Garmin 010-02038-13 Thames Drivesmart 65 Full EU MT-D, Black, 6.95 Inch

We had a Garmin sat nav from about 2008, it was good at the time, but is now very small, poor resolution and lacking in features, and updating maps was not possible without shelling out more money, so we decided after 15 years to upgrade. Whilst we have Google maps on our phones, the screen size of a mobile is not great and you run the risk of running down the battery, and we had occasions where in an area lacking mobile signals came up short.Having read reviews on various sat-navs we decided on this one due to the screen size and features. Being familiar with Garmins already this was easy to set up, updating via wifi was simple. Mounting on the windscreen is easy with the suction mount and ball/cup socket for adjusting the angle. The cable plugged into the 12v socket with enough cable length. The unit itself is relatively slim and there isn't a large surrounding bezel, the display is pretty much to the edges.We haven't used the voice features yet, preferring the old school way of using the touchscreen to enter the address. The touchscreen is much better and quicker to interact with than the previous model. In use the 7in screen is great, very clear, bright and vibrant and shows a good level of detail. On motorway junctions it shows a preview to help guide you to the correct lane. Driving normally it receives traffic updates any will inform of any delays en-route. We don't drive that much for it to have needed to suggest an alternative route so far. Also during normal driving it provides some information in a panel on the right around distances to towns, or the next few instructions. This can be dismissed to just show the map.I thought the screen would be too big initially but it's fine, doesn't block the view of the road, and I can position it so that I can still see the front parking sensor lights.It would have been nice to have a case come with it, but managed to find one on Amazon for a good price.Happy with it so far, and glad we opted for a decent sized screen.

I really like the Garmin products and have had Garmin satnavs in the past and this is even better than my old one. Very easy to use and loads of features, particularly the realtime traffic updates to help with alternate route planning.It’s easy to use and find places as well as save them for favourites and has loads of great features, plus being able to link it to my phone to is really handy as well.

If you are a Garmin used or new to SatNavs you will have no problem navigating your way around Garmin DriveSmart 65 MT-D. Bigger than your normal Garmin SatNav, ideal if you are driving a camper or delivery van or, if like me your eyesight is no longer 100%.This not to say it, like a lot of other SatNavs is without fault. A particular bugbear of mine if the Voice Recognition, which at times is abysmal to say the least. Another fault I have experienced with Garmin SatNavs is that for no reason what so ever it switched over to the voice command menu, this can occurs while you are driving a specific route when you need to know when the "next turn" is approaching.The Garmin DriveSmart 65 MT-D has an intermittent habit of defaulting to the system menu (volume, screen brightness ect) this, when it occurs, is always first thing in the morning. Not a big problem, as it only takes the press of the "back" button.If Garmin is listening, please sort out the voice recognition and the voice command sub menu.Would I recommend the Garmin DriveSmart 65 MT-D, Yes.

recently got a smartphone and instantly saved 30 minutes on a journey.well worth adding the garmin to your smart phone, it is recognised by the better navigation apps like "what 3 words" and "delm8" so will send coordinate to your app which inturn sends to your satnav. you do not need to know the 3 words, but since what 3 words was recomended by emergeny services a couple of years ago and was trying to get everyone to use it, i assume it is updated more often than other navigation apps, i have found addresses on it even google cant find, but sending the coordinates to your sat nav allows you hands free use.originally i didnt have a smart phone and got the added digital cable that gave me updates or some roadworks big holdups and accidents, once i got a notification about black ice on my journey, but having the garmin app and paring you phone to this satnav, you now are live and get updates as they happen to improve the driving experiance, as i said, when i 1st got my phone and put the garmin app on it, it showed me an alternative route other than my "faster route" option that saved 30 minutes on my original route by bypassing roadworks or accidents.the hands free voice control seems to be pretty good and maybe even getting better.. when asking for a post code you will be given a list, due to how you were heard, then a simple down to see other post codes and a number 1 to 4 for where it is in the list to select, makes it really simple to use..has a great route shaping option so if you want to go through a certain place or bypass oxford a simple press on the map will recalulate and bypass..has voice controlled "DETOUR" if a road is closed, although sometimes it wants you to go through the closure to go on a new route, easy to read map with lane suggestions when approaching motorway juctions. hasnt played any games with me yet like my older garmin. been good now for the past 2 years and even better in the past 9 months with the smartphone and garmin app.allows you to be hands free but not the best, but you can actually pair to the satnav for the app and turn off the hands free in the sat nav settings. nothing worse thana being in the back of the truck trying to contact someone at the depot but you cant hear anything coz its going through your sat nav.the garmin app also adds a lot more features to your satnav.also allows you to add all your addresses to your route.. and looking at the saved route you can drag and drop to easily change the order... if you need a garage you can find one and add it as the next destination keeping your route intact... when finding destinations and adding them, you can either, start new route, add next stop or add as last stop. adding from post codes or favourite destinations do easy to create route for the day and adding detour destination, and reshaping to go different to the route offered. also using voice to create your route means you keep looking at your paperwork and just glance at the satnav to make sure its the right destination making it a lot faster and easier that typing it all in by hand.