The internals are largely the same as the TomTom One V2 unit we tested with European maps last month and there is nothing wrong with that as it really did the job at a storming price, so what is the driver behind yet another TomTom One variant so soon? It seems that TomTom One buyers wanted a bigger screen and that seeing the Go range made them jealous, so the Dutch company that have just hit their 10 millionth navigation unit sale built the XL.

Unbox the XL and it is clearly a Whopper (not one from Burger King) the new screen boasts a 4.3" TFT giving class leading 480 x 272 pixel resolution with 64k colours and apart from being bigger it also weighs more at 208 grams. The mounting system has changed and we have to say not for the better. TomTom have moved away from a click in cradle where the power connects to the cradle and the device has contact pins to pick up the current, to a slide in cradle and direct USB power connection.

That all sounds fine until, we'd tried to get the XL mounted in the car. First the USB connector may be a great and more universal connector but it does mean that the unit needs and extra inch of clearance way from the dashboard which restricts placement a little. Then combine this with the slide up and off dismount method the cradle uses (as opposed to a click in) which causes problems as the XL hits the windscreen as to try and remove it due to the slope of the glass.

TomTom show the removal process on a card, but we wonder if they really expect you to remove the whole mount? the sucker is an easier to remove and attach one which doesn't have the leaver lock system and is therefore simpler to attach and detach. However we do wonder when the splash screen comes up with the reminder to remove your TomTom One XL just how many people will leave them in the car as it is just too difficult to remove!

We also note that the supplied 12 volt to USB cable seem to be shorter again making placement more limited, luckily as the connector on the base of the XL is a mini USB socket you can pick up longer 12 volt leads from electrical stores and Ebay.

It's rare for us to be so negative on a mounting system but this appears to be the major failing of the new One XL which in all other respects is spot on. The large screen makes reading the excellent TomTom GUI very easy and provides bigger buttons on the touch screen when inputting data. Colours are vivid  and sunlight doesn't seem to phase the new display either.

The internals utilise a 266Mhz CPU and 32Mb or RAM, there are 2 version one with regional maps (UK and Ireland) plus a Europe version which has a hard disk as opposed to using an SD cards to store the maps. Address entry is via a host of methods including full UK postcode support, city centre, POI and address and once on the route TomTom's award winning diversion interface remains the easiest system to use when you see a queue in front of you. As well as the bright and clear visual instructions the audio guidance works a treat too with a range of voices (more can be downloaded) and a nice loud speaker which means you really can use the XL without looking at the screen.

This model like most of the range (but not the smaller TomTom one) does get Bluetooth 2.0 but only for connection to a mobile so that it can access your data plan and therefore get to the TomTom plus services, like TomTom traffic, for now at least there is no Bluetooth hands free option , but there should be a TMC receiver soon.

Most of us will choose to run the One XL off the cars 12 volt supply but there are those occasions where a battery is handy, the XL does have a, lithium Ion unit inside but it only drives the more power hungry unit for a measly 2 hours. Not really enough for much of a journey.

It seems that in making the One bigger with its bigger screen the power consumption has risen along with the price to a lofty £260 which is £100 more than the small screen TT One and the Europe version of the XL is another £20 premium over the GB map version.

All in all you are paying a pretty penny for the TomTom One XL which despite its excellent screen has issues with the poor mounting system and battery, sure it has the latest maps and great user experience but so has the smaller and cheaper standard TomTom One. In essence the XL is a marketing exercise not dissimilar to the XL fast food meals which sell you more than you really want or for that matter need.

Published - 13/05/2007

More GPS Navigation Systems-

[ Up ] [ Navman iCN510 Review ] [ Garmin C320 Review ] [ Mio 268 Review ] [ Magellan Roadmate 300 ] [ TomTom Go 700 ] [ GPS Navigation System Reviews ] [ Mio 269 Review ] [ TomTom One ] [ Mio A201 Review ] [ TomTom Rider Motorbike GPS ] [ Medion GoPal 350 Review ] [ Mio C210 Review ] [ Sony Nav-U Review ] [ Garmin i2 Review ] [ TomTom One Europe Review ] [ Navman N60i Review ] [ TomTom Go 520 Review ] [ Navman N20 Review ] [ TomTom Go 930 Review ] [ Mio GPS Review ] [ Garmin Zumo 550 Review ] [ TomTom One XL ] [ Navman F20 Review ] [ Loox N100 Review ] [ Snooper Indago Review ] [ Acer D100 Review ] [ TomTom Go 910 Review ] [ Garmin i3 Review ] [ Garmin Nuvi Review ] [ Navman iCN320 Review ] [ TomTom Go 500 ] [ TomTom Go 300 Review ] [ Acer N35 Review ]