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Features and functionality
The TomTom Go 5200 is so jam-packed with features that are worth talking about, it’s difficult to know where to start, so let’s concentrate on the basics.
Inputting an address to travel to is intuitive and easy. The suggestions that the 5200 makes while you type helps to expedite the process, and there are a number of smart options including saved places, recently visited, and our personal favourite ‘Drive Home’.
There are voice services, and while they are still a way off being Alexa-level accurate, they do offer a level of ease in using menus that is welcome.
If you are thinking that you’ll be able to input a whole address using just your voice, you may be disappointed as we tried for a good five minutes to get it to understand a road name to no avail.
One way that voice integration really excels in the Go 5200 is in the way it syncs with your phone. With a simple press of the phone icon, you can connect to your phone's digital assistant, essentially enabling you to send texts, make calls, search the web, all without looking at your phone.
As the speaker is only small, voice calling only really works in a quiet environment. We tried using it on the motorway and could barely hear the person on the other end. Dictating texts and having them read out works perfectly, which was a feature we never knew how much we needed.
Another great way that the 5200 works with your phone is using the MyDrive app, you can plan a route on your phone, then send it to your TomTom. We really can't over-stress what a great feature this is.
Once your journey is planned and you're on the road, the visual instructions on screen are clear, the ranges of voices that you can choose from are clear and easy to listen to, and the map includes just the right amount of information to make you feel in control of your journey.
Unlike other models of sat nav, the Go 5200 comes with a lifetime subscription to all of the map updates, speed cameras and traffic alerts. It even has an inbuilt sim card for traffic services meaning they are always up to date. For the the other two, it can connect to your router via Wi-Fi.
The Go 5200 will check in every once in a while to make sure that you are still on the fastest route and offer you alternatives if you aren't. You'll never needlessly sit in a traffic jam again.
The battery is supposed to last up to an hour, but we found in our experience that it can last well beyond that. Still, it's probably safe to keep the charging cable in the car. It plugs into a standard USB port, and comes with an adapter for a cigarette lighter incase you don't have a port in your car.
Verdict
The TomTom Go 5200 is a brilliant sat nav. The controls are easy to use, the maps are clear and constantly up to date, and the navigation is pleasant and precise.
The integration with your smartphone is an absolutely brilliant feature, and the customisation available means you can really take control of your driving experience.
The price tag may be prohibitive for some, but we do believe that it's worth the investment. As we've said previously, the lifetime subscriptions to all the TomTom services will quickly recoup the price difference, and if you're the sort of person who drives a lot, the 5200 will make a massive difference to your driving experience.
