Garmin Drive™ 53 with Traffic, GPS Navigator

Automakers have all decided that everyone has a phone they would prefer to use for navigation; they're wrong. One of the distinctions between the Honda Civic Hybrid Hatchback Sport and the Sport Touring packages, for example, is that the Sport has no navigation system at all. The top-of-the-line Sport Touring really doesn't have one, either: It comes with a Google data package that would permit you to have on board navigation, but that free package only lasts for three years, at which point owners have to buy data from Google forever or have no on board navigation. May I suggest that this is all you need? It looks cool in the center console, provided you find the right cupholder accessory to hold it up (find one on Amazon that is an inner frame that permits the cupholder to still be used for holding a cup). It has lifetime updates, so in a sense it is better than the old systems which used CD-ROMs that had to be replaced periodically at sometimes considerable expense. And it works fine. There's a neat unexpected feature that sometimes shows you a photo of the actual freeway off ramp for recognition, rather than an electronic graphic. And it turns itself on and off when you power the car up and down. It would be very annoying otherwise. I wouldn't dock it a star for this, but they do need an always-on-display mute button you could hit once you know where you're going.

Bought this GPS in Nov 2024 and used it once in Jan 2025. It worked well. Pulled it out to see if any map updates are due since I have an upcoming trip. I attempted to do the updates which failed each time I tried. The GPS now shows a message "No detailed maps found on this device" What happened to the maps????? I've had other Garmin devices in the past never had this happen. Can't find a phone number to call for support. Totally disappointed with this device.5/2/2025 I am retracting the above review and giving 5 stars. After much research and testing I discovered the micro SD card in my device was damaged. Replaced the SD card and it works perfectly. So glad I did additional research.

I really like this GPS system. I don't have Android Auto in my 2019 Camry hybrid and I bought this so I dont use my phone and waste it's battery. It brought me to Michigan and back with only one error; the GPS kept trying to bring me through Canada and the functionality on finding the setting to disable international traveling was not easy. I also have driven to Connecticut and other places with no issues. I like the display and settings that come with this. You can buy a subscription for traffic alerts and lights but I did not invest in it, as I do not travel much these days anymore. Its easy to connect to your computer to keep it updated too. It's worth the money.

Detailed and fast

I had some grumbles with my old TomTom, so when it finally bit the dust, I was open to a new brand. Well, since TomTom and Magellan no longer make car GPSs, Garmin is our only choice now, anyway.The most important function for any GPS is to navigate. This one very frequently loses its satellite connection. The map freezes, and a banner says Lost Satellite Reception or Acquiring Satellites. I've gotten to driving locally with it turned on just so I can monitor this, and it occurs randomly and stays this way for many minutes at a time. Meanwhile, I've passed 50+ potential turnoffs. Because of this problem, this device is worthless.Even while this GPS is working, while driving on an interstate, it will frequently direct me to take an exit, then re-enter the interstate at the same exit. Maybe it was two feet shorter? A Garmin GPS I used in a rental car 20 years ago did this, but I thought that Garmin would have corrected that by now--wrong.Also, this thing occasionally loses its view settings, so the perspective changes drastically, and good luck figuring out how to get it back. Even switching places with my passenger the last time this happened, it took me at least ten frustrating minutes to figure it out. Very unintuitive.So bottom line, I do not recommend this device. However, all the competition is gone. The world wants us to rely on our phones for road navigation. I could live with that if I had a cell signal in all the wilderness areas I frequent, but that doesn't work either. Our technology has gone backwards.

I could use my smartphone for Navigation. Far prefer to use a Garmin GPS. We have three functional units. Once in awhile a shortcut isn’t helpful. Usually very good directions. Two in Florida vehicles and one at our vacation home vehicle. Several times the Garmin has given better directions than my smartphone. I also compare roads to a current Atlas driving map. If the map, Garmin and smartphone agree, great. I’ve retired three older Garmin GPS units. Early units were $100 and worked quite well. Current three units cost $150 to $199. Pleased to use Garmin, type in an address and not talk to a phone!

I actually had a Garmin and it lasted five years Perfect. I cheaped out and bought a different item. I returned it right away, and then bought a new Garmin, which is what I should’ve done in the first place. It’s bright it’s accurate. It’s extremely functionable. It looks sleek. It does everything it needs to do. Make no mistake about it. Garmin is the best. Even in today’s society where a lot of people use their phones I rather use my phone to make phone calls and my GPS as a map. I use it in my car. I would not recommend any other product, except Garmin. And this is from somebody with years of experience using this product. Before this model, I had the 52. Unfortunately, they discontinued it. It has been five years however, to their defense. So I bought the upgraded 53. I am Very satisfied thank you

This GPS has issues with accuracy of location and speed. I was on a road parallel to the highway and it tracked me on the highway giving me a speed limit of 65 while I was on the street at 35mph speed limit. At a complete stop, the speed display reads me at 3mph instead of zero. Route planning is a pain sometimes as it gives me random streets that I know I don't need to be on to get to my destination. On my old 50, it gave me two route choices: Faster and Shorter. This one gives me faster and direct. I chose direct and it gives a route preview of a STRAIGHT line that appears to travel either through or over buildings or neighborhoods. uh... ok...I will say the screen display is really bright and easy to glance at. I wish they hadn't disabled the ability to upload custom emojis. My 50 I was able to change my cursor to an animated Mario walking. It's cool to my passengers.I don't know why I waited so long to test this out. I guess I was hoping it would grow on me but eh. I am past the return window so I am stuck with this. Inaccurate speed and location issues, a deal breaker.

I owned many Garmins in the past, but none came close to this model. Super fast in locating satellite, easy to setup, search, etc. I'm so happy to have bought this.

un très bon produit, mais on ne peut pas enregistrer les adresses par la voix

very good. Worked well. Should come with a USB cable too!

I own two Garmin GPS models, this one and a DriveSmart 66. While this model works fine as a basic GPS, I recommended spending another $70 and buying something like a 66. Among other things, the voice command feature of the 66 makes it much more convenient. And if your car doesn't support hands free calls the hands free capability of the 66 is useful.

Wrong Power Chord TA10 supplied with order which does not support traffic component on a Garmin 53 with traffic. You actually need either a Garmin GTM 35 or 36 power chord with built in antenna for this GPS to function without having to link it to a cell phone. The correct power chord was not available on Amazon and the required product was $41 on EBay!