TomTom EASEs into XL 350 and XXL 550

UPDATE: Read my hands on review of the TomTom XXL 550TM.

Without any fanfare (or news releases), TomTom has snuck the XL 350 and XXL 550 onto their US website. Based on the European XL IQ Routes edition2 models, these navigators will sport the same simplified menu American fans have seen on the TomTom EASE.

TomTom XL 350

The XL 350 will sport a 4.3” screen, and will also be available with lifetime maps and/or lifetime traffic, at MSRPs ranging from $169.95 to $229.95.

TomTom XXL 550

While the TomTom website says this model will have a 4.3” screen, we suspect that’s a mistake and that it will feature the 5” screen found on the rest of the XXL family. It too will be available with lifetime maps and/or lifetime traffic, at MSRPs ranging from $199.95 to $259.95.

Neither will have the capacitive touch screen found on the GO LIVE 1000. Those of us on this side of the pond will just have to wait a while longer for that.

Thanks for tip, Mike!

UPDATE: It’s official (news release below). These appear to be mid-range models, albeit one has an extra-large screen. The specs say nothing about text-to-speech, and I expect that has been left out since these are not “S” models. They have the simpler menu (which should translate into fewer customization options), but do include advanced lane guidance. Here’s the news release:

TomTom, the world’s leading provider of location and navigation solutions, today announces the TomTom XL 350 and XXL 550 series, the latest models in the company’s award-winning portable navigation product line. This range includes the new TomTom EasyMenu™, a sleek display and all the quality navigation features from TomTom that consumers rely on to safely and efficiently reach their destinations.

All TomTom products in the XL 350 and XXL 550 range include TomTom’s new EasyMenu user interface, which offers sharp graphics and a simple touchscreen menu that provides quick access to search tools so that users can get started towards their destination even faster. All products also include TomTom’s proprietary IQ Routes™ Technology and TomTom Map Share™. IQ Routes offers the most efficient routing for any time of day or day of week. Map Share allows users to make map improvements on their device and share these improvements with the TomTom community.

“These new products combine some of the most advanced and acclaimed TomTom features in an easy-to-use format and further deliver on our commitment to providing the most intelligent navigation products in the market,” said Tom Murray, senior vice president of market development at TomTom, Inc. “With the introduction of the XL 350 and XXL 550 range, we empower our users with the accuracy of TomTom’s most up-to-date maps and intelligent routing information that helps them avoid traffic delays and other hassles on the road.”

Select devices across the new range of XL 350 and XXL 550 devices include Lifetime Maps and/or Lifetime Traffic Updates:

• Lifetime Map Updates feature allows users to keep their maps fresh by downloading, every few months, the industry’s most accurate and up-to-date maps.
  • The maps include one million more miles than competing maps and, in certified tests, rate highest in terms of quality and reliability. Because an average of 18% of road information changes each year, maps are continually refreshed to include improvements across the entire road network and updates to points of interest (POIs). With Lifetime Map Updates, consumers always have access to the best maps available.
  • Lifetime Map Updates are available on XL 350M, XL 350TM, XXL 550M and XXL 550TM devices.
• Lifetime Traffic Updates feature offers real-time insight into current traffic conditions to help drivers avoid delays.
  • The TomTom device receives the latest, constantly-updated traffic information; recalculates total drive time; and suggests more efficient alternate routes if they are available.
  • Combined with TomTom IQ Routes, the real-time traffic information via Lifetime Traffic Updates, ensures the smartest and fastest routing possible.
  • Lifetime Traffic Updates are available on XL 350T, XL 350TM, XXL 550T, XXL 550TM devices.

Technical specifications
Additional features on all devices include:

• Maps: preloaded premium maps of the US/Canada/Mexico from Tele Atlas
• MapShare on demand updates
• IQ Routes
• POIs: over 7 million points of interest
• Advanced Lane Guidance
• EasyMenu™

The new series of products also includes the XL 350 4.3″ model and the XXL 550 5.0″ model.

Availability and Price
The X50 products will be available in late May and prices will begin at $169 for the 4.3”, and $199 for the 5.0”. Lifetime Maps and Lifetime Traffic Updates are each available for an additional $30.00.