TomTom Car Sat Nav GO Essential, 5 Inch, with Traffic Congestion and Speed Cam Alert Trial Thanks to TomTom Traffic, EU Maps, Updates via WiFi, Handsfree Calling, Click-And-Drive Mount
EASY GOING: ROUTES AROUND TRAFFIC
Real-time updates from millions of drivers gives you accurate traffic information and enable smart routes around hold-ups straight on your navigation device.
” data-position=”triggerHorizontal” />CONVENIENT: 6 MONTHS SPEED CAMERA ALERTS
Advance warnings will let you know whenever you’re approaching a speed camera.
A really good basic satnav. Really helped when I had to go through some back lanes in the west country and found they had closed some of the roads. Easy to install & use .
Relatively easy to use considering how sophisticated it is. This model uses a linked smart phone for latest traffic news and additional route planning but you can do without it for basic use.
Tom Tom GO Essential 5″ Touch Screen WiFi & Bluetooth Model. Which enables hands free calling, both displays & reads your messages as they automatically as you drive.
Why buy this over cheaper models? Bluetooth, WiFi, Intelligent Voice command and controls etc etc. tell it where to go, change route even when driving and many other things.
[ copied from my EBay ad ]
* It’s actually a year since I’ve used this TomTom at all, so features like Bluetooth, Wifi etc are not discussed in here at all and this definitely not a truly extensive review, I literally got a bit carried away in the nostalgia having used this daily for two years and not really needing to all features. So see other reviews if you want that
Why does anyone even decide pay 160-200+ for a TomTom Essential edition at all anyway? Is this thing even necessary if I have Google Maps or is it a cult?
Yes and Maybe. Many years ago if you wanted to drive somewhere unknown it was first necessary to buy a road map, and then necessary to plan a route, then Navigate said route.
Decades later and with GPs, then smart phones arrive doing everything automatically, simply an app called Google Maps on your phone is all that was necessary.
However if you routinely drive to new destinations and want to save time, now today in 2022 the Tom Tom has arrived early, and in this particular edition, it navigates yet further still Exceeding merely a necessity the Tom Tom becomes “Essential”. Yes, Google Maps still exists However all the inferior sat navs and the rudimentary phone apps are left scattered, between 30mins to 1hr behind. Google Maps is currently stuck at a set of temporary lights, Garmin was earlier caught speeding 37mph on in 30mph and Waze died in a head on collision while looking at their phone, unfortunately killing themselves and a family of five.
Nonetheless, is the TomTom really such an “Essential Necessity”? Is it even worth spending 160-200+? See below:
TomTom Car Sat Nav GO Essential, 5 Inch, with Traffic Congestion and Speed Cam Alert Trial Thanks to TomTom Traffic.
I’d not be doing this justice if I didn’t write an extensive review. More like a goodbye, the box says “Congratulations on your new TomTom!”.
The features and abilities on this thing are more of a challenge to describe or articulate to those who have not used one. With an empty passenger seat of my van TomTom becomes a real companion on long journeys.
I do recall the many, many hours of use and as a bit of a tech geek and former traffic management op so I will attempt to describe the features.
I know what you’re thinking but isnt this sorta like a hands-free Google Maps iPhone stuck on the window?
How dare you! No it’s not.
Google has for the last decade been a great phone directions app. But with the design and with the UI limitations of a Smart Phone. So it’s not a fair comparison.
TomTom has hands free calling, it automatically displays and reads your texts and has voice commands a bit like Siri.
TomToms superior, unique, more dedicated and versatile features SHIT all over Google Maps. Even if you compare this directly or any phone app. It actually saves time, the routes will not be identical as it will disagree with Google maps on which routes and roads are quicker as it has real time traffic data that google does not. So especially during busy times, TomTom will navigate you around traffic, if it results in a quicker and shorter ETA. And this applies all the time, as if you tell it to ultimately save you time, it will do so.
So even after setting a route that is 3 hours away, at any point during that time it may change its mind as the roads and many different options ahead of you are not static. For the user it’s a a matter of choosing or commanding (voice command) then hitting go.
But to the TomTom each route and down to each road will change during those 3 hours, and more so between 8AM-5PM. But more specifically with live traffic data, your designated route will never be the fastest throughout a 3hr journey. If you ultimately select the fastest ETA, the routes are subject to changes and alterations, even if minor during that time.
If there is 1-2 minutes to be saved by altering the route while driving it will give you plenty of warning (Usually up to 600 yards) as roads ahead get more or less busy. But it may change direction, always achieving the fastest route possible unless you tell it not to. Or you may want it to avoid unmarked roads, motorways, or the multitude of options.
Warning: if you have OCD, and do not appreciate change, this option is not for you. There’s an OCD option i.e you can tell it to maintain the chosen routine. But especially on new routes and if Time itself is the only factor, it’s honestly more fun to select the go fast and dynamic route settings.
