TomTom Via 1535TM

TomTom VIA 1535TM

The TomTom VIA 1535TM ($249.95 direct), the company's latest mid-range portable navigation device, is a good performer. While the VIA 1535TM doesn't have every feature in the book, I wouldn't expect it to at this price. But it's easily powerful enough to act as your main GPS unit for the next several years. And the best part: It delivers free lifetime map and traffic updates without displaying ads. TomTom's thinnest PND to date, the VIA 1535TM features a brushed-aluminum finish, a thin frame, and a nearly flush screen that gives it a high-end feel. The GPS measures 3.1 by 4.7 by 1.0 inches (HWD) and weighs 6.5 ounces, but that depth figure includes the attached EasyPort mount. The 5-inch plastic resistive LCD sports a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio and 480-by-272-pixel resolution. Overall brightness and readability are about average for the class. TomTom's new day and night modes have more attractive color combinations than before. Setting up a route was easy enough, though it required a few extra key presses than necessary. I found it easy to input addresses, and the unit's type-ahead feature minimized the number of button presses needed.