Overview:
TomTom have gone back to the drawing board with the TomTom XL V2 GB and produced a widescreen Sat Nav with innovative design features (including a foldable suction cap) and TomTom’s usual high quality navigational technology. It’s usually priced a bit too high for my liking, but with the pre-Christmas slashing of retail prices due the credit crunch
there are definitely a few bargains to grab hold of for this little road helper.
Review:
There are many different types of Sat Navs on the market these days, all purporting to do pretty much the same thing: get you to your holiday destination with as little hassle as possible. For a new device to stand out in this market, it has to be a bit unique, and the TomTom XL V2 GB has made a decent attempt at standing out from the “turn left” crowd.
TomTom have gone back to the basics of design with the XL V2 GB, providing a wider screen to help the driver effortlessly glance at their navigational route without taking their eyes off the road for too long. Previous smaller display screens meant a bit more squinting and sitting forward to inspect the area around you and to determine just how close that next KFC really is.
It features a 4.3-inch touchscreen display in full TFT colour that will satisfy every driver who fancies themselves a bit of a Van Gough.
Despite the wider screen, the unit itself seems more svlette with an EasyPort minimalist car mount suction cup to fix your guide to your windscreen. Subtly.
This may not sound like a major break-through, but it does make the XL V2 GB a more usable device. How? Well the EasyPort can be left on the Sat Nav and folded flat after use. This means you can slip this particular Sat Nav into your pocket with the suction cup still attached. This will allow you to protect your device when you’re away from the car and doesn’t leave a holder stuck to your windscreen which is a sign to thieves there might be an expensive electronic device left somewhere under your dashboard.
The XL V2 GB features TomTom’s state-of-the-art navigation technology which is consistently excellent no matter where you are in the world. It is also quite intuitive to use and includes some small customisation features such as being able to change the position indicator to show a car or bike rather than the standard boring triangle shape.
The audio of this particular Sat Nav is loud and clear, with a volume range that means even grandpa can use it without cupping behind his ears.
Speaking of grandpa, this Sat Nav is plug-and-go so there’s no messing about with confusing sockets. This makes the XL V2 GB accessible to everyone, including the techno-phobe.
It features TomTom’s Map Share technology and comes with a latest map guarantee, which promises to have the most up-to-date maps pre-installed on the deivce. As with other TomToms on the market, you have the option to choose the roads you would like to avoid or specify your own routes. It will also inform you of closed roads and traffic jams, which is very useful for us in the UK.
Overall the TomTom XL V2 GB is a stellar SatNav unit and not a bad idea to stick under the Christmas tree this year.
The Gaj-It Verdict:
Design: 9/10
Usability: 9/10
Features: 8/10
Value: 10/10
We Say:
This is a great Sat Nav with some stand-out design features that has set it apart from other devices in this market. At this discounted price, it’s a great buy for all of the features you get with this particular model.