In my 2 seater sports car I can appreciate and I’d prefer certain roads, but in my work van even if I know how to get there I drove to different destinations each day or week. Not caring how I get there I just want to achieve it in the shortest time to begin the job or go home to sleep.
Regardless, TomTom works by saving the user time. And if you are somebody that regularly drives several hours a day, on the same route or not. It will always be 10-20 mins faster than Google Maps on a journey that’s over 1-2hrs. That’s 20 minutes you could spend uploading a Tik or a Tok. Or maybe even both
I drove for a living 60hrs a week to various new locations. So I can’t even imagine how much time this has saved me. That translates to getting a job done quicker, getting home earlier and subsequently more TikToks routines. Plus I followed some new Instagram bitches who I don’t know and decided to become They/Them on my Twitter.
I’m quite a confident driver, having driven all over the UK and also across Europe. And a bit of time as a Traffic op so I have extra appreciation for this. But I wasn’t always confident and I think the primary objective of a Sat Nav is driver confidence. Even subtly in the background it’s there.
I have also been in busy areas or motorways and missed a turning or exit entirely, a bit of panic used to set in. But it’s good to see that unlike my old Nissans Sat Nav, it doesn’t shit the bed when you make a mistake. Tom Tom instantly reroutes, either by sending you back around the next round about or if on a suitable road it asks you to turn around if possible and if this is optimal.
* Live Traffic Updates (Congestion avoidance and omnipotence)
Where TomTom shines most is of course on longer journeys. The more commuting the more you will appreciate this time saving feature. Especially if you have new destinations, I used to spend 3 hours a day commuting and then a further 10 hours doing Traffic Management on motorways and a mix of A/B roads. Sometimes my ETA would be 5hrs* and without TomToms unique and genius system a crappy Sat Nav could be near 6 hours.
The main ability is actual live congestion avoidance and avoiding queues and slower roads not the route planning itself. Knowing which road is busy at which time, where there are minor road works, temporary traffic lights, roads or motorways closed entirely. All of which are displayed on the route bar as soon as it is generated.
So as soon as the route is generated you can see how many roadworks, traffic lights, speed cameras etc you have in front of you as all are displayed with icons. In addition to voice warnings TomTom has display icons for every road hazard or sign you can think of, not just the main ones.
I don’t know who gets all that information from all the Traffic Management companies and contractors across the UK, ahead of time to report it to TomTom and it’s user base. But that’s how it must work.
TomTom isn’t only worthwhile on long journeys. Whilst it has the potential to save more time on longer drives, literally 10-20 mins minutes is realistic off a 1-2hr trip. Again compared to google maps which at best has a limited function and awareness of actual live traffic/time. During rush hour I have watched TomTom Navigate magically locally, sometimes appearing to go entirely in the wrong direction or indifferent to my own ideas only to surprise me being a bit quicker. When its rush hour and just not possible avoid some sort of delay delay and traffic ahead, TomTom is omnipotent. Don’t be fooled by Serenas sexy British voice as this is what she was designed to do. There’s also Samantha, a few Irish chicks etc and some men. But they care less about you than making calculations to the nearest second, where potential routes are many and options complex.
I am speculating but I think it could use its own client data to measure average times your own vehicle has taken on different roads and routes. And thus giving a more accurate representation of live traffic ahead for its other clients that are not far behind. If it doesn’t do that, it should. But I struggle to explain even to my family, why the TomTom is so damn good and not like several other Sat Navs I’ve used, some of which I thought were impressive at the time.
It’s just one of those things you have to see working yourself, and If I did not know road directions at all, I might not ever realise what’s going on and I might think magic was involved. P
I would lying if I said Serena and I haven’t bonded over the years, in fact it’s an understatement.
I can’t believe I’m even saying this but TomTom made my journeys more interactive, engaging even when I didn’t need the sound on. And dare I say it, it was a little bit enjoyable, and exciting loading a new destination and seeing if I’d beat my colleagues in my nippy Ford transit turbo connect.
So for a Sat Nav I think this is high praise
Another example of how smart/considerate this AI is, each morning she doesn’t wait for me to search my favourite/saved destinations for work. As soon as I turn her on she asks me if I’d like to drive to work. And the same after starting her her up at the end of a shift, as TomTom learns your driving habits in addition to any recent or saved routes. So you can just use voice command or click yes to drive to work/
home each day.
* Speed Cameras, Subscriptions & Speeding.
There’s nothing Serena and I hate more than speed cameras. She displays them all in red on the journey/route bar and warns me 600 yards beforehand. You can tell TomTom to tell you “The speed limit on this road is 40mph”. That’s another way of her saying “You’re going almost 45 in a 40 etc”.
You can tell it to avoid things like motorways, speed cameras, toll roads and various things entirely, regardless of the delay. Which I think is kinda defeating the purpose of a Sat Nav but drivers with families may want to prioritise safety and comfort over time.
