TOMTOM VIA 125: Plug & Go

For your next road trip, don’t leave the house without your car navigation system. With a sophisticated navigation system—in-dash or on top of it— you’ll never have to struggle with confusing maps or unintelligible instructions ever again. It reduces driver stress too. Of course, commuters can’t wish away the traffic jams, but some navigation systems monitor traffic to avoid chaos on the roads. After one car trip with the Dutch manufactured TomTom Via 125 navigation system, I was hooked!
This R18,990-a piece portable navigation device couldn’t be simpler to use—just plug in and tap the touch screen. You will be on your way very quickly with its intuitive user interface. TomTom’s updated maps feature all the monuments, chowks, parks or attractions you need to find your way. Wherever you need to be, search for the nearest landmark and let TomTom show you the route.
Designed for convenience, the device even lets you use your voice for many different tasks, such as entering addresses and making calls hands-free. One can navigate complex junctions with ease using advanced lane guidance. No wonder, driving with these more fuel-efficient routes saves you money as well as reducing your impact on the environment.
Car navigation systems are fast becoming one of the most popular mobile electronics items on the market. Making your journey as convenient as possible, a navigation system features turn-by-turn directions that are both audible and visible, technology that automatically redirects you if you miss a turn, and point-of-interest-mapping in case you need a bite to eat or are looking for the nearest ATM.
I firmly believe that portable navigation devices are must-haves these days, especially if you travel or drive frequently. There is no shortage of navigation devices on the market with prices ranging from the low of R7,000 to as high as R50,000. But buying a direction-giving device that fits your particular needs can be confusing unless you know precisely what to look for.
You may believe that car navigation systems are just a glorified map for those who can’t remember correct road directions. Believe me and I am not exaggerating TomTom Via is so much more than just a map that says, “You are here.” It has a lot of great features that you may not even know about, making it more useful, easier to use or just plain fun. For instance, it clearly shows which lane to take at junctions so you don’t miss your turning. On the most difficult highway intersections, realistic 3D representation of the junction keeps you relaxed and safe.
Normally, car drivers prefer their navigation system to blend in with the dashboard to appear as seamless as possible. The TomTom navigation device sits on top of the dashboard and matches your car and style. And when it comes to screen display, the bigger navigation devices are, the better. Units with bigger screen sizes are easier to use and navigate. TomTom Via has clear display, reflective coating and anti-glare features. It is easier to read on the 5-inch screen in the daytime. Its touchscreen technology gives you the optimum view with the easiest control to make operating your device a pleasure.
Helping you to keep your eyes on the road, spoken instructions on the TomTom Via include street names, to make turnings even clearer. Guidance come available in Indian accented English plus 10 additional regional languages—Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Punjabi, Malayalam, Marathi, Bangla, Gujarati and Oriya. You can choose icons for your most frequent destinations and add your own text. This makes your navigation experience truly your own with even easier and quicker navigation to the places you go most often.
There’s a convenient foldaway mount that’s integrated with your device, so it’s always there when you need it. It attaches easily to your windscreen. And using the optional mounting disk, you can turn it upside down and position it on your dashboard too, where the screen automatically flips to the right way up.
My verdict:
TomTom Via can be a good choice for easygoing navigation on Indian roads.
Estimated street price: R18,990
Key FEATUREs
Dimensions: 134 x 93 x 19 mm (W x H x D)
Screen size & type: 5.0-inch, 16:9 resistive wide screen
Screen resolution: 480 x 272 pixels
Connectivity: Bluetooth for hands-free calling
Memory: 4 GB internal flash memory
Spoken navigation languages: English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Punjabi, Malayalam, Marathi, Bangla, Gujarati, Oriya
Battery life: Upto 2 hours autonomous operation