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What We Love About the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica

Lolli — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 19:28:55 +0000

This post is sponsored by FCA US; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. #DrivePacifica

I realize that most people don’t get excited about a minivan. I’ve been a minivan driver for the last 17 years (nothing beats a minivan for space for big families like mine!) but I have never driven a minivan as cool as this. I think the Chrysler Pacifica might sway more than a few minivan-skeptics. It’s a game-changer.

We recently test-drove the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica for a week, which happened to include a weekend trip up to Pennsylvania, with my husband, four of my kids (of the big, teenage variety) myself, and all of our stuff. I got to drive while the rest of the family got to enjoy being passengers in this one-of-a-kind vehicle.

When I asked my husband’s opinion about the Pacifica, from a passenger’s perspective, he immediately commented that it was the best minivan he had ever ridden in. My teenagers were equally sold on the Pacifica, continually trying to convince me that it was a good idea for us to replace our current vehicle and ask Chrysler to just leave the Pacifica with us forever. Since it seats eight comfortably, (and holds all our stuff comfortably, too) the Pacifica is ideal for a family like mine.

Perhaps the coolest thing about the 2017 Pacific is that it is available in a Hybrid model. Yes, you read that correctly….a hybrid minivan for active families. That’s revolutionary.

If your car is like mine (2006), it was made before the latest round of safety features. Although I have driven cars with some safety features, driving the Pacifica was like jumping in a time machine. It helps you with parallel and perpendicular parking. When you’re just driving forward it has collision warning and lane departure warning for those of you who wander all over the road (like I do sometimes).

Also, these safety features have what are called “mitigation” which means they give you an audible warning before something happens, so that you can take action yourself first. Basically, it’s a safety feature that tells you that you are about to do something stupid and encourages you to change. If you don’t listen, it takes corrective action – like a parent who slaps you gently before yanking you out of the road so that you don’t get hit by a car.

Lots of cars have the rear cameras now, so you can see what you are about to back into as you park, but Pacifica has rear park assist with auto stop so that you don’t actually hit the wall or your spouse’s car. Again, it’s nice to see what you’re about to smash. It’s better to have something prevent you from hitting it. Thanks Pacifica!

Here’s where the rubber hits the road, or better said, how you keep your kids from hitting each other while you’re on the road. The Uconnect Theater will stream from a tablet or mobile device to the onboard screens. There are two 10-inch screens for passengers riding in the second row. Uconnect also has nine build in games and apps. You can play the games alone or on both screens. So, this is an easy way to end the arguments about who gets shotgun. The second row is where the action is.

Depending on what type of system you want, the 2017 Pacifica offers options that feature an 8.4-inch central display screen with two 10-inch rear touchscreens. You can pair your screens with mobile phones, tablets and headphones, or use the built-in travel apps. The next time you get the “Are we there yet?” you can tell them to check the app.

Let’s talk cool…The Pacifica has hands-free rear hatch and sliding doors. You can’t just walk up and say “Open Sesame”, but it’s almost that good. If you have the keys in your pocket, just wiggle your foot underneath the car and “viola”, the hatch or sliding doors will open.

If you don’t feel like using the fancy hands-free opening, the Pacifica’s power sliding doors open with the push of a button, not a jerk of the handle. Even the driver’s door unlocks when you touch the handle, so there’s no reason to fish in your purse for the keys. The car literally senses that the keys are there, and when you reach for the handle, it takes care of you.

They also added a capless fuel filler nozzle (I can’t tell you how much I wish our truck had this. Actually, it does, but that’s only because we always lose my gas cap). Chrysler has also added ventilated seats to cool your posterior, led interior lighting (no more dead battery when you kids leave the lights on) and one last sweet, feature – an optional tri-pane sunroof. Who cares, you ask? Well, everybody sitting in rows 2 and 3 cares, because now they can look up and see the sky, the stars, the moon and look for shooting stars. I think I’ll start sitting in the back from now on.

