GarminDriveSmart 51 NA LMT-S with Lifetime Maps/Traffic, Live Parking, Bluetooth,WiFi, Smart Notifications, Voice Activation, Driver Alerts, TripAdvisor, Foursquare

I purchased the DriveSmart 51 (DS 51) to replace an approx 5 year old Garmin Nuvi 40. I researched a lot of different GPS units and read many reviews. I chose the DS 51 primarily to use in rental cars while traveling. I also purchased the Garmin air vent mount along with the AmazonBasics 5" GPS case. The case fits the GPS, car charger, and vent mount easily with a little room to spare. This setup works perfectly for stuffing into a carry-on. The screen size is slightly larger than my Nuvi and the DS 51 screen is way more responsive. The screen is much nicer as it is a flat surface compared to the older models with the recessed screen which required you to press harder for a response. The screen resolution is the same as older units, but that doesn't make much of a difference as it's already a nice clear picture. The unit is thinner than the older models too. Set-up was a breeze using the Garmin Express program on my Macbook. The wifi setup was also quick and easily connected to my home wifi. The unit arrived with no initial battery charge so I plugged it into my USB port and it took about 5 minutes to power the unit on. Then it took about 30 minutes to download and install all the initial updated maps and software. I played around with the Voice Command system and it seemed to work great! I can see where it may struggle with some more complicated words. One thing I noticed is when using Voice Command, it is setup to search in the immediate area for places. I'm in Ohio and I used Voice Command to search for "Taco Ardiente" (which is in Naples, FL) and it produced no results, not surprisingly. So to search for a place by voice, it seems it only searches locally. It would be nice if you could say "Taco Ardiente in Naples, FL", but it does not recognize this kind of input. Once I'm in the Naples, FL area I'm sure this will not be a problem as it pulled everything up locally. Overall, the Voice Command feature worked really great. I'm very pleased with the DS 51. The only things I could think to improve would be what I mentioned above about being able to search by Voice Command using city & state, a magnetic mount would have been nice, and I did not download the Garmin Smartphone Link app due to its very very low ratings on the app store. I will probably give the app a shot once more of the bugs are worked out and the reviews improve, but for now I really don't need it to connect via bluetooth. So to sum it up, I really like the DS 51, it is a great GPS and totally worth $169.99 (the day after I ordered it, Amazon raised the price to $229.99). If it was between the DS 51 for $229 and the DS 61 for $269, I would have splurged for the DS 61 due to the edge-to-edge display. However, for traveling purposes I did not want a 7" screen to stuff in my carry-on. Just buy it already, you know you want to!

Bought this unit for my wife's car which did not have a nav system in it. Also bought the traffic cord (no subscription necessary - just plug it in). Played with it and used it locally to go to the supermarket, doctor, etc. and it worked great every time. Shows traffic on the map where appropriate.Attaches to the windshield with a suction cup - didn't believe that would work very well but was pleasantly surprised by how well it holds. Big PLUS in my opinion.Traffic cord replaces the charging cord and when you plug it in to the cigarette lighter in the car, it powers both itself and the unit. One thing you have to remember, though, is the little module encased in this cord, up near where it connects to the unit, must have a clear view of the satellite to update traffic. At this point, I bent a large paperclip and put it over the cord to retain the module up on the dash under the windshield. Haven't figured out a better retainer yet, but I'm thinking about how I can clip it to something on the top of the dash, like the little storage compartment there with a hinged door. I still consider this a really good unit at a very good price.Haven't used voice recognition yet, but it is easy to use without it. My wife wanted the computer voice changed, and that is easily done in the settings. The address entry is a bit different than my other car with a Ford Nav system, so it can be a bit confusing to keep the systems separate, but that's not a criticism of the Garmin at all.Overall, I'm impressed with Garmin's quality and operation.

[Update Feb 2020, after original review from Summer 1999: I recently needed to buy an additional GPS and got the DriveSmart 55 instead of this 51. A nearly identical model and feature set, but a later generation with a number of small improvements. Most notably, it is consistently quick to boot and acquire satellite reception (like 4-9 seconds), and can even do so in a parking deck, which turns out to be a big convenience since you can input your destination and begin navigating without having to wait. Occasional slow satellite lock (30-60 seconds) is a lingering complaint we have with the 51. You also get both a smaller device and a larger screen. I recommend considering the 55 over the 51. But it still does not route that well.]Original Review:Like many other reviewers, I have encountered a few small glitches, like routing down a dead end road once, or routing around the block instead of turning directly onto the route. If you look at the map display and use common sense, you can avoid these small mistakes and find your way. It generally works well, and always gets you to your destination. I am not impressed with the routing over shorter distances, as it rarely finds the best, fastest route, instead providing a longer one using the most major roads possible.My old Garmin Nuvi had a better routing algorithm, but after about 7 years it has gotten too outdated (memory and speed) and needed to be replaced. The new touch screen is vastly improved, voice activation is nice, the WiFi is very convenient, and lifetime map updates and traffic is a great value. This model has an excellent feature set at a good price point, and while it is not flawless, I think this is a good option.