TomTom XL 350, XL 350M, XL 350TM 3.4 inch Portable GPS Navigators (Lifetime Traffic & Maps) Review

TomTom’s XL 350 series of GPS satellite portable navigation devices consists of the XL 350, XL 350M and XL 350TM. All models share the same features with a T suffix signifying the inclusion of Lifetime Traffic and M Lifetime Map Updates. These models encompass an excellent range of features at a more affordable price thanks to the smaller 3.4 inch touch display. Highlights of these models are; IQ routes for the fastest route calculation based on traffic information, Advanced Lane Guidance for easier major junction navigation, a large 7 million Points of Interest (POI) database and text to speech for announcing street names.

TomTom XL 350 Series

Lifetime Map Updates

Some eighteen percent of the nation’s (US) road information changing every year (TomTom) it’s necessary to update mapping data regularly to ensure navigation instructions remain accurate. The four free map updates a year available with the Lifetime Maps are much more economical when bundled with the hardware as in the case of the XL 350M and XL 350TM models. Prices for which Lifetime Maps are in fact a bargin compared to previous pricing history and the cost of individual purchase. With the TomTom XXL550 series you also have the advantage of Map Share On-Demand Updates allowing your own map updates or downloading of verified updates from other TomTom equipped drivers.

Lifetime Traffic Updates

Lifetime Traffic Updates are an often used too if you commute a regular routes as the live traffic data is used in route or detour calculations to save time on the road. For the lifetime of your XL 350TM you are guaranteed automatic real-time traffic data updates. Again historically and compared to the cost of individual purchase the price is a bargain.

Navigating with the TomTom XL350 Series

TomTom’s New EasyMenu

TomTom’s XL 350 series comes with TomTom’s new EasyMenu. EasyMenu’s start page has two large icons with the left being either Plan Route or Change Route and the right icon is Browse Map for viewing a map of your current location. Situated at the bottom of the display is a toolbar of 4 smaller icons including: 1) sound on or off button, 2) a night/day button for the night color scheme (reduced brightness and map in dark colors), 3) an options button to adjust settings for the device and finally 4) a help button to see contact details for local emergency services and other specialized services, such as hospitals and veterinary clinics. You can choose to plan a route to one by selecting it.

Selecting a Destination

Selecting a destination with the TomTom XL 350 series can be by typing in a street address, selecting a favorite or recent destination, searching for a POI, entering coordinates entry or browsing the map and selecting a location. For those who would like to arrive right on time there is an option to have the route calculated to match a particular arrival time. There is a database of more than 7 million Points of Interest including restaurants, gas stations, shopping malls and golf courses. POI searches can be restricted to the local area or along the plotted route.

With text-to-speech capability the XL 350 will announce street names giving the driver confirmation that they are on track without needing to take their eyes from the road improving safety.

TomTom IQ Routes

TomTom’s new IQ Routes technology uses actual average traffic speeds along roads rather than posted speed limits for calculating the best route. The basis for the speed profile data for 6.2 billion miles of roads comes from anonymous historical speed profiles gathered from millions of TomTom users. It makes for more accurate/realistic estimations of travel times via different alternative routes. Data collection is ongoing so it can only become more accurate and extensive as well as reflective of changed road conditions.

There is an excellent explanation of TomTom’s IQ Routes on the TomTom website.

Advanced Lane Guidance

Advanced Lane Guidance helps drivers more easily navigate highway junctions through a more realistic and detailed map view including representation of lanes with indicating arrows. TomTom’s site has an excellent illustrated guide to how TomTom Lane Guidance works. It is also covered in the embedded YouTube video below.

TomTom HOME Content Manager

TomTom’s HOME Content Manager allows you to personalize your GPS navigation device and access all the latest downloads, updates, and content. It will launch automatically when your TomTom unit is connected to your computer. It’s possible to subscribe to TomTom’s services, download new POI, new voices, and more as well as share content with the rest of the TomTom online community.

Latest Map Guarantee

If a new map is released within 30 days of purchase, TomTom guarantee you can download it for free using TomTom’s HOME Content Manager.

Map Share

The Map Share feature provides drivers with the facility to; change street names and direction, add, remove or rename POIs and (un)block streets on their own device. Using TomTom’s HOME Content Manager users can share their map improvements for the benefit from the entire TomTom user community.

TomTom QuickGPSfix

The TomTom XL 350 series comes with QuickGPSfix which provides quicker GPS satellite acquisition times through storage of GPS satellite orbit predictions (almanac data). Usually the orbit data is only updated when the TomTom GPS device is connected to a PC or Mac running TomTom’s HOME Content Manage software.

Maps

The TomTom XL 350 series comes preloaded (1GB of built-in flash memory) with maps of the US, Canada and Mexico.

Help Me!

Help Me! is a safety feature which identifies the nearest car repair service center, police station, or hospital. Help Me! identifies the current location so it can be passed on to emergency service providers for a quick response. There is even a basic first-aid guide for if things are getting really bad!

Fold & Go EasyPort Mount

The TomTom XL 350 comes with the Fold & Go EasyPort mount which folds neatly onto the back of the navigation device. When the mount is folded the device will fit conveniently into a pocket or bag.