The back had a nice deep luggage area and the rear seats were incredible and very spacious (leg room galore). You can fold them over, slide them down and they disappear. The marketing term for that is Stow-and-Go Assist Seats, but I call it “holy crap, they fold up and go all the way into the floor seats.” You’re left with a huge amount of space for whatever you need.

That’s bedding, luggage, and food for a cabin vacation for six!

The console had everything you wanted right at your fingertips. I suggest taking a minute before you start driving so you can see everything and know how to turn things on and off. We bounced between listening to Sirius XM radio and connecting our Pandora in the front while the kids watched a movie in the back. It was nice to be able to let them do their thing while we did ours. I like having full control of what I listen to and this van was exactly what I needed.

If that’s not enough to convince you that the Pacifica is a parent’s DREAM car, it even has an optional built-in vacuum (how many times have you needed THAT?!). And for everyone’s comfort and convenience, there are cupholders and power outlets everywhere! You really have to see this one to believe it.

In the end, I have to say it was the coolest minivan I have ever been in.

Connect with the Chrysler Pacifica:

Twitter: @Chrysler
Facebook: @Chrysler
Instagram: @ChryslerAutos

2015 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD

Lolli — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 16:38:03 +0000

I had the opportunity to drive a 2015 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD for a week recently. No compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Many thanks to Mazda for loaning me the car! Snapshots of the car are from my phone. Professional images are courtesy of Mazda.

It’s not often that I get to test drive a car that would actually fit my family of seven, but the 2015 Mazda CX-9 can. Easily and comfortably. With 7 seat belts (two in the front and back, three in the middle), everyone in my family had a comfortable place to sit. This year, I actually had one less family member to fit in the car, since my oldest daughter is at college, so the kids were even more comfortable just using 4 of the 5 rear seats. For the kids to be comfortable and complaint-free in the car is a big deal. The kids LOVED the Mazda CX-9!

I was actually impressed with the amount of cargo space in the back. Typically, I find that SUVs are very lacking in the storage department when the back row of seats is being used, but the CX-9 wasn’t bad at all. And best of all, it didn’t feel like I was driving around a tank. I love finding cars that feel bigger on the inside – and the CX-9 certainly fits the bill.

The more I drive Mazdas, the more I fall in love with them. As I’ve said many times before, I am not a car expert. I was raised by one, and know enough about cars to form an objective opinion about them. I have always been more concerned about drivability and comfort than specific specs.

I drove a 2013 Mazda CX-9 2 years ago, and I had to check back to see what I thought about the older model. One of my complaints – that I felt boxed in when in the driver’s seat because of the middle console – wasn’t an issue with the 2015 model. Although the design was similar between the two cars, the console didn’t phase me this time. In fact, I really enjoyed driving the CX-9 and felt completely comfortable in it. Because I couldn’t hop back and forth between the two models, I’m not sure what changed – the design of the car or my “pickiness.” Either way, I had no complaints this time around.

About the 2015 Mazda CX-9

The 2015 Mazda CX-9 is available in three trims: CX-9 SPORT starting at $29,985 MSRP, CX-9 TOURING starting at $32,480 MSRP, and the CX-9 GRAND TOURING starting at $35,035 MSRP.

ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN: I drove a 2015 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD, but the CX-9 comes in either standard Front-wheel drive (FWD) or available Active Torque Split All-wheel drive (AWD) with a 273-hp engine, 3.7L DOHC 24-valve V6 with 6-speed Sport automatic transmission.

EPA-ESTIMATED FUEL EFFICIENCY: How much will it cost to drive the 2015 Mazda CX-9? FWD models have an estimated 17/24 MPG and AWD models have an estimated 16/22 MPG.

