Garmin DriveSmart 86, 8-inch Car GPS Navigator with Bright, Crisp High-Resolution Maps and Garmin Voice Assist

Why it's worth it

The DriveSmart 86 is the 8-inch version of our top pick, with a dual-orientation display and the same full feature list. It's the most expensive unit in this guide, and the extra inch mostly buys you easier glances at complex interchanges.

Eight inches makes lane guidance obvious instead of merely legible. On a five-lane approach to a split interchange, the difference between reading the screen and glancing at it is the whole point of a bigger display. Garmin uses a high-resolution panel, so the extra size buys you larger text and roomier junction art rather than a stretched-out version of the same thing. If you drive unfamiliar cities regularly, this is the one to want.

The display flips orientation, which is more useful than it sounds. Garmin lists the 86 with a dual-orientation screen, so you can run it tall or wide depending on where it fits. On a car with a deep dash and a low windshield line, portrait keeps the unit out of your sightline while still showing plenty of road ahead. It's a small bit of flexibility the smaller models don't advertise.

From our review of 5 gps navigation systems for cars, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +Eight inches makes lane guidance obvious instead of merely legible
• +The display flips orientation, which is more useful than it sounds
• +Everything Garmin puts in a portable navigator is here

What to know

• –It's a lot of windshield
• –You pay the most here for one extra inch
• –Same phone-dependent traffic, same USB update chore