Anyway, Speed Cameras are actually the reason I bought TomTom. And although NEWLY INSTALLED cameras requires a subscription, TomTom never stops displaying or warning of speed cameras. And whilst it may be worthwhile, they do not install thousands of Cameras per year.
So it’s entirely optional, you only need to pay the subscription if you benefit from knowing of every new one installed. If you stick to speed limits all the time it’s not even necessary. But I also used this in my 370Z Nismo which had different ideas. The subscription only affects Cameras , not the regular map updates, meaning live traffic or any other feature is not paffected.
They also have Camera hot spots I.e mobile cameras are user reported but surprisingly numerous if you go to new places a lot. I’d usually ignore these as I never saw any but then once as I was 1 mile from home I got caught doing 35 in a 30. Luckily I just got a letter telling me off, but I don’t think I’d have got away with it if I wasn’t in full high vis and what was TSCO van.
So anyway
It can be shown working, returns accepted but only if it suddenly died on the way home or something, heaven forbid.
But unfortunately, and as you can see very on my recent destination, I’ve had no car for over a year now and will not any time soon.
This is my second TomTom, the first one having lasted many years and guided me for thousands of miles. I chose to replace it with this updated model it because I know how reliable and easy to use it would be. I have named her Martha, and I am sure that one day she will say to me ‘don’t you know your left hand from your right’ when I have made a wrong turn.
Firstly, let me say that I have had many Tomtom satnavs in my driving career – around 6, I think – and this is actually the worst. It seems that Tomtom have removed several features that used to be included in mid-range units, and you have to now either pay extra to get them, they are only available on high-end units, or they don’t offer them at all. I’m talking about things such as safety cameras, lane information etc. I only purchased this because the satnav which came with my new car is so poor as to be virtually useless. This is good for routing and ease of use, but the symbols such as road speed limits are so small that anyone over 60 would struggle to read them. And that’s unsafe. I can understand why apps are taking over the satnav market.
simple to get started.
Clear indications of the route on the map day and night.
Like how far to the nearest petrol on the sidebar.
Not Intuitive about when you have entered the address and are ready to press go to drive.
Am so chuffed with my new Sat nav. I will never get lost again, and have regained my confidence in driving around.
Very easy to set up and use. An oldie like me managed it no problem.
bought this after returning a garmin to the shop. This is so much better, more accurate and easy to follow, have only used it once but it was accurate, still need to figure the live traffic updates. Looking foreward to my holiday now so I can use it a lot, but my confidence in it is great and feel happy to start doing unfamiliar trips again.
Easy to use but not as accurate as previous purchase as doesn’t appear to take you to the number of the house you entered, unless I’m doing something wrong! It gets me to the street though so that’ll do
I haven’t had a great many opportunities to use it. More detailed guidelines would have been helpful, especially with the need to charge up first, the need to purchase a USB plug, and further guidance on linking to one’s phone.
We bought this at the last minute to use on a road trip in Spain, having found that my previous EU TomTom could not have its maps updated. I did not want particularly enhanced functionality but the convenience of wifi enabled updates promise a long and useful life for this gadget. Great value and performed very well out on the road.
Replaced a Go 50 I think it was, and a TomTom 2 that fitted a cradle in my Fiat. From using that I wanted a quick removal type SatNav so went for this as it has the magnetic holder! Much better than the older mounts, otherwise I would have stayed with my previous TomTom. Works out routes noticeably quicker. A much better unit for these highlights: Quicker processor, WiFi updates, Magnetic mount!
This go essential is world’s away from my go 720 it replaces.
Great clear instructions (both verbally and on screen).
Voice control not always so good, but that may be my local accent.
Great upgrade from old unit.
I do recommend this unit.
To top it off, it was half the price of a go 720 bought in 2007
NO ALL THINGS GO UP IN PRICE!
I bought this to replace my older one which was a bit too big. I sold that to a friend who liked it, so it off-set paying for this one.
I really like the wi-fi updating, rather than connecting it to the PC.
The only downside is the voice recognition, as I can’t find where to turn that bit off, though I haven’t properly searched how to turn it off.
Great piece of kit.
The best Tom Tom I’ve used from updates to the speedometer. When I first used it it felt like driving was a kind computer game and I almost thought it should tell me about on coming traffics high beams, maybe one day and now I’ve had it a while driving would be boring and frustrating without it. The only flaw from my one is that it’s a little behind real windscreen observation but not slow and now I’m use to it it’s fine and the clip on and off for storage is so good and sturdy it becomes a pleasure to get use to
Very good menu for inputting destinations and setting up. Difficult at first to enable Bluetooth. Now happy with operation. Works well with phone for telephone messages.
Great screen display, nice size and I really like the way it clips on and off the power supply windscreen fixing bracket, no difficult silly little USB plug to fiddle with. I find the accuracy to be very good, not 100% but acceptable. The speech recognition leaves a lot to be desired often not registering a command first time. I find the number of updates to be laborious and I tend to ignore them for a while as they take a while to upload.