AVAILABLE FEATURES: Bi-Xenon High-Intensity-Discharge (HID) headlights with auto on/off, Power sliding-glass moonroof with one-touch-open feature and interior sunshade, Power rear liftgate, Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry & Start System, Heated front seats, Power driver’s seat, Driver’s seat memory, Navigation system, Bose® Centerpoint® Surround Sound System with AudioPilot®, Pandora internet radio connectivity.

SAFETY FEATURES: Standard advanced front air bags, front side-impact air bags, side-impact air curtains, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Roll Stability Control (RSC). Available Rearview backup camera, Rear parking sensors, Blind Spot Monitoring System and Rear Cross-traffic Alert.

AVAILABLE PACKAGES:

Touring Technology Package
– Power sliding-glass moonroof with one-touch-open feature and interior sunshade
– Bose® Centerpoint® Surround Sound System with AudioPilot®, AM/FM/CD/MP3-compatible stereo with 10 speakers
– SiriusXM Satellite Radio with 4-month trial subscription
– Halogen fog lamps
– Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry and Start System
– Navigation System
– Power open/close rear liftgate

Recreational Accessory Package
– Roof rack
– Cross bars
– Cargo net
– Stainless steel rear bumper guard

Grand Touring Technology Package
– Power sliding glass moonroof with interior sunshade
– Navigation System
– Bose® Centerpoint® Surround Sound System with AudioPilot®, AM/FM/CD/MP3-compatible stereo with 10 speakers
– SiriusXM Satellite Radio with 4-month trial subscription

Rear-Seat Entertainment System with Bose® Audio and Siruis Package
– DVD player with 9-inch screen
– Navigation System
– Bose® Centerpoint® with AudioPilot® and 11 speakers
– SiriusXM Satellite Radio with 4-month trial subscription
– 115-volt power plug and game port

Towing Prep Package (FWD only)
– Heavy-duty transmission oil cooler and radiator fan
– Revised engine control module
(FWD GT models with Technology Package or Rear-Seat Entertainment Package only, standard on AWD models)

Have you driven a Mazda CX-9? What were your thoughts?

2015 Kia Optima Review

Lolli — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 12:00:36 +0000

Kia sent me 2015 Optima SX to review for a week. Just one week….although I would have loved to have kept it longer. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Stock photos of the Kia Optima are courtesy of Kia.

The more cars I drive, the more I feel like I notice about each of the cars – all of those little details that set a car apart from other cars in its class. It has been interesting to watch my kids become more and more aware of what makes a car desirable – and I know that their experience will serve them well once they are buying cars of their own.

After spending a week driving the 2015 Kia Optima, I came to the conclusion that the Optima is a sedan that I would not hesitate to buy. It was a pleasure to drive, the features and functions were easy to understand and operate, and the value was excellent. Granted, at this stage of our family’s life, we still need a family car that has at least 6 seats, and the Optima seats 5….but soon we won’t be needing quite as many seats.

The Optima may be a mid-sized sedan, but the interior and trunk feel spacious. No one ever complained about leg room in the Optima (even my tall 14-year-old son), and there was more than enough space in the trunk for all of our groceries and gear.

During the week that I had the Optima, I posted a few snapshots on Instagram and Facebook, and I was surprised when local friends came up to the car to give it a closer look when I was out and about. Apparently, the pictures peaked their interest. One person commented upon seeing the Optima in person, “Wow, that IS a sharp car!”

There really wasn’t anything about the 2015 Optima that I didn’t like. That’s not to say that it was my favorite car ever…but there wasn’t anything about the Optima that turned me away. I don’t hesitate at all in recommending the Optima as a fantastic sedan to consider.

