TomTom GO 720 Review

What the reviewers like:
The new Map Share features garner tremendous reviewer attention: Owners can submit corrections and additions to maps, and the community of TomTom owners as an aggregate can influence software improvements. The TomTom GO 720 is loaded with typical high-end features, including text-to-speech, Bluetooth, an MP3 player, and multi-segment routing (not available with Garmin nüvi units); all these features work well, according to reviewers.

What the reviewers don't like:
Tele Atlas routing is inadequate in North America; it is often neither direct nor fast, according to reviewers, who prefer NAVTEQ maps overall. The points-of-interest database is smaller than with Garmin units. Spoken directions are occasionally too late. Reviewers also say that documentation could be better and that reception can be spotty.

TomTom GO 720 review highlights

The TomTom GO 720 is one of the top high-end contenders among auto GPS units. British reviewers think it’s the best unit on the market, but American reviewers are more restrained. Still, all ratings but one are very high. The lone dissenter criticizes the TomTom GO 720 for its poor GPS tracking and reception, sub-par routing, and re-routing problems. While other American reviewers are impressed by the TomTom GO 720’s many features, including the novel interactive map updates, none of them select it as an Editor’s Choice. Both GPS Magazine and PC World mention that sometimes the GO 720 gives directions too late. Overall, we found more consistent reviews for the Garmin nüvi 660 (*est. $550), but that unit is more expensive.

We found more than a dozen reviews for the TomTom GO 720. GPS Magazine.com’s remarkably complete testing and review process are not approached by any other reviewer; it is the only source that compares NAVTEQ and Tele Atlas software capabilities. GPS Review.net, PC Magazine, TrustedReviews.com, GPS Lodge.com, CNet.com, and YourNAV.com all have good reviews that fall short in at least a couple of key areas. The other reviews we found are relatively short and not as detailed. We found over 100 owner written reviews at Amazon.com to be helpful.

Also see full report: Auto GPS

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. GPSMagazine.com
Garmin TomTom GO 720 Review
Fletch
Sept. 3, 2007

In this extremely thorough GPS magazine review, Fletch says that he wants to love the TomTom GO 720 because of its wonderful features, but that implementation is so flawed at this time that he cannot recommend this unit. He tests and evaluates the GO 720’s functions, and provides step-by-step descriptions with illustrations. This review also includes comparisons with other auto GPS receivers.

2. GPSReview.net
TomTom GO 720
Tim Flight
5-Jun-07

GPS Review.net provides a detailed review of the TomTom GO 720, evaluating performance and features. This review is not comparative, and products aren’t rated or ranked, however, Tim Flight predicts success for the GO 720 due to its many new features. More than 300 user comments add to the discussion.

3. Trusted Reviews
TomTom Go 720 Sat-Nav
Jonathan Bray
Aug. 27, 2007

Although this must be described as a rave review, it is balanced. It is also succinct. Jonathan Bray tests the TomTom GO 720 by driving 1,000 miles through England and France. The important considerations are addressed in this review, but it is overly focused on features. No comparisons are made.

4. GPSLodge.com
TomTom GO 720 Full Review
Scott Martin
Sept. 21, 2007

Like many other reviewers, Scott Martin devotes more attention to features than performance, which seems to distract attention from the unit’s primary function. The review makes no comparisons. Martin does not rate products, but he publishes periodic buying guides in which he identifies the best units in various categories.

5. PC Magazine
>> Details/Subscribe
TomTom GO 720 Review
Craig Ellison
Sept. 27, 2007

Craig Ellison, who regularly reviews GPS units for PC Magazine, makes some comparisons between the TomTom Go 720 and other products in this review. He says that the promise of easy map updates is a major asset. There is limited discussion of his road testing.

6. CNet.com
TomTom GO 720 Review
Bonnie Cha
Aug. 31, 2007

Bonnie Cha praises TomTom for trying to distinguish the TomTom GO 720 with useful features --Map Share and a safety option called Help Me -- rather than unnecessary features such as multimedia. But Cha notes that she was unable to test Map Share and plans to update this review after she has tried that feature. Road testing is limited.

7. YourNAV.com
GO 720: TomTom's new 'do-it-all'?
Editors of YourNAV.com
Aug. 2, 2007

YourNAV.com is a British enthusiast website dedicated to personal navigation devices. The editors test a TomTom GO 720 review unit and provide detailed account of their experience with it. Few comparisons are offered and the thumbs-up rating isn’t tremendously revealing. (Note that TomTom products fare much better in U.K. reviews than U.S. reviews. We have deduced that the Tele Atlas maps for Europe are judged better than the Tele Atlas U.S. maps.)

8. Amazon.com
TomTom GO 720 Reviews
Contributors to Amazon.com

The 100 owner-written reviews posted to Amazon.com are uniformly positive. This is the place to go for detailed hands-on real-world reviews, but contributors aren't usually in a position to compare their TomTom GO 720 to other GPS units.

Also see full report: Auto GPS

TomTom GO 720 Review