Navigate with confidence using the best car GPS systems in Canada. We've reviewed top models for accuracy, screen clarity, and user-friendly features.
Do you make home visits to clients for work? Are you a delivery driver of some kind? Do you have to travel to new cities for work? Are you a fan of road-tripping with your family? No matter what reason you have for regularly driving to new destinations, you’re going to need some assistance with directions. And if you want to conserve your phone’s battery and data, there’s only one logical solution.
What are we talking about? A car GPS system, of course! With one of those, you’ll get superb directions (with images!) to make sure you can find your way without any hassle or confusion. They can be easily mounted in any area you choose, are incredibly simple to work, and usually offer a bunch of extra features to make your trips easier and more enjoyable. What’s not to love about these things?
If you’re ready to commit to a car GPS system, we’d love to help you find the best match. Car GPS systems will vary in things like price, screen size, mount type, connectivity (Bluetooth, Wi-fi, etc.), voice assistant compatibility, display resolution, and more. To guarantee you make the right choice, we strongly encourage you to think about each and every feature. It’s the best way!
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best car GPS systems in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
The Best Car GPS Systems Right Now
Top Pick: Garmin Drive 53 GPS Navigator
Upgrade Pick: Garmin DriveSmart 55 & Traffic GPS Navigator
2-in-1 Pick: Garmin DriveCam 76 GPS Navigator
RV Pick: Garmin RV 1095 GPS Navigator
Budget Pick: Gifehu Touchscreen GPS Navigator
Our Top Pick for The Best Car GPS System
Garmin Drive 53 GPS Navigator Review
What We Think of the Garmin Drive 53 GPS Navigator
The Garmin Drive 53 GPS Navigator offers a lot of features to admire. One of the things we like best is how much it helps with situational awareness. With alerts for sharp curves, school zones, red light cameras, and more, you’ll never miss any of the little things that you need to be aware of for safety. The smaller 5” screen size makes sure you can see as much of your surroundings as possible, too. We love that.
Another great feature is the constantly updating selection of nearby services. They make it super easy to add pitstops without searching manually every time, and you’ll even get TripAdvisor ratings for all applicable restaurants, hotels, etc. With real-time traffic updates as well, you’ll never have to worry about getting stuck on the slowest route to your destination. This GPS will have your back.
We’re very happy to report that you don’t have any performance issues to worry about with this one. There are a couple of minor things that might push you in a different direction, though. (No pun intended). This option has a smaller screen than others, so if you struggle with details, there are better options out there for you. It also doesn’t offer the best longevity, so not a great choice if you’ll be using it quite often.
Overall, the Garmin Drive 53 GPS Navigator is a fantastic GPS no matter what reason you have for being out on the road and heading to an unknown destination. It’s easy to use, won’t take up too much of your windshield, and offers tons of real-time info to make your drive the best it can be.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Garmin Drive 53 GPS Navigator
Reviewers have a great opinion of the Garmin Drive 53 GPS Navigator. It’s very responsive when typing in addresses or adding stops, and the traffic updates are always accurate and help save them time on their drive. People who use it for road-tripping really appreciate the automated service tracking, and the situational awareness updates are great for driving in town. They’d all choose this one again.
Garmin Drive 53 GPS Navigator Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You don’t want to have to manually search for nearby services
You’d appreciate a GPS that helps out with situational awareness
You’d prefer a GPS that doesn’t take up too much of your view
Efficiency on the road is something you’re after
Don’t Buy If…
Longevity is important to you
A large screen is ideal
Garmin Drive 53 GPS Navigator Specifications
Dimensions: 0.7” x 3.3” x 5”
Weight: 0.15 lbs
Screen Size: 5”
Mount Type: Windshield
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB
Touchscreen: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
Our Upgrade Pick
Garmin DriveSmart 55 & Traffic GPS Navigator Review
What We Think of the Garmin DriveSmart 55 & Traffic GPS Navigator
We are big fans of the Garmin DriveSmart 55 & Traffic GPS Navigator. With the addition of voice assistant compatibility, you’ll be able to speak your intended address instead of typing it, and add stops hands-free — how convenient! It also offers real-time traffic updates while you drive so you can avoid wasting time in a traffic jam caused by an accident, construction zone, or anything else!
One of the things we love most is the lane assist feature. When you’re approaching an intersection or off-ramp on a highway, the GPS will tell you (and show you!) which lane(s) you’re supposed to be in to continue in the right direction. Super helpful! And with tons of situational awareness alerts, you’ll also know when you’re approaching a speed change, sharp curve, railroad track, school zone, and more.
One of the only things you might not love about this option is the screen size. It’s on the smaller side, and while that does minimize the intrusion into your line of sight, it also means the details and text won’t be as easy to see as they would be on a larger device. Just something to keep in mind. Otherwise, the slightly high price tag might be your only deterrent.
