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Jeremy's Rating: 
The portable vehicle GPS market has long been dominated by Garmin, but TomTom is catching up fast. Many of TomTom’s GPS devices have met the requirements of the average consumer but there are always room for improvements such as making the device larger and retaining some of their best features. This is what the TomTom XXL 540TM sets out to be. With its 5-inch widescreen, lifetime traffic & map updates, it’s no surprise that this model is quickly becoming one of the top selling GPS on the market today.
Design
The TomTom XXL 540TM has a similar style to the other TomTom devices with its defined bezel and curvy top. It is part of the XXL family, which means that it has a massive 5-inch widescreen display so it adds a bit of weight but the visuals look great as a result. It still weighs 7 ounces so the portability is not sacrificed.
Features and Performance
The TomTom XXL 540TM features a similar interface that the smaller devices use so upgraders shouldn’t get lost. Users can see the map in both 3-D and 2-D modes so they can really see the benefits of having a larger display. Zooming in the map looks great because all those important signs are clearer.
The text-to-speech technologies also work fine as well as it gives you voice turn-by-turn instructions and speaks the street names so drivers can stay focused on the road.
Advanced Lane Guidance
Advanced Lane Guidance shown in lower left corner
The Advanced Lane Guidance is one of the best features in the XXL 540TM. This is very similar to Lane Assist on some of the Garmin models. It makes good use of the 3-D view because it shows important signs on the highway and the 5-inch display really helps.
As you approach the intersection or highway interchange, the arrow on the lower left corner shows the lane you should take.
For some highway junctions, the map switches to a 3-D picture that realistically depicts the road, and highlights the lane that driver must be in with a green arrow so he or she won’t miss that critical turn in order to be right on track. This lane image feature can be turned off if you find it annoying (which some people do).
Lane Image of Advanced Lane Guidance
I am now so used to the help with Lane Guidance I wonder how I did without it before. I no longer feel anxious when an unfamiliar highway interchange coming up. I know exactly which lane I should be on and when I need to change lanes.
Lifetime Map Updates
New owners are sure to get a nice map experience since it was released in early 2010. The "M" after the model number designates that it is the Lifetime Maps Edition. This means you get TomTom’s LIFETIME Map Guarantee which gives you 4 updates per year to ensure you always have the latest road information on your 540TM.
With this feature there is no need to worry about the maps being outdated and no fees will ever be charged when the maps need updating.
TomTom Map Share
Another way to update your TomTom maps is through its Map Share technology. You can download corrections and input from a community of TomTom users. In addition, you can also make map corrections as you drive and share them with other TomTom users. This is done through connecting your XXL 540TM to your computer through the TomTom Home application and to TomTom’s web site.
This is great because if you encounter any error in the map, you can make a note on your TomTom so you can avoid it in the future.
If you are wondering how reliable these maps shared by other users are, fortunately TomTom has reported there are very few fraudulent maps uploaded by users. It does give you the option to download only “TomTom verified” updates so your best bet is to always download the maps that have been verified by TomTom.
Lifetime Traffic Updates
The “T” in 540TM represents the included lifetime Traffic Updates. Real time traffic information is sent to your TomTom device every 3 minutes if you are within the range of an FM station that transmits it. The GPS then recalculates the driving time and suggests a more efficient route if it is available.
Traffic Info Sidebar
When the XXL 540TM is getting the traffic information, the traffic sidebar is displayed on the right side of the screen. The different icons show you different traffic incidents such as accident, road works, lane or road closed, or traffic jams. It even displays weather condition to warn you about fog, rain, wind, ice, or snow.
You can also browse the map and TomTom will display all the traffic incidents in your surrounding area. Tapping on any traffic incident will gives you more details on that incident.
Another great use of 540TM’s traffic feature is that with a push of a button, you can check the traffic conditions on your route to and from work.
Checking traffic condition between home and work
You can also ask TomTom to find alternative route to minimize delays. This really makes commuting to and from work much easier.
Points of Interest
The TomTom XXL 540TM is preloaded with 7 million Points of Interest (POI) – restaurants, hotels, museums, gas stations, shopping malls, etc. You can also create your own POIs and add them to the map. You can easily navigate to these places with a few taps on the screen. This is great when you are traveling to an unfamiliar area.
Itinerary Planning
Itinerary Planning is another useful feature TomTom XXL 540TM offers. It let you plan a trip of multiple stops between your starting location and final destination.
You can use Itinerary Planning to plan a road trip that passes many points of interest or scenic routes. For real estate agents, you can set up an itinerary for all the houses you are planning on showing to a buyer that day. Or even if you just need to run a few errands, this feature makes it easy to navigate from one place to the next.
Safety Camera Warnings
Another feature that most other GPS devices don’t have is that XXL 540TM can warn you about any upcoming safety cameras – including speed cameras, red light cameras, toll booth cameras, and vehicle restriction cameras.
It warns you with a combination of icons and sounds about 15 seconds before you reach a safety camera location. The speed limit is also shown in the driving view.
How Much Should You Expect To Pay?
The current street price ranges from $150 to $180. Amazon.com has the best price with free shipping. Be sure to check the latest price here as it may have dropped again by the time you read this.
What’s In The Box?
- TomTom XXL 540TM
- EasyPort mount
- Car charger
- USB cable
- Owner’s manual
One Accessory You Must Get
Portable Dashboard Mount
The included “EasyPort” mount is for mounting the device to the windshield, which is really not the best place for the GPS. It tends to block too much of your view.
The ideal way is to get a portable Dashboard Mount and place your TomTom on the dashboard. Not only you can reach the device easily without leaning or stretching, you can easily move it to another car or when you are out of the car you can hide it from the privy eyes of thieves.
Any Complaints?
One thing I noticed is that scrolling through the map isn’t always the most fluid experience. There are instances of lag and some waiting since the map needs to redraw but it is not that serious. Turning off the points of interests do not help either so it is best to leave them on.
Bottom Line
TomTom GPS devices are always great companions for vehicles because many of their units have large clear displays along with accurate tracking. With a good car-mounted GPS device, drivers can learn to rely on GPS devices whenever route planning is necessary.
The TomTom XXL 540TM is a great GPS device for its size and the battery life and overall build stands rather well so the lifetime maps & traffic can really extend the overall life of this device. Some improvements can be made with the overall performance but the recent price dips puts it a tad more affordable than competing 5-inch GPS devices.
What’s The Best Place To Buy TomTom XXL 540TM?
You are going to find the best prices with online merchants. When going online, I always suggest people to buy only from reputable companies. There are just too many online fraud going on these days.
Amazon.com currently has the best price for the 540TM. They also have unbeatable customer service and excellent return policy. Shipping is free so that saves you another $7 to $10 as well.
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