All in all this is the best Sat Nav I have ever used and the updates are free which is one of the reasons I chose this model along with the 6″ screen. Recommended.
Easy to use but it doesn’t always connect to my phone for live traffic which is very annoying. My last tomtom had built in live traffic and I probably should have gone for that again. It also drains my phone battery quickly when connected for live traffic.
This satnav we bought to travel to holiday in the uk.
It was flawless every day we used it,
clear speech, a map that for once keeps up with you so you do not miss turnings or faff a roundabout exit.
make sure you update the unit regularly over wifi, nice and easy
the mangetic holder is a joy to use its so good.
highly recommended uni
Overall very pleased with my purchase. The only issue I have had is with pairing the sat nav with my phone to receive text messages and live traffic updates. My phone was unable to focus on the QR code so unable to achieve pairing.
In use the driving instructions are clear and finding addresses and points of interest seems fairly easy. Not really used the full potential yet as only used to travel between various offices and known locations.
Used this now for about 5 or 6 longish journeys, both inner city and countryside/motorway. I bought it to replace my 10 year old TomTom IQ routes. I’ve read a number of previous reviews for this and they relate to problems syncing with phone etc. From what I’ve found (I have an android phone from about 4 years ago) it syncs up via Bluetooth or with my mobile data instantly, stays connected for the whole journey. You have to turn the mydrive app on to get it to sync I think, but as soon as you open it, it syncs. Once synced it works flawlessly. Reports traffic problems and accidents etc really quickly and offers alternative routes telling you how long they’ll shave off your journey. You can use this sat nav with voice control and that works really well, recognising addresses I say aloud to it, recognises commands like raising the volume etc. Works well for making hands free calls, with both the speaker sounding clear, and the person you’re calling hears you clearly. It also reads text messages out aloud for you from sms and WhatsApp. As for being a sat nav it works well with really clear mapping and it highlights the correct lane to go in really clearly. If you take a wrong turn it reroutes you instantly. Another feature I like is it will find parking for you near your destination or along your route, it will also highlight all the parking around you and you can click on them on the screen to go to them. I appreciate a mobile phone can do all of this for you, but I feel it does it less efficiently, and you need to go through more steps to get the above features, plus the inaccuracy and lag of mobile GPS’s at times. If you need a sat nav for regular use, then I think this one is well worth the money and has some great features.
So far so good, easy to operate, only real issue is when my phone wont sync with tomtom but I believe that’s a roaming data issue due to being a rural area. Also be aware what it says the speed limits are arent always correct but this a minor problem. I would definitely buy agai
Its ok not foolproof .Caught it trying to send me the wrong way when I knew better but wouldnt be without it. Prob a bit expensive and the 3d seems to turn itself off and on at will. Have to get around london so need somthing fairly reliable.
This satnav is great because you can pre plan routes which then can be saved into your satnav so when you get into the car and turn it on your route comes straight from the could and you can sit off quickly, however the “MyDrive” function is a bit temperamental through Bluetooth so I would suggest using it with your phones personal hotspot instead.
MY GRANDSON IS LEARNING TO DRIVE AND I BOUGHT THIS FOR HIM, HE IS DELIGHTED WITH IT – IT EVEN TELLS HIM WHAT LANE HE SHOULD BE IN !!!!!! I AM SO PLEASED NOT ALL GIFTS ARE APPRECIATED LIKE THIS ONE
This sat nav is a great device. I bought it as a present for my husband as I have one as well. We used it to drive down to Spain for our holiday but halfway through France it began to give us a white screen on power up. It would reset by switching it off and on again but over the course of the holiday it became more likely to fail and by the time we got home again it was taking four or five attempts to get it to work. TomTom support were helpful but wanted it returned for repair with a 20 day turn around. I tried Amazon Technical Support and they were incredibly helpful, very quickly offering a refund or replacement. As I liked the satnav when it worked I asked for a replacement and it was delivered the next day! Wow that is such good service. The 4 star is for the fault but Amazon gets 10 from me!
This is my first new TomTom for well over 10 years so I find it graphically very nice, and it’s very easy to use. It also has lots of new features.
I haven’t used it very much yet but it seemed to hold its charge well.
My only issue with it is that it won’t blue tooth to my phone without going through the initial connecting process. I find this really annoying.
No built in sim card, meaning it must be linked to a phone. That is not easy. Each time it tells me it is linked (using the app), but the TomTom says it has no traffic. However, when I put the route I want in the app on the phone, the TomTom shows traffic. Strange, still trying to work out how it all works. Not obvious. Patience needed.
This procedure needs to be done every time the TomTom is switched on in my case.
I’m very pleased with my new Tom Tom. My last one was bought over12 years ago. I’m not very good with technical things but I have found the new one easy to use.
I really like this product so advanced to my old Go 910, but i have to agree with comments that have been posted it is pity the battery has such short holding life before you have to put it back on charge, Brian , Jersey
I like the magnetitc clip and that I can update it via wifi without havingto connect it to the computer. Also the screen is clear and it’s good that it will connect to the phone so I can be hands free.
