The Navigon 7100 GPS Vs. TomTom One XLS, Navigon or Tomtom?

I am writing this article to help anyone trying to decide between the TomTom One XLS since I had the chance to try both of them side by side for one month. Both have text to speech and real aloud street names which helps keep your eyes on the road.

I bought the Navigon 7100 first, maily because it includes lifetime traffic and the hardware to receive it. With the Navigon GPS units they utilize local traffic message broadcasts, which are sent out usually by the city or Department of Transportation over a special coded FM broadcast. (TomTom can use either this method, or their own network of traffic reports based on other TomTom drivers trip times.)

The catch is that with the Tomtom One XLS you have to buy an extra reciever to get the free traffic broadcasts or pay for TomTom's service and get it through bluetooth on your phone which also costs money.

I found that the traffic messaging system where I live, in Austin, TX worked OK but was not very accurate when it came to showing where accidents were. The TomTom service, via bluetooth and my Verizon PDA was more accurate, showing drive times and alternate route drive times around the accident.

I later cancelled the service simply because I don't commute during prime traffic time that much.

With the Navigon 7100 I found that it would not receive the traffic messages (which pop up as little icons along the route) if you did not have the cigarette lighter cord plugged in. It seems the DC cord is also the antenna so you won't get traffic messages if you are in the stand alone mode.

The TomTom One however will still work via Bluetooth if you choose to join the service.

I found the mapping basically identical for the two in Austin and Dallas and a little off in Houston. It appears as if TomTom's maps are more up to date.

I really liked the screen appearance of the Navigon. It is comparable to GPS navigation units costing nearly $1000. It has real traffic view so you see road signs and exit signs almost as they appear in real life, even a city skyline (but not accurate) in the background as you approach downtown. That was the main feature I loved about the Navigon.

Navigon has been around for years in Germany and makes top notch installed GPS navigation units for Ford and GM but has just started in the portable market.

The other feature I liked about the Navigon is that their POI or points of interest come from Zagat and have ratings plus phone numbers to call for reservations.

Routing was nearly identical between the Navigon 7100 and the TomTom One XL S. I only found one instance when I chose "shortest route" on both that the Navigon chose another way.

I eventually chose the TomTom One XL S. That is not to say that it is a much better unit than the Navigon 7100. I chose it for reasons other than quality.

With TomTom you get lifetime updates on your maps and software but with Navigon you must pay nearly $80 dollars for twelve map updates over three years.

The TomTom map updates include feedback and updates from users on closed roads, etc.

Although the Navigon had free, built in traffic I decided that I would use the bluetooth, TomTom traffic service later if I decided I needed it since it is more accurate that the one broadcast by the local government.

The other feature, a minor one, that sold me on TomTom was simplicity. My wife hates complex gadgets and the Navigon is slightly less intuitive and takes a little longer to get used too, plus the print is smaller.

I did have to keep the Navigon 7100 however since I kept it past the return period. I use it in the RV where I find Navigon's Zagat POI's and RV park locations (which TomTom just shows as camping) better for the RV.

I think if you were a full time RV'er or major "foodie" the Zagat guides would make it worth buying the Navigon 7100 but for my case it was a minor issue.