TomTom simplifies the satnav

In an effort to move map-based drivers away from paper A-to-Zs, TomTom has created an entry-level satnav that it claimed mixes ease of use with “smart route planning”.

TomTom's Start: the satnav made simpler?

Called Start, the satnav has a two-icon UI giving users just a pair of options to choose between: Plan Route or Browse Map. Who could get confused there?

The 128g satnav has a 3.5in display and includes what TomTom described as a “semi-fixed EasyPort mount” – essentially a windscreen mount that folds into the back of the satnav, making the gadget slightly more pocket- and glove box-friendly.

Start is compatible with both TomTom’s IQ routes technology, which aims to find you the fastest driving route, and Map Share, a system that allows users to make corrections to their own maps and then to share those changes with other drivers.

Access to a safety camera database and to thousands of pre-installed points of interest is also included on the satnav, TomTom said.

An integrated mount for easier portability

The TomTom Start is available now in black and white body colours, priced at £119 when shipped with regional maps only or £139 ($222/€151) when sold with a European map. ®