The symbol for speed cameras is not as clear as it was on my old satvav though.
Having been asked to answer a question I have decided to give a review I bought this for my wife she quite likes it says it is easy to use etc but there is a major design flaw she says that when the mount is on then she cannot plug in the power lead, this means she has to charge it up on an evening. Hopefully she will not be using it for long enough to empty the battery so if you need this for longer distances you might be left high and dry.
Bought this a replacement for an older model so was familiar with how TomToms operate. A bit slow on start up but I guess that’s because there’s more stuff crammed in. Liked the screen, nice and bright even in sunlight with a sharp clear image. Easy to use, linked with my iPhone without issue and most importantly it gets you from A to B.
Can’t really comment on the battery life as I only use it in the car and is always plugged in. Updating maps is a doddle using the Wi-fi.
I had a TomTom Start classic for over ten years and needed to replace once they ceased supporting that model. I was worried that the new models would take some getting used to but I’ve found it really easy. Downloading the MyDrive app to my smartphone and tablet was easy, and they work fine. Now with traffic functionality that I’ve not had before, the biggest thing I’m having to learn is to always trust it, because every time I haven’t I’ve landed myself in a traffic jam.
EASY GOING: ROUTES AROUND TRAFFIC
A really good basic satnav. Really helped when I had to go through some back lanes in the west country and found they had closed some of the roads. Easy to install & use .
Relatively easy to use considering how sophisticated it is. This model uses a linked smart phone for latest traffic news and additional route planning but you can do without it for basic use.
Why buy this over cheaper models? Bluetooth, WiFi, Intelligent Voice command and controls etc etc. tell it where to go, change route even when driving and many other things.
[ copied from my EBay ad ]
* It’s actually a year since I’ve used this TomTom at all, so features like Bluetooth, Wifi etc are not discussed in here at all and this definitely not a truly extensive review, I literally got a bit carried away in the nostalgia having used this daily for two years and not really needing to all features. So see other reviews if you want that
Why does anyone even decide pay 160-200+ for a TomTom Essential edition at all anyway? Is this thing even necessary if I have Google Maps or is it a cult?
Yes and Maybe. Many years ago if you wanted to drive somewhere unknown it was first necessary to buy a road map, and then necessary to plan a route, then Navigate said route.
Decades later and with GPs, then smart phones arrive doing everything automatically, simply an app called Google Maps on your phone is all that was necessary.
However if you routinely drive to new destinations and want to save time, now today in 2022 the Tom Tom has arrived early, and in this particular edition, it navigates yet further still Exceeding merely a necessity the Tom Tom becomes “Essential”. Yes, Google Maps still exists However all the inferior sat navs and the rudimentary phone apps are left scattered, between 30mins to 1hr behind. Google Maps is currently stuck at a set of temporary lights, Garmin was earlier caught speeding 37mph on in 30mph and Waze died in a head on collision while looking at their phone, unfortunately killing themselves and a family of five.
Nonetheless, is the TomTom really such an “Essential Necessity”? Is it even worth spending 160-200+? See below:
TomTom Car Sat Nav GO Essential, 5 Inch, with Traffic Congestion and Speed Cam Alert Trial Thanks to TomTom Traffic.
I’d not be doing this justice if I didn’t write an extensive review. More like a goodbye, the box says “Congratulations on your new TomTom!”.
The features and abilities on this thing are more of a challenge to describe or articulate to those who have not used one. With an empty passenger seat of my van TomTom becomes a real companion on long journeys.
I do recall the many, many hours of use and as a bit of a tech geek and former traffic management op so I will attempt to describe the features.
I know what you’re thinking but isnt this sorta like a hands-free Google Maps iPhone stuck on the window?
How dare you! No it’s not.
Google has for the last decade been a great phone directions app. But with the design and with the UI limitations of a Smart Phone. So it’s not a fair comparison.
TomTom has hands free calling, it automatically displays and reads your texts and has voice commands a bit like Siri.
TomToms superior, unique, more dedicated and versatile features SHIT all over Google Maps. Even if you compare this directly or any phone app. It actually saves time, the routes will not be identical as it will disagree with Google maps on which routes and roads are quicker as it has real time traffic data that google does not. So especially during busy times, TomTom will navigate you around traffic, if it results in a quicker and shorter ETA. And this applies all the time, as if you tell it to ultimately save you time, it will do so.
So even after setting a route that is 3 hours away, at any point during that time it may change its mind as the roads and many different options ahead of you are not static. For the user it’s a a matter of choosing or commanding (voice command) then hitting go.
But to the TomTom each route and down to each road will change during those 3 hours, and more so between 8AM-5PM. But more specifically with live traffic data, your designated route will never be the fastest throughout a 3hr journey. If you ultimately select the fastest ETA, the routes are subject to changes and alterations, even if minor during that time.