About the 2015 Kia Optima

Value: Starting at $21,690*
Fuel economy: 23 mpg city/34 mpg hwy

Exterior: Updated front fascia | dynamic, sculpted back end | sporty available red brake calipers

Interior: Redesigned, comfortable seats | spacious cabin with refined features | plenty of available amenities

Drive: Available 2.0-liter gasoline direct injection (GDI) turbo engine | segment-leading 274 horsepower | fuel-efficiency of a four-cylinder engine

Tech: Available UVO eServices infotainment system that can stream music from a compatible smartphone, initiate a 911 call, or schedule service appointments | use voice commands or touch screen | no UVO subscription fees

Safety: Advanced airbag system | standard Antilock Braking System (ABS)

The 2015 Kia Optima is available in 5 models:

LX:
16″ Alloy Wheels
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel
Heated Outside Mirrors with Integrated LED Turn Signals

EX:
Push Button Start with Smart Key
Leather Seat Trim
10-Way Power-Adjustable Driver’s Seat

SX:
Sport-Tuned Suspension
Steering Wheel Paddle Shifters
Rear Combination Lamps, LED

SX Turbo:
Turbocharged, Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) Engine
Drive Mode Select
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlights

Limited:
Nappa Leather Seat Trim
Exterior Chrome Accents
18″ Chrome Alloy Wheels

Have you driven an Optima lately? It’s definitely a car to consider!

2015 Mazda3 i 4-Door Touring

Lolli — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 16:00:17 +0000

When I was in Los Angeles recently for a press trip, Mazda was gracious enough to send me a Mazda3 so that I could get from LA to San Diego. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Collage shots and car selfie were taken by me. All other photos of the Mazda3 are courtesy of Mazda.

My time with the Mazda3 i 4-door Touring was short (from Saturday evening to Monday morning), but I clocked a lot of hours driving the Southern California freeway and around town in San Diego while I had it, and it was easy to fall in love.

The Mazda3 is a slick-looking, smooth-driving, get-you-where-you-need-to-go kind of vehicle. My first impression of the car, when the hotel valet pulled it around to the front of the hotel for me, was that I loved the color (the car that I had a chance to drive was a gorgeous blue reflex mica with a black interior). The trunk had ample space for my luggage, and the driver’s seat had more than enough room for me. I was more than satisfied with my ride.

I got in the car, hooked my phone up to charge via USB cord, found a good radio station (take a look at the enormous touch screen infotainment system!), adjusted my mirrors, and was on my way south towards San Diego. It was easy to find the controls and features I needed to get on my way quickly. Maybe because I have driven a few Mazdas in the last few years, but this car just felt intuitive to me.

The Mazda3 handled well in the night-time slow and then fast, stop and go LA traffic. Possibly my favorite thing about the Mazda3? When I got to my destination, I was able to zip right into (and later, out of) an insane, tight, wall-on-one-side parking spot. I never would have dared it with a bigger car, but the Mazda3 tackled the parking job like a champ. Frankly, it made ME look good.

Perhaps one of the most appealing things about the Mazda3 is the sticker price. With an MSRP starting at $16,945, the 2015 Mazda3 is a very affordable car! The fuel efficiency adds to the affordability of the Mazda3; it has an EPA-estimated fuel efficiency rating of 29/41 mpg (city/highway), with an average of 34 miles per gallon.

The other stats that stood out to me were the government safety ratings – the Mazda3 got an overall vehicle score of 5 out of 5 stars for frontal, side, and rollover impacts. I feel so much better driving around in a car that has received top ratings for safety.

A few features of the 2015 Mazda3:

Below are available features for the Mazda3. Check MazdaUSA.com to see details on what is available on each model, and which features come standard versus optional >>

Moonroof with one-touch open
6-way power driver’s seat with manual lumbar adjustment
Variable heated front seats
Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio capability
Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry & Start System
Rearview camera
Mazda navigation system
Bose® 9 speaker surround sound system with Centerpoint® 2 and AudioPilot®
SiriusXM satellite radio w/ 4 month subscription
Dual-zone automatic climate control system
18-inch alloy wheels
LED Daytime Running Lights
LED combination taillights
Active Driving Display for driving information
Paddle shifters
Bi-xenon headlights with auto leveling
Auto On/Off headlights
Auto-dimming interior mirror with Homelink
Perforated leather-trimmed seats
Adaptive Front-lighting System
Rain sensing windshield wipers
MAZDA CONNECT Infotainment system with: 7″ full-color touchscreen display, multi-function Commander control, Infotainment system voice command, HD radio, Aha internet radio integration, Pandora® internet radio integration, Stitcher internet radio integration, SMS text message audio delivery and reply

