Garmin Drive 52 Satnav: Specifications and Safety Notes
At a glance
- What it is: A 5 inch car satnav with full Europe maps and live traffic through a phone. A UK retailer says it has been discontinued.
- Key specifications: 5 inch, 480 x 272 touchscreen; full Europe maps with free lifetime updates; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; 170.8 g; 2-year guarantee (UK retailer).
- Suits: Drivers who want a basic Garmin with European maps.
- Skip if: You want a current model or built-in traffic; traffic needs a phone with the Garmin Drive app.
We haven’t tested this product ourselves. This page summarises one UK retailer’s page and Garmin’s specification page, checked 19 October 2026.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Garmin Drive 52 Live Traffic with lifetime European maps | [1] |
| Screen | 5 inch touchscreen at 480 x 272. The retailer’s technical section says 5.5 inch, so the page disagrees with itself | [1] |
| Maps | City Navigator NT (HERE) mapping for full Europe including the UK and Ireland; free updates for the life of the product once registered | [1] |
| Traffic | Free live traffic through a smartphone running the Garmin Drive app; the vehicle power cable alone does not receive traffic | [1] |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi for software updates; Bluetooth for hands-free calls and notifications | [1][2] |
| Battery | Rechargeable lithium-ion, up to 1 hour, for short-term backup | [1][2] |
| Size and weight | 140 x 84 x 20 mm; 170.8 g | [1] |
| Guarantee | 2 years | [1] |
| Operating temperature | -20 to 55 °C; charging 0 to 45 °C | [2] |
| Status and price | Discontinued; the page gives no price for the unit | [1] |
What owners report
We have not reviewed owner feedback for this product.
Known issues and safety
Recall check: we searched GOV.UK product safety alerts, reports and recalls (Office for Product Safety and Standards) for “garmin” on 19 October 2026. The one result was a bicycle trainer, not a satnav [3]. Check the list again for the exact model before you buy.
Use the supplied vehicle power cable; Garmin says AC power through an optional accessory is for home or office use only [2].
Questions people ask
Does it have live traffic?
Yes, through a smartphone with the Garmin Drive app [1].
Are map updates free?
The retailer says free for the life of the product once registered with Garmin UK [1].
Is it still sold?
The retailer says it has been discontinued [1].
Alternatives
- Garmin DriveSmart 55: See our separate page.
- Other satnavs: See our satnavs hub.
Our verdict
Based on the evidence, this suits drivers who want a simple 5 inch satnav with Europe maps and phone-based traffic. It is discontinued, so check support and the screen size on the box. This is a research summary, not a test result.
Sources
- Garmin Drive 52 Live Traffic (discontinued) with Lifetime European Maps, ActiveGPS (UK retailer listing), activegps.co.uk. The page shows no date. Checked 19 October 2026.
- Garmin Drive 52 / Drive 5 Pro: Specifications, Garmin, www8.garmin.com. The page shows no date. Checked 19 October 2026.
- GOV.UK search of product safety alerts, reports and recalls, Office for Product Safety and Standards, gov.uk. Searched 19 October 2026.