If there is 1-2 minutes to be saved by altering the route while driving it will give you plenty of warning (Usually up to 600 yards) as roads ahead get more or less busy. But it may change direction, always achieving the fastest route possible unless you tell it not to. Or you may want it to avoid unmarked roads, motorways, or the multitude of options.
Warning: if you have OCD, and do not appreciate change, this option is not for you. There’s an OCD option i.e you can tell it to maintain the chosen routine. But especially on new routes and if Time itself is the only factor, it’s honestly more fun to select the go fast and dynamic route settings.
In my 2 seater sports car I can appreciate and I’d prefer certain roads, but in my work van even if I know how to get there I drove to different destinations each day or week. Not caring how I get there I just want to achieve it in the shortest time to begin the job or go home to sleep.
Regardless, TomTom works by saving the user time. And if you are somebody that regularly drives several hours a day, on the same route or not. It will always be 10-20 mins faster than Google Maps on a journey that’s over 1-2hrs. That’s 20 minutes you could spend uploading a Tik or a Tok. Or maybe even both
I drove for a living 60hrs a week to various new locations. So I can’t even imagine how much time this has saved me. That translates to getting a job done quicker, getting home earlier and subsequently more TikToks routines. Plus I followed some new Instagram bitches who I don’t know and decided to become They/Them on my Twitter.
I’m quite a confident driver, having driven all over the UK and also across Europe. And a bit of time as a Traffic op so I have extra appreciation for this. But I wasn’t always confident and I think the primary objective of a Sat Nav is driver confidence. Even subtly in the background it’s there.
I have also been in busy areas or motorways and missed a turning or exit entirely, a bit of panic used to set in. But it’s good to see that unlike my old Nissans Sat Nav, it doesn’t shit the bed when you make a mistake. Tom Tom instantly reroutes, either by sending you back around the next round about or if on a suitable road it asks you to turn around if possible and if this is optimal.
* Live Traffic Updates (Congestion avoidance and omnipotence)
Where TomTom shines most is of course on longer journeys. The more commuting the more you will appreciate this time saving feature. Especially if you have new destinations, I used to spend 3 hours a day commuting and then a further 10 hours doing Traffic Management on motorways and a mix of A/B roads. Sometimes my ETA would be 5hrs* and without TomToms unique and genius system a crappy Sat Nav could be near 6 hours.
The main ability is actual live congestion avoidance and avoiding queues and slower roads not the route planning itself. Knowing which road is busy at which time, where there are minor road works, temporary traffic lights, roads or motorways closed entirely. All of which are displayed on the route bar as soon as it is generated.
So as soon as the route is generated you can see how many roadworks, traffic lights, speed cameras etc you have in front of you as all are displayed with icons. In addition to voice warnings TomTom has display icons for every road hazard or sign you can think of, not just the main ones.
I don’t know who gets all that information from all the Traffic Management companies and contractors across the UK, ahead of time to report it to TomTom and it’s user base. But that’s how it must work.
TomTom isn’t only worthwhile on long journeys. Whilst it has the potential to save more time on longer drives, literally 10-20 mins minutes is realistic off a 1-2hr trip. Again compared to google maps which at best has a limited function and awareness of actual live traffic/time. During rush hour I have watched TomTom Navigate magically locally, sometimes appearing to go entirely in the wrong direction or indifferent to my own ideas only to surprise me being a bit quicker. When its rush hour and just not possible avoid some sort of delay delay and traffic ahead, TomTom is omnipotent. Don’t be fooled by Serenas sexy British voice as this is what she was designed to do. There’s also Samantha, a few Irish chicks etc and some men. But they care less about you than making calculations to the nearest second, where potential routes are many and options complex.
I am speculating but I think it could use its own client data to measure average times your own vehicle has taken on different roads and routes. And thus giving a more accurate representation of live traffic ahead for its other clients that are not far behind. If it doesn’t do that, it should. But I struggle to explain even to my family, why the TomTom is so damn good and not like several other Sat Navs I’ve used, some of which I thought were impressive at the time.
It’s just one of those things you have to see working yourself, and If I did not know road directions at all, I might not ever realise what’s going on and I might think magic was involved. P
I would lying if I said Serena and I haven’t bonded over the years, in fact it’s an understatement.
I can’t believe I’m even saying this but TomTom made my journeys more interactive, engaging even when I didn’t need the sound on. And dare I say it, it was a little bit enjoyable, and exciting loading a new destination and seeing if I’d beat my colleagues in my nippy Ford transit turbo connect.
So for a Sat Nav I think this is high praise
Another example of how smart/considerate this AI is, each morning she doesn’t wait for me to search my favourite/saved destinations for work. As soon as I turn her on she asks me if I’d like to drive to work. And the same after starting her her up at the end of a shift, as TomTom learns your driving habits in addition to any recent or saved routes. So you can just use voice command or click yes to drive to work/
home each day.
* Speed Cameras, Subscriptions & Speeding.