Mazda3 safety features include:

Advanced front air bags
Front side-impact air bags
Side-impact air curtains
Dynamic Stability Control with Traction Control System
4-wheel ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist
Available Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert
E911 automatic emergency notification
Adaptive Front-lighting System
Smart City Brake Support
Lane Departure Warning System
High Beam Control
Forward Obstruction Warning
Mazda Radar Cruise Control

My Mazda3 selfie

Every time I get behind the wheel of a Mazda, I fall a little more in love with the brand. I love what Mazda has done with their cars in the past few years. Mazda has become one of our front runners for the new car search.

2015 Hyundai Sonata – The Car That Stole My Husband’s Heart

Lolli — Wed, 20 May 2015 14:50:11 +0000

Last summer I was invited to the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery, Alabama to experience the new 2015 Hyundai Sonata. I loved getting to know the features in the new Sonata in Alabama, but perhaps even more fun was having the opportunity to test drive the 2015 Sonata at home with the whole family. Although I was sent a Sonata to drive for a week, all thoughts about the car are my own (and my family’s). Please note: ignore the snow in these pictures. Yes, we had snow on the ground when I had the Sonata at my house. It’s been a busy few months…

I like to point out at the beginning of each of my car reviews that I am not a technical car reviewer. I am more interested in comfort and drivability than in the technical stats.

And let me tell you – the 2015 Hyundai Sonata scored a perfect 10 in both comfort and drivability for our family. Never before has my husband been so smitten with a car. I am not joking or exaggerating when I say that he commented on how much he loved (I mean…really LOVED) the Sonata every day that we had it parked in front of our house. He stole the keys and took the Sonata out as often as he could during those 7 days…and I dare say he even volunteered for more errands during that week as well, just so he could spend time in the Sonata. I have never seen him fall in love with a car the way he fell in love with the Sonata.

While I have been able to test drive several Hyundais over the last few years, this was the first Hyundai I’ve had the chance to bring home. ONE day was all it took for my husband to seriously consider adding a Hyundai to our family. Each subsequent day in the car just convinced him even more.

Want to learn a little about the 2015 Sonata…and why I’m sure you will fall in love with it, too?

About the 2015 Hyundai Sonata:

The 2015 Sonata is available in 3 models: The SE, the Sport (more volume), and the Limited (the premium model). The Sport 2.0T (2.0L Turbo) has an even sportier body and feel with its super-responsive turbo-charged engine.

The new Sonata has an incredible 106.1 cubic feet of passenger volume and a total interior volume of 122.4 cubic feet. Since I’m a mom of teenagers (one of whom is 5’8″) I love finding cars that have plenty of leg room. The Sonata was equally as comfortable for the driver and front passenger as it was for the 3 passengers in the back.

Notable safety features:

Standard 7 airbags, including driver’s knee airbag designed to help prevent the driver from sliding down the seat in a collision.
Also standard: electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, traction control, ABS and tire pressure monitoring system with individual tire pressure display.
Forward collision warning, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, and lane departure warning system are all available.

Cool convenience features:

High beam assist so you don’t have to worry about blinding oncoming traffic when you forget to turn the high beams off again!
Smart cruise control (SCC) with full stop capability with front-grille-mounted radar sensor so you can maintain safer, consistent spacing with the vehicle ahead.
Smart trunk gives drivers a convenient hands-free way to open the trunk. No feet needed! The driver simply approaches the Sonata’s trunk with the key fob in a purse or pocket and waits 3 seconds. The trunk will automatically open.
Built-in sunshades in rear windows.
Heated AND ventilated (cooled) front seats – the cooled seats were truly amazing in Alabama in June! Plus, heated rear seats.
Heated steering wheel included in Tech package.

