The TomTom XXL 550 5-inch widescreen portable GPS navigator is an excellent, mid-priced navigator with a really big screen. Maybe it’s an age thing, but the older I get the more I appreciate a larger GPS screen. I used to have a Garmin with a 3.5-inch screen. That was fine until the 4.3-inch screens came out. What a difference the bigger screen makes. (It’s a whopping 60% larger. You wouldn’t think so, but do the math and you’ll see.) With the 5-inch screen, the TomTom XXL 550 is even easier to read when you’re in unfamiliar territory. And when do you need a GPS, if not in “unfamiliar territory”?

As I said, the TomTom XXL 550 5-inch widescreen portable GPS navigator is mid-range in terms of price. Right now it’s selling for a little more than $150 USD. In addition to the larger screen with the XXL 550, you get what TomTom calls IQ Routes. This is basically a way of calculating times given traffic conditions at different times of day. In other words, rush hour, etc, is taken into account.

The TomTom XXL 550 5-inch widescreen portable GPS navigator can say the names of the streets you’re to turn on. It also has lane guidance. I really like the lane guidance. If you’ve ever been in a busy, unknown, intersection and wondered what lane to get in, then I’m sure you’ll agree.

It has maps of the US, Canada, and Mexico, pre-loaded. Also the TomTom XXL 550 5-inch widescreen portable GPS navigator has over 7 million points of interest, also pre-loaded. Perhaps the best feature, besides the screen size, is TomTom’s new, easier to use, interface.

Borrowing from the success of the TomTom EASE, the XXL 550 has the same very easy to navigate user interface. You just tap the screen to get started. Also, the number of things to tap and decisions to make between turning on the device and actually getting on the road with it is minimal. To my mind, this is certainly a plus that TomTom has over Garmin.

You can click this link to learn more about the XXL 550.

Oh, one more thing.

There’s an XXL 550, an XXL 550T, and an XXL 550TM. These are all the same device. The 550 doesn’t come with lifetime traffic or map subscriptions. The 550T comes with lifetime traffic, and the 550TM comes with lifetime subscriptions to both traffic and updated maps. There’s about a $50 difference between the 550 and the 550TM. If you’re planning on keeping the device for a few years, then I would probably go with the 550TM. You’ll save money and hassle in the long run.

You can learn more about all three of these, here.