There’s nothing Serena and I hate more than speed cameras. She displays them all in red on the journey/route bar and warns me 600 yards beforehand. You can tell TomTom to tell you “The speed limit on this road is 40mph”. That’s another way of her saying “You’re going almost 45 in a 40 etc”.
You can tell it to avoid things like motorways, speed cameras, toll roads and various things entirely, regardless of the delay. Which I think is kinda defeating the purpose of a Sat Nav but drivers with families may want to prioritise safety and comfort over time.
Anyway, Speed Cameras are actually the reason I bought TomTom. And although NEWLY INSTALLED cameras requires a subscription, TomTom never stops displaying or warning of speed cameras. And whilst it may be worthwhile, they do not install thousands of Cameras per year.
So it’s entirely optional, you only need to pay the subscription if you benefit from knowing of every new one installed. If you stick to speed limits all the time it’s not even necessary. But I also used this in my 370Z Nismo which had different ideas. The subscription only affects Cameras , not the regular map updates, meaning live traffic or any other feature is not paffected.
They also have Camera hot spots I.e mobile cameras are user reported but surprisingly numerous if you go to new places a lot. I’d usually ignore these as I never saw any but then once as I was 1 mile from home I got caught doing 35 in a 30. Luckily I just got a letter telling me off, but I don’t think I’d have got away with it if I wasn’t in full high vis and what was TSCO van.
So anyway
It can be shown working, returns accepted but only if it suddenly died on the way home or something, heaven forbid.
But unfortunately, and as you can see very on my recent destination, I’ve had no car for over a year now and will not any time soon.
Thanks for reading!
Firstly, let me say that I have had many Tomtom satnavs in my driving career – around 6, I think – and this is actually the worst. It seems that Tomtom have removed several features that used to be included in mid-range units, and you have to now either pay extra to get them, they are only available on high-end units, or they don’t offer them at all. I’m talking about things such as safety cameras, lane information etc. I only purchased this because the satnav which came with my new car is so poor as to be virtually useless. This is good for routing and ease of use, but the symbols such as road speed limits are so small that anyone over 60 would struggle to read them. And that’s unsafe. I can understand why apps are taking over the satnav market.
The Best Satnav for me, speedy delivery also, many thanks
simple to get started.
Clear indications of the route on the map day and night.
Like how far to the nearest petrol on the sidebar.
Not Intuitive about when you have entered the address and are ready to press go to drive.
Am so chuffed with my new Sat nav. I will never get lost again, and have regained my confidence in driving around.
Very easy to set up and use. An oldie like me managed it no problem.
bought this after returning a garmin to the shop. This is so much better, more accurate and easy to follow, have only used it once but it was accurate, still need to figure the live traffic updates. Looking foreward to my holiday now so I can use it a lot, but my confidence in it is great and feel happy to start doing unfamiliar trips again.
Easy to use but not as accurate as previous purchase as doesn’t appear to take you to the number of the house you entered, unless I’m doing something wrong! It gets me to the street though so that’ll do
Good device does freeze a little but Good apart from tha
I haven’t had a great many opportunities to use it. More detailed guidelines would have been helpful, especially with the need to charge up first, the need to purchase a USB plug, and further guidance on linking to one’s phone.
We bought this at the last minute to use on a road trip in Spain, having found that my previous EU TomTom could not have its maps updated. I did not want particularly enhanced functionality but the convenience of wifi enabled updates promise a long and useful life for this gadget. Great value and performed very well out on the road.
Replaced a Go 50 I think it was, and a TomTom 2 that fitted a cradle in my Fiat. From using that I wanted a quick removal type SatNav so went for this as it has the magnetic holder! Much better than the older mounts, otherwise I would have stayed with my previous TomTom. Works out routes noticeably quicker. A much better unit for these highlights: Quicker processor, WiFi updates, Magnetic mount!
This go essential is world’s away from my go 720 it replaces.
Great clear instructions (both verbally and on screen).
Voice control not always so good, but that may be my local accent.
Great upgrade from old unit.
I do recommend this unit.
To top it off, it was half the price of a go 720 bought in 2007
NO ALL THINGS GO UP IN PRICE!
Good value for money. Easy to use, still getting to know some features. Nice voice and speaks clearly and slowly.
I bought this to replace my older one which was a bit too big. I sold that to a friend who liked it, so it off-set paying for this one.
I really like the wi-fi updating, rather than connecting it to the PC.
The only downside is the voice recognition, as I can’t find where to turn that bit off, though I haven’t properly searched how to turn it off.
Great piece of kit.
Reasonable priced tomtom. Bought to replace a very old model.
The best Tom Tom I’ve used from updates to the speedometer. When I first used it it felt like driving was a kind computer game and I almost thought it should tell me about on coming traffics high beams, maybe one day and now I’ve had it a while driving would be boring and frustrating without it. The only flaw from my one is that it’s a little behind real windscreen observation but not slow and now I’m use to it it’s fine and the clip on and off for storage is so good and sturdy it becomes a pleasure to get use to
Really pleased with this great sat nav and really good hands free.
