TomTom Start²

As the name suggests, the Start² is the second version of TomTom's Start entry-level sat nav. The mark two version is heavily based on the original, but now features advanced lane guidance and an optional RDS TMC traffic info service. All this makes for navigation to rival the best, but without the price tag and extra functions of a top-end GPS.

Hardware: the bare minimum

As it's a budget model, the TomTom Start² is fairly basic on the hardware front. It has a 3.5-inch (9 cm) screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio (like the TomTom One), and comes with an in-car charger, a USB cable and a suction mount similar to the one supplied with other units in the TomTom range. The mount is every bit as effective as TomTom's others too. Just stick the suction pad onto your windscreen and then turn the wheel round clockwise to make sure it's firmly attached. We're big fans of this compact mounting system, and we even reckon it's hard to go back to other types of mount when you've got used to a TomTom. Unlike the mounts that come with other TomTom navigation systems, however, the Start² mount only offers two different positions, for mounting on the windscreen or on the dashboard (with a sticky pad).


The maps of Europe (42 countries) are already loaded onto the 2 GB internal memory. There's no memory card slot for adding extra maps, but the standard maps will probably be enough for the average Start² user, as this GPS isn't really aimed at drivers who clock up the miles on a daily basis. Regular drivers would probably be better off with a model higher up in TomTom's product range.

The device itself is made with the same high-quality manufacturing we've come to expect from TomTom. The product is well finished and the plastics are decent quality. A selection of model-specific interchangeable covers, known as StartSkins, are also available to buy separately if you fancy giving your sat nav a splash of colour.


Handling: a very simple interface

The Start² starts up very quickly (in around five seconds), and navigation through internal menus flows smoothly, without a glitch. In order to keep things as simple as possible, TomTom has chosen to display just two icons on the homescreen: 'Plan route' and 'Browse map'. You won't have to spend ages reading the instructions to use this GPS—just pick it up and go, and you can't really go wrong. A menu bar at the bottom of the screen features a few handy icons for muting the sound, switching to night mode, accessing help functions or viewing other system options.

The navigation interface itself is as simple as they come, displaying key information including speed, arrival time, journey time and remaining distance. You can also switch between 2D and 3D modes, and a dedicated icon shows you when you're approaching a fixed speed camera.
Route guidance: worthy of a higher-end model

There are no reception issues to report. The satellites are quickly found (especially if you get the satellite update by connecting your GPS to TomTom Home on your computer) and processing times are acceptable (they were about the same as the TomTom One on our test route).

Navigation itself is flawless. We're pleased to see all of TomTom's fincest functions included too, as some of these were previously only available on high-end models. One such feature is IQ Routes, which calculated routes in relation to your actual day and time of travel. This system bases its calculations on the average speeds recorded on roads at given times. This makes predicted journey times more accurate and stops the GPS suggesting complicated or dangerous routes (e.g. winding country roads which require slower, more careful driving, even if the speed limit is 70 mph).

The Start² also features advanced lane guidance, text-to-speech, a fixed speed camera database, and an RDS TMC traffic info service, available as an optional extra. In other words, it has all the main navigation functions you'll need, which is pleasantly surprising in a product at this price! In fact, compared with higher-end models, the only navigation function that's really missing is HD-Traffic, but then TomTom does have to keep something for its top-end models.

Other functions: navigation only

The TomTom Start² is an intentionally simple device. It's therefore dedicated entirely to route navigation and route navigation only. As a result, you can't expect to see Bluetooth or an FM transmitter, let alone a multimedia player, but then again, that's not really a problem in an entry-level product. Just like the TomTom One, the Start² only does the basics, but it does them very well.