TomTom GO 6200 Sat Nav Review

When we were doing our best sat nav reviews quite frankly the Garmin Sat Nav's stood out more mainly due to their Free Lifetime Map and Traffic updates.  That said, TomTom was a very close second, especially with their TomTom GO 6200 Sat Nav.  

In this review we're looking closely at the TomTom GO6200 sat nav, but more importantly, looking at the whole TomTom Go series.

​TomTom

TomTom is a Dutch company that was founded in 1991 and produces navigation equipment for car trucks and motorcycles.  Whilst TomTom is well known for its excellent navigators, it also makes action cameras, GPS sport watches, and location-based products from over 50 countries around the world.

TomTom Sat Nav's

The TomTom range of sat nav's for your car comes in three designs, the GO 5200/6200, the GO 520/620, the VIA 52/62 and the Sart 42/52/62.  Out of the three designs the only model that includes Lifetime map and traffic updates is the GO 5200 and the 6200.  The other models do provide both traffic and map updates but you will need to connect your navigator to your smartphone and use it's connection.  We really feel this is not acceptable for our top model and therefore we would only recommend the latest 2017 TomTom Go 5200 and 6200 models.

​Out of the two TomTom sat nav's that we do recommend, the GO6200 is the standout model given it's six inch screen which we feel is the perfect size for a sat nav model.  The five inch sat nav's are really too small given the details that maps can achieve these days and especially when you're looking at a split screen view, it's just too small.  

The 7-inch range of sat nav's are often too big for the average users car meaning that there is no where to put it out of sight when you're not using it.  This makes the 6-inch screen size, the perfect size that gives you plenty of viewing space even when you're looking for detail whilst at the same time allow you to fit it in your glovebox. 

​TomTom GO 6200 Review

The TomTom GO 6200 comes with a six inch, crystal clear screen that provides a fantastic amount of information to the user.  The unit is made of hard plastic, but we do like the real glass screen that reacts well in both direct sunlight and pitch black conditions.

When you're ready to go, switch on the device.  The interface is very nice and either you can enter your destination using the onboard keyboard or you can tap on the map to select a destination.  We also like the face that the TomTom GO6200 has voice control meaning that you can also verbally instruct the sat nav to where you’d like to go. This voice control does actually work pretty well, which isn’t always the case with this type of technology. Some users have indeed reported slight problems, but it seems to be pretty good overall.

Where TomTom models can often excel is in the accuracy of the information and their guidance on the best and quickest routes. If you take a wrong turn, the unit can easily provide a reroute whilst at the same time adapting according to current traffic conditions.  It does pretty well at making sure that you’re always aware of the fastest routes.

These traffic updates, along with updated downloadable maps, are offered on a lifetime basis however you will need to use the built in sim card and ensure that you're in one of TomTom's limited countries that are included in the limited maps that were installed when you bought the unit.  What you don’t get for life is speed camera notification, which only comes with the device for three months. It’s a useful feature when you have it, but it’s frustrating that you have to buy further access once your three months expire.

Extra Features

Other nice features include 3D versions of landmarks, which make it easier to navigate, along with an intelligent search system, clear lane guidance, spoken street names and parking assist, which helps you to find good places to park when you’re en-route.

​We also like the fact the TomTom comes with WiFi meaning that you can get the latest maps and software for your TomTom Navigator directly without needing a separate computer.  We really like this feature and saves the hassle of trying to find the cable to connect your Garmin to your computer each time you want to update it.  

Not only does the unit allow you to control it using your voice commands, but you ​can also connect your smart-phone to it's speaker and microphone for hands-free calling.  Unlike past models, this now works well even when the window are down in the summer.  As an added benefit, your navigator can also read any text messages to you meaning that to communicate whilst your driving does not mean you have to take your hands off the wheel.

Problem Areas

This model, however, does come with a fair few flaws. First off, it’s pretty quiet, which can be annoying if you’re in a noisy car or noisy area. The voice navigation can also be a little cumbersome, which means that you can often miss a turn-off before the voice command has been given.

You unfortunately can’t add your own points of interest with this model, which is strange. Many satnavs – including previous TomTom models – feature this, so it’s a surprise that it’s been removed. This is a key feature for many users, so this might be a deal breaker for some. This model also does not allow you to key in a multi-stop route; you are only able to add one destination at any given time.

The usability when trying to set up or update the satnav is also a little tricky, and isn’t a user-friendly experience on the whole.

Finally 

Our TomTom GO 6200 Review is complete and whilst we do have a few problem areas of the GO6200, it's still overall a good sat nav that offers value for money with a decent performance.

If you’re looking for something fairly simple without breaking the bank, it will do all you need – and do it mostly very well - though it does come with some annoying flaws.

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