The fuel economy on the new 2015 Sonata varies from 23-28 MPG city and 32-38 MPG highway, with a combined 28-32 MPG. The 2015 Sonata begins at $21,150, with the base model $300 less than the previous year model it is replacing.

Multimedia and BLUE LINK

The 2015 model Sonata is the second Sonata to offer the next-generation Blue Link system, but this time it comes with the new Hyundai Assurance Car Care in-vehicle app. You can even control features in your car with your Android Wear smartwatch. Incredible!

“Blue Link is a dynamic and innovative connected car solution that combines safety, car care, remote functionality and infotainment into a complete package.”

Here are a few things you can do with Blue Link:

Automatic Collision Notification: Your car automatically calls for help so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
SOS Emergency Assistance: Help is just a button push away, 24/7 – 365 days a year.
Service Link: You can schedule a Car Care appointment with your preferred dealer from your vehicle without even using your phone.
Monthly Vehicle Health Report: A vehicle health evaluation of key performance systems will be delivered to your email monthly (or you can check it out in the mobile app).

Speaking of the mobile app, here are a few things you can do with the mobile app (including the smartwatch option):

Remotely start the engine
Remotely lock or unlock the doors
Remotely flash the lights and honk the horn in an emergency or to find your car in crowded parking lot
Find your car with the help of Google Maps
Call roadside assistance
Call Blue Link

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata totally wowed our family. I can’t wait to introduce my family to more of the Hyundai family!

The top collage images were taken by me. All other images are courtesy of Hyundai.

2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review

Lolli — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 02:24:03 +0000

It’s not everyday that this work-at-home mom gets to drive a car that turns heads. But when Mazda sent me a 2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring PRHT (Power Retractable Hard Top) to drive for a week, that’s exactly what happened. This car is a head-turner.

(Note: photos courtesy of Mazda, except for the 2 photos I captured on my phone. You’ll be able to tell the difference. Trust me.)

Sure, a 2-seater convertible sports car is probably not the most practical car for someone like me. You should have seen what happened when I took my son shopping for groceries and one of those big tri-fold poster boards for the science fair. If you’ve ever shopped for a family my size, you’ll know that we typically fill the back of the minivan. Let’s just say we giggled all the way home (with the poster board in the passenger seat with my son).

The 2015 Mazda Miata may not be the most practical family car, but I can tell you what it IS. It’s sporty. It’s fun. It’s sleek. It’s an adventure on wheels.

My only regret during my time with the Mazda MX-5 was that the weather was simply too cold to drive with the top down. I wanted to. I really wanted to get the full convertible experience, but temps in the single digits, snow and ice made that impractical. Thank goodness that the heating system in the MX-5 was quick and efficient, and I stayed nice and toasty during all of my rides around town.

What I loved about the 2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata:

I love the way it handled. Thanks to its compact size, it slips into parking spaces and takes curves and turns with ease. It’s also fun to drive. There’s simply something unique about a sports car, and the Miata has been turning heads for the past 25 years. Can you believe that the Miata is celebrating 25 years?

I also love the look of the 2015 MX-5. If a car ever earned the right to be called sleek and sexy, then the Miata was it. I drove the 2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring PRHT in Meteor Gray with a “Spicy Mocha” interior. I was proud to drive it around all week! I was surprised at how comfortable the car was to drive. I had plenty of leg and elbow room, and even plenty of places to stash my stuff while I was driving. I especially appreciated the lockable compartments to stow valuables when leaving the car with the top down. Granted, when it came to cargo space (especially for groceries for a full-sized family) the Miata did come out lacking. But I doubt most people purchase a sports car like the Miata with the intent to stock up at Costco…

A special note: I drove the MX-5 with manual transmission, which I think made all the difference in the driving experience. It’s been a while since I’ve had a car with manual transmission, and I forgot how much I enjoy that feeling of control. The kids had lots of questions about shifting gears, and though none of them were old enough to get behind the wheel of THIS car, I think it sparked their interest in learning how to operate a manual transmission.