Spent a lot of time reading reviews on tomtom and gaming so picked this for my son he has used a couple of times all good
Very good menu for inputting destinations and setting up. Difficult at first to enable Bluetooth. Now happy with operation. Works well with phone for telephone messages.
Easy to use, like that the power goes into the stand rather than the satnav
Great screen display, nice size and I really like the way it clips on and off the power supply windscreen fixing bracket, no difficult silly little USB plug to fiddle with. I find the accuracy to be very good, not 100% but acceptable. The speech recognition leaves a lot to be desired often not registering a command first time. I find the number of updates to be laborious and I tend to ignore them for a while as they take a while to upload.
All in all this is the best Sat Nav I have ever used and the updates are free which is one of the reasons I chose this model along with the 6″ screen. Recommended.
Easy to use but it doesn’t always connect to my phone for live traffic which is very annoying. My last tomtom had built in live traffic and I probably should have gone for that again. It also drains my phone battery quickly when connected for live traffic.
It was flawless every day we used it,
clear speech, a map that for once keeps up with you so you do not miss turnings or faff a roundabout exit.
make sure you update the unit regularly over wifi, nice and easy
the mangetic holder is a joy to use its so good.
highly recommended uni
Overall very pleased with my purchase. The only issue I have had is with pairing the sat nav with my phone to receive text messages and live traffic updates. My phone was unable to focus on the QR code so unable to achieve pairing.
In use the driving instructions are clear and finding addresses and points of interest seems fairly easy. Not really used the full potential yet as only used to travel between various offices and known locations.
So far so good, easy to operate, only real issue is when my phone wont sync with tomtom but I believe that’s a roaming data issue due to being a rural area. Also be aware what it says the speed limits are arent always correct but this a minor problem. I would definitely buy agai
Its ok not foolproof .Caught it trying to send me the wrong way when I knew better but wouldnt be without it. Prob a bit expensive and the 3d seems to turn itself off and on at will. Have to get around london so need somthing fairly reliable.
This satnav is great because you can pre plan routes which then can be saved into your satnav so when you get into the car and turn it on your route comes straight from the could and you can sit off quickly, however the “MyDrive” function is a bit temperamental through Bluetooth so I would suggest using it with your phones personal hotspot instead.
Like wifi update…. they e/m you and let you know when its ready…
Use it for work pretty good but occasionally glitches on wifi update but good all round
o problems thus far…..im quite impressed so far…..as good as the tom tom I paid 250 for(reduced from 350)so would recommend..
Great product as long as you have an internet connection. However it finds where you want to go but the internet or wi fi is needed for updates.
MY GRANDSON IS LEARNING TO DRIVE AND I BOUGHT THIS FOR HIM, HE IS DELIGHTED WITH IT – IT EVEN TELLS HIM WHAT LANE HE SHOULD BE IN !!!!!! I AM SO PLEASED NOT ALL GIFTS ARE APPRECIATED LIKE THIS ONE
This sat nav is a great device. I bought it as a present for my husband as I have one as well. We used it to drive down to Spain for our holiday but halfway through France it began to give us a white screen on power up. It would reset by switching it off and on again but over the course of the holiday it became more likely to fail and by the time we got home again it was taking four or five attempts to get it to work. TomTom support were helpful but wanted it returned for repair with a 20 day turn around. I tried Amazon Technical Support and they were incredibly helpful, very quickly offering a refund or replacement. As I liked the satnav when it worked I asked for a replacement and it was delivered the next day! Wow that is such good service. The 4 star is for the fault but Amazon gets 10 from me!
This is my first new TomTom for well over 10 years so I find it graphically very nice, and it’s very easy to use. It also has lots of new features.
I haven’t used it very much yet but it seemed to hold its charge well.
My only issue with it is that it won’t blue tooth to my phone without going through the initial connecting process. I find this really annoying.
Excellent Tom Tom model. I bought it because it has hands free phone facility which works really well
This procedure needs to be done every time the TomTom is switched on in my case.
I’m very pleased with my new Tom Tom. My last one was bought over12 years ago. I’m not very good with technical things but I have found the new one easy to use.
I like the magnetitc clip and that I can update it via wifi without havingto connect it to the computer. Also the screen is clear and it’s good that it will connect to the phone so I can be hands free.
The symbol for speed cameras is not as clear as it was on my old satvav though.
Brilliant bit of kit. Easy to set up and use. Love the phone app to input your destination send it to the satnav easy as that.
SO FAR SO GOOD LIKE WIFI CONDUCTVITY FOR UP DATING MAP’S. BUT ONLY HAD THIS TOM TOM FOR A FEW MONTHS SO NEED MORE TIME TO FULLY PRAISE OR DISLIKE .
Can’t really comment on the battery life as I only use it in the car and is always plugged in. Updating maps is a doddle using the Wi-fi.