Overall, the Garmin DriveSmart 55 & Traffic GPS Navigator is our top choice for folks who won’t mind paying a little extra to get a little extra. No matter where the road takes you, this GPS will help you get there efficiently and safely.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Garmin DriveSmart 55 & Traffic GPS Navigator
Reviewers have nothing but good things to say about the Garmin DriveSmart 55 & Traffic GPS Navigator. There are so many features that help make their drive easier and less stressful, including traffic updates, the lane assist function, and voice assistant compatibility. For most of them, this is the best GPS system they’ve ever had.
Garmin DriveSmart 55 & Traffic GPS Navigator Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You’d love a GPS that is outfitted with voice assistant technology
You’d appreciate help staying safe and extra-aware on the road
You always want the most efficient route possible
You’d love extra help navigating unfamiliar intersections and highways
Don’t Buy If…
You’re shopping on a tight budget
You’d prefer an extra-large screen
Garmin DriveSmart 55 & Traffic GPS Navigator Specifications
Dimensions: 5.4” x 3” x 0.7”
Weight: 0.3 lbs
Screen Size: 5.5”
Display Resolution: 1280 x 720
Mount Type: Windshield
Connectivity: Bluetooth, voice assistant, Wi-Fi, and USB
Touchscreen: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
Our 2-in-1 Pick
Garmin DriveCam 76 GPS Navigator Review
What We Think of the Garmin DriveCam 76 GPS Navigator
There are so many things to mention with the Garmin DriveCam 76 GPS Navigator it’s hard to know where to start. Of course, one of its most compelling features is the inclusion of a dashcam. With a high-res 1080p camera and automatic incident detection and recording, your interests will always be protected. The GPS offers lane departure warnings, speed monitoring, and forward collision warnings to help avoid accidents whenever possible.
The GPS unit also offers excellent features such as situational awareness alerts (red light cameras, railroad crossings, school zones, sharp curves ahead, etc.) to help you drive safer, hands-free calling and voice assistant capabilities, and even an “up-ahead” function to take a look at the services coming up on your drive. Brilliant.
The only possible reason you could have for not falling in love with this option is the price tag. It costs three times as much as the average car GPS system, and while you’re getting a dash cam included for that price, it’s still a lot to invest upfront. If you’re shopping on a budget, you might have to cross this one off the list.
Overall, the Garmin DriveCam 76 GPS Navigator is a pretty flawless car GPS system that will be well-suited to any type of travel you’re doing. With a detailed North America + map system, a built-in dash cam, and all of the regular features you love, there’s truly nothing missing on this one.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Garmin DriveCam 76 GPS Navigator
Reviewers have a very high opinion of the Garmin DriveCam 76 GPS Navigator. In fact, they have nothing negative to say about it at all. The dash cam function works flawlessly and provides great video resolution, the GPS features are incredibly helpful and reliable, and the large screen makes it easy to see details and text at all times. They absolutely love it!
Garmin DriveCam 76 GPS Navigator Pros and Cons
Buy If…
You’d like to know what services are around without needing to search
You love the idea of buying a GPS and dash cam in one
Accident prevention assistance would be nice
You’d prefer a system that can be used hands-free
Don’t Buy If…
You don’t want to spend much
Garmin DriveCam 76 GPS Navigator Specifications
Dimensions: 7” x 4.2” x 1.4”
Weight: 0.6 lbs
Screen Size: 7”
Display Resolution: 1080p
Mount Type: Windshield
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, voice assistant, and USB
Touchscreen: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
Our RV Pick
Garmin RV 1095 GPS Navigator Review
What We Think of the Garmin RV 1095 GPS Navigator
There are tons of reasons to choose the Garmin RV 1095 GPS Navigator. Of course, as an RV GPS, you’ll get the most out of it if you’re actually driving an RV. It allows you to input the specs of your vehicle (dimensions and weight) and will plan the best route for you based on that data. Plus, along the drive, it’ll alert you to steep grades, sharp turns, and other info you need to drive a large vehicle safely!
This GPS is also outfitted with an RV parks and services directory to make it extra simple to find your next overnight stay spot, and it also has a special scenic route planner to make sure you find the most beauty along your drive as you possibly can. With an extra large screen, you won’t have any trouble making out the details or text. It’s perfect, right?
The main reason we think you might choose to pass this one by is the high price. It’s one of the most expensive GPS systems currently available, and as a result, it simply won’t fit into everybody’s budget. Especially if you won’t be taking advantage of all of its features. It’s also missing a lane assist feature, so hopefully, you’re used to driving without it!