When did you learn?

2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata SPECS

ENGINE TYPE: 167-hp, MZR 2.0L DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with variable valve timing (VVT)

CONVERTIBLE OPTIONS: Choice of soft top or Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT)

EPA-ESTIMATED FUEL EFFICIENCY:
* 21/28 city/highway — 6-speed Manual Transmission
* 21/28 city/highway — 6-speed Automatic Transmission

SAFETY FEATURES:

Standard advanced front air bags and side-impact air bags
Advanced front air bags with seat belt-use, passenger-weight and driver’s seat-position sensors
Side-impact air bags
3-point seat belts with pretensioners and force limiters
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Traction Control System (TCS)

Mazda Limited Warranty Coverage:

Every new Mazda comes with a comprehensive limited warranty that provides coverage in the unlikely event a repair is needed in the first years after your vehicle’s purchase.

3-year/36,000-mile* “Bumper-to-Bumper” Limited Warranty
5-year/60,000-mile* Limited Powertrain Warranty
3-year/36,000-mile* 24/7 Roadside Assistance Program

*Whichever comes first.

Have you driven a Miata? What were your favorite features?

Introducing the 2015 Hyundai Sonata in Montgomery, Alabama #NewSonata

Lolli — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 02:49:56 +0000

Hyundai invited me to Montgomery, Alabama, to experience the brand new 2015 Sonata and tour the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) plant where the Sonata and Elantra are made. Travel and accommodations were covered but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Introducing the new 2015 Hyundai Sonata, available this summer!

It’s not every day that I get to tour one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing plant in the world. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA), located in Montgomery, Alabama, was built in 2002 with production starting in 2005…and has already surpassed the 2.5 million mark in total production. While we saw amazing processes and machines putting the Sonata and Elantra together the secret to the success of HMMA is the team members.

As much as I loved seeing the hundreds of hi-tech robots in action, the employees who stopped to wave and smile as we took our tour through the plant were what impressed me the most.

Did you know? You can tour the HMMA plant just like we did for free. Tour Days and Times: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:00 p.m by reservation only.

The most exciting part of the plant tour was when we came to the end. We saw a line of brand new 2015 Sonatas ready to come off the line and we were told to chose a car, get inside, start the engine, and drive the cars off the line and out of the factory. How exciting is that?

Our 4+ hours of driving took us through some beautiful country in Alabama, and I thoroughly enjoyed being behind the wheel AND in the passenger seat of the new Sonata.

The 7th Generation Sonata is a car you can’t help but love. With a user-friendly interior and driver-focused cockpit, you can focus more on what you love about driving.

I was impressed with the roominess of the Sonata, enhanced by the panoramic sunroof in the two cars I was able to drive. I also found that the lighter interior of the Limited model I test drove enhanced the feel of wide-open space in the car.

The 2015 Sonata is available in 3 models: The SE, the Sport (more volume), and the Limited (which is the premium model). The Sport 2.0T (2.0L Turbo) has an even sportier body and feel…and I can tell you from experience that you can tell the difference in the power it delivers with its more responsive turbo-charged engine.

The new Sonata is available in 9 exterior colors and 4 interior colors. It has an incredible 106.1 cubic feet of passenger volume and a total interior volume of 122.4 cubic feet. That’s some nice leg room!

Not only does the 2015 Sonata offer space and comfort and better ride quality, but undesired outside noise has been drastically reduced with better sound absorption materials and reduced apertures in the bulkhead. It all comes together to create a pleasant driving experience.

