GPS Car Navigation Systems: TomTom VIA 1405 Review
Overview
TomTom is one of the top three GPS navigation systems on the market, and the TomTom VIA 1405 is one of the latest releases by the company. This is a car navigation system that comes with features like live traffic updates and current gas prices. It has a large color screen, and it is relatively inexpensive at about $170. In this TomTom VIA 1405 review, you’ll learn whether this TomTom offering is worth the money or if you should check out another model.
Features (4 out of 5)
The TomTom VIA 1405 comes with preloaded maps of the United States and Canada, and the car navigation system includes the IQ Routes software program that helps you quickly find the fastest route. The IQ Routes software program does more than just find the route with the shortest amount of miles. It also navigates you around traffic jams, and it looks up the actual speeds of the road. You also get free map updates via the Map Share software program.
Another amazing feature is the Advanced Lane Guidance. No more guessing into what lane you need to head when navigating a challenging intersection. The program visually shows you the lane that you need to be in. We’ve all been in the situation where we miss an exit because the GPS navigation system didn’t tell us what lane to get into. This feature will save a lot of headaches.
You can also create your own icons for your favorite destinations. Simply create the icon, name it and then you just need to select it to get directions.
If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, TomTom VIA 1405 offers you a way to do that. The Eco Routes feature picks out the route that will be the most fuel efficient.
Body (4 out of 5)
Besides the features, the TomTom VIA 1405 has a huge screen: 5 inches wide. And, it has a 480 by 272 pixel resolution. It comes with 1 GB of internal memory, allowing you to add plenty of additional maps and points of interest.
The battery is also quite nice, lasting for up 2 hours before you have to plug it back into a power source. The screen display supports a variety of different languages, including Romanian, Malay and Dutch.
One of the best things about the body is that the mount is attached directly to the device. It folds into the back of it when you no longer need it.
With your TomTom, you receive a USB cable, car charger and adhesive disk that allows you to mount your TomTom GPS to your dashboard.
Cons (3 out of 5)
The only major downside to this model is that it doesn’t come with either Bluetooth, hands-free calling. This means that you’ll have to stop and manually type in your address. But, since you generally do this before you leave the house, that shouldn’t be a major concern. But, for those who do like Bluetooth connectivity, this could be a deal breaker.
Bang for Buck (5 out of 5)
Overall, the TomTom VIA 1405 has a lot to offer for not a big price. It’s easy to use, and the free maps are a selling point all by themselves. The screen is nice and large, and the Advanced Lane Guidance is amazing. While it doesn’t feature hands-free calling, it’s still a great choice for the budget consumer, especially with the IQ Routes and free map downloads.
References
TomTom - https://www.tomtom.com/en_us/products/car-navigation/via-1405-series/#tab:highlights.
Image Credit - https://www.tomtom.com/en_us/products/car-navigation/via-1405-series/#tab:specifications