All in all, the Garmin RV 1095 GPS Navigator is the perfect addition to RV road trips. It might not be the most affordable thing out there, but trust us when we say it’s worth it — the long list of unique features makes it a must-have for cross-country sightseeing in a large vehicle.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 1/5
Quality: 5/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Garmin RV 1095 GPS Navigator
Reviewers have lots of great things to say about the Garmin RV 1095 GPS Navigator. Compared to RV travel without this GPS, their trips are easier to plan, they feel more secure on the road, and they’re confident in their ability to navigate everywhere. The extra-large screen is a huge hit, too. They all recommend this GPS system for everyone travelling in an RV.
Garmin RV 1095 10" GPS Navigator Pros and Cons
Buy If…
Route planning is important to you
A large and versatile screen is ideal
You’d appreciate alerts specific to the needs/safety concerns of an RV
You like to take long cross-country trips and see the sights
Don’t Buy If…
You’re looking for a budget-friendly GPS system
Lane assist is something you want
Garmin RV 1095 GPS Navigator Specifications
Dimensions: 9.6” x 6.1” x 0.8”
Weight: 1.2 lbs
Screen Size: 10”
Display Resolution: 1024 x 600
Mount Type: Windshield
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, voice assistant, and USB
Touchscreen: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
Our Budget Pick
Gifehu Touchscreen GPS Navigator Review
What We Think of the Gifehu Touchscreen GPS Navigator
The Gifehu Touchscreen GPS Navigator is our favourite budget-friendly GPS system right now. A seven-inch touchscreen display is a surprising find at such an affordable price, and its larger size makes it easier to see map details and navigate the screen. Another thing we love is the route planning for oversized vehicles — it’ll take your vehicle’s size and weight into consideration while planning your route. You won’t ever get stuck somewhere!
In addition to the special truck routing, you also have four other route options: efficient, green, short, and convenient. You get to pick what works for you! The real-world lane assist feature also makes us really happy. Instead of standard lane assist/junction images, you get a real-world look at your specific intersection so you know exactly where you have to be! How helpful is that?
There are a couple of reasons this GPS system won’t please everybody. First, it’s missing both Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in voice assistant, so you won’t be able to make use of any hands-free features. It’s also lacking a Wi-Fi connection, so to update your maps, you’ll have to bring it inside to a computer. Not ideal, we know. But not a dealbreaker either, right?
Overall, the Gifehu Touchscreen GPS Navigator is the best option if you’re looking for a reliable GPS system offered at a great price. It isn’t the highest-quality or most sophisticated option, but if you’re shopping on a tight budget, it’s the absolute best you can do.
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
What Reviewers Are Saying About the Gifehu Touchscreen GPS Navigator
Reviewers have mostly good things to say about the Gifehu Touchscreen GPS Navigator. The truck/oversized vehicle features are really useful for transport drivers and RV road trips, and the lane assist feature is incredibly helpful to everybody. Some people are disappointed about the lack of Bluetooth and voice assistant capabilities, though. And the quality is less than stellar.
Gifehu Touchscreen GPS Navigator Pros and Cons
Buy If…
An affordable price tag is your priority
You’d appreciate a real-world lane assist feature
You’ll want to adjust your route based on efficiency, green travel, etc.
You’ll be driving an oversized vehicle at least occasionally
Don’t Buy If…
You’d prefer a GPS with Bluetooth and a voice assistant
You don’t want to rely on a computer for map updates
Gifehu Touchscreen GPS Navigator Specifications
Dimensions: 4.25” x 7”
Weight: 1.6 lbs
Screen Size: 7”
Display Resolution: 480 x 272
Mount Type: Dash
Connectivity: USB
Touchscreen: Yes
How to Properly Choose Your Car GPS System
Price
Some car GPS systems cost less than $130, others cost more than $1000. Most people won’t need to spend more than $400 for a great system, though. Generally, more expensive car GPS systems will have a larger screen, extra connectivity (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi), a built-in voice assistant, and extra driving features like situational awareness alerts and lane assist features.
Screen Size
The screen size of a car GPS system tends to fall somewhere between 5” and 10”. A larger screen will be more expensive, but it will offer a more user-friendly navigation experience and better map details. You’ll have to decide on the right balance for your needs and vehicle.
Connectivity
Most car GPS systems will offer Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, but it’s not a guarantee. Bluetooth allows you to sync your smartphone for hands-free calling and other features with companion apps, and Wi-Fi enables map updates to occur without connecting to a computer with a cable. If you’re looking for convenience and tons of usability, we recommend you prioritize both connectivity options.
Voice Assistant
Many car GPS systems have a built-in voice assistant so you can ask for directions and add stops without needing to interact with the display by hand. This keeps you a lot safer when driving and is just more fun.
Mount Type
Most car GPS systems will come with either a windshield or dashboard mount system, but there are also others available, such as vent mounts. A windshield or dash mount is the safest and most accessible option, though, so that’s what we recommend you look for.
Drive Features
Car GPS systems usually come with features like lane assist and situational awareness alerts (school zones, speed changes, sharp turns, railroads, etc.), and we recommend choosing a GPS with all of them.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.
