garmin also incorporates Active Lane Guidance with colored arrows for the correct lane to make an upcoming turn. Junction view displays more realistic images of select intersections, including signage, to give you a better idea of which lane you should be following. You'll see these visual features in a split-screen with your overall route so you won't lose sight of what's further down the road.
Get a heads-up for different scenarios
The DriveSmart delivers GPS-based alerts for upcoming sharp curves, school zones, red-light and speed cameras, railroad and animal crossings, and more. The navigator will tell you when there's a change in the posted speed limit on major roads and give you a visual warning if you're exceeding it. It can also tell you if you're going the wrong way down a one-way street.
This Garmin's also compatible with the optional Garmin BC 50 and BC 40 wireless rear-view cameras so you can add an extra layer of safety when you're backing out of your driveway.
Garmin Traffic routes you there quickly
This DriveSmart features free lifetime traffic updates using Garmin's Traffic service, which covers a wide selection of roads and delivers reports in a hurry. Garmin Traffic incorporates data from active devices on the road, historical traffic patterns, and other factors like construction, concerts, and sporting events to give you a comprehensive look at road delays in most metropolitan areas, including a few cities in Canada. Best of all, you won't have to pay any extra charges for this service over the life of your DriveSmart.
HISTORY® Network, Tripadvisor®, and Foursquare® points of interest
Want to learn something on your next vacation? Garmin teamed up with the HISTORY Network to guide you to notable historic sites that you might otherwise miss. You also get a U.S. national parks directory so you can find places to relax and take in scenic views or some recreational activities.
Foursquare's crowd-sourced database of points of interest gives you a whole new take on where to stop for gas, food, lodging, or shopping. You'll see the most relevant Foursquare results at the top of the search bar, so you'll know the destination is verified by actual users. Paired up with the Garmin Drive app, you'll also see helpful info such as ratings, hours, and price range displayed on the navigator's screen. And if you're a Foursquare user yourself, you can check in nearly anywhere through the navigator when it's paired with your phone.
DriveSmart also includes Tripadvisor ratings for hotels, restaurants, and attractions which are provided by fellow travelers to this popular platform.
The Garmin Drive app keeps you informed
You can download Garmin's free Drive app to your phone and connect to the DriveSmart. Once paired, the navigator can use your phone's existing data plan to share information such as saved and recently found locations, where you parked, and your current destination. You can then use your phone to give you step-by-step directions back to your car in a large parking lot, for example, or to import destinations to your navigator from your phone. Read on for more cool ways the Garmin Drive app can keep you in the know — data charges may apply when using some of these features.
Garmin Live Services
You can also launch Garmin Live Services from the Garmin Drive app, so you can keep informed on traffic updates and local weather, real-time photos from traffic cameras, and area parking availability and pricing. Some Garmin Live Services require a subscription.
Incoming text and call notifications
DriveSmart also reduces distracted driving by avoiding the temptation to grab your phone whenever you get an incoming text or call. When your DriveSmart's paired with your phone and the Garmin Drive app, you'll see customizable notifications on the map screen for incoming calls, texts, calendar reminders, and select app alerts.
Get more done with Alexa as your co-pilot
There are a whole bevy of tasks Alexa can do, and all of them are available to you through the DriveSmart 76 and the free Garmin Drive app. You can ask Alexa for news and weather reports, or check in on your schedule — even add appointments and reminders with your hands on the wheel. Need to order something from Amazon? Just say the word and it'll be on its way. And you're connected with your home's smart devices, so you can control the thermostat, lights, and security features from the road in case your travels are unexpectedly extended or cut short.
Voice-activated guidance and Bluetooth®
Even if you don't want to talk to Alexa for a while, you can still use your voice for navigation functions. Just say "OK Garmin," and you can search through menus, then input addresses and destinations without touching the screen. The Garmin will respond to your words intelligently. The navigator's built-in Bluetooth also connects to your phone for dialing functionality, so you can carry on conversations through the navigator's built-in microphones without digging for your phone. And you can stream music or podcasts from your phone to your DriveSmart without using Alexa or any other apps.
Alexa gives you command over your tunes
Connect to your Amazon Alexa account and DriveSmart acts as an in-car smart speaker. You can ask it to play songs and playlists from Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, and more sources, and it'll display album artwork and song info on the navigator's screen along with the next maneuver. You can create playlists or have Alexa surprise you. And you can connect the DriveSmart to your car stereo via Bluetooth, or through your vehicle's auxiliary input using the audio output on the DriveSmart power cable (3.5mm cable not included).
Wi-Fi® for no-hassle updates
Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity saves you the hassle of having to connect the device to your computer when it's time for a map or software update. You'll see a prompt on the navigator's screen when an update is available, and if you're within range of a Wi-Fi signal, you can start the download with a tap of the screen. In many cases, you'll be able to update without removing the DriveSmart from your vehicle at all.
- Comment
Very happy with the Garmin Drivesmart 76. Everything you need. Easy to read. Accurate. Fast routing and re-routing. Easy route customizing. Excellent alerts. Wifi updates. All delivered fast from the best seller around.
David from New York