“We crafted the shape of the 2015 Sonata in the same way an award-winning chef refines his recipes over the years,” said Chris Chapman, chief designer, Hyundai Design North America. “With the 2011 Sonata, Hyundai took the mid-size sedan from a meal to a gourmet dinner. The evolution to Fluidic Sculpture 2.0’s more taut, modern lines reflect the improvements in refinement and driving dynamics for 2015.”

Notable safety features:

Standard 7 airbags, including driver’s knee airbag designed to help prevent the driver from sliding down the seat in a collision.
Also standard: electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, traction control, ABS and tire pressure monitoring system with individual tire pressure display.
Forward collision warning, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, and lane departure warning system are all available.

Cool convenience features:

High beam assist so you don’t have to worry about blinding oncoming traffic when you forget to turn the high beams off again!
Smart cruise control (SCC) with full stop capability with front-grille-mounted radar sensor so you can maintain safer, consistent spacing with the vehicle ahead.
Smart trunk gives drivers a convenient hands-free way to open the trunk. No feet needed! The driver simply approaches the Sonata’s trunk with the key fob in a purse or pocket and waits 3 seconds. The trunk will automatically open.
Built-in sunshades in rear windows.
Heated AND ventilated (cooled) front seats – the cooled seats were truly amazing in Alabama in June! Plus, heated rear seats.
Heated steering wheel included in Tech package.

Multimedia and BLUE LINK

The 2015 model will be the second Sonata to offer the next-generation Blue Link system. and the debut of the new Sonata coincides with the launch of a new Hyundai Assurance Car Care in-vehicle app.

Destination Search powered by Google – users can use the Blue Link button (voice recognition) and navigation display to take advantage of Google’s destination search. It’s so easy!
Remote Start – includes a timer (from 1 to 10 minutes), remote stop, remote climate control, and remote defroster via the mobile app.
Hyundai Assurance Car Care in-vehicle – Includes service scheduling, maintenance and warranty information, and a warnings and indicators guide as well as lots more.

My over-all findings after test driving the Sonata – this is a sedan that I would be happy to drive around town. With 5 comfortable seats and plenty of leg room to the spacious trunk, there’s plenty of space for a family of 4 or 5. (I guess all I have to do is get rid of a few more kids and this will be perfect for me!)

Note: Photos that are not watermarked with Better in Bulk have been provided by Hyundai (because the trip photographer took much better pictures than I did, so why not show them off?).

2014 Kia SOUL Review

Lolli — Fri, 23 May 2014 18:49:39 +0000

Just a little disclaimer: first, I am not a car person. I have to mention that whenever I post a car review. I’m just an ordinary person who has to drive a car daily. I look at car features with the eyes of a mom. How will my family “fit” with this car? How easy is it to learn and how comfortable is it to drive? Second, I was given a 2014 Kia Soul ! in Inferno Red to drive for a week. No other compensation was received, and all thoughts are my own.

This was the second time I’ve had the chance to drive the Kia Soul. I reviewed the 2012 model 2 years ago, and either the new 2014 Soul has a ton of improvements or I’m simply at a better stage in life to appreciate all the Soul has to offer. I liked the Soul in 2012, but I LOVED the 2014 model.

What I loved about the 2014 Kia Soul:

The new Soul is insanely comfortable to drive. And most of all, it’s FUN. From the Infinity audio system with speaker lights to the heated front AND rear seats (amazing for the winter!) to the panoramic sunroof…the Soul has so much to offer. The Kia Soul is affordable to purchase, starting at $14,900 (up to $26,195 for the model I drove, with lots of extras like the panoramic sunroof). The Soul gets 23 MPG city and 31 MPG highway. Don’t let the affordable sticker price fool you, though. The Soul doesn’t FEEL like a cheap car. It feels like top-of-the-line comfort. And fun. Did I mention that I simply enjoyed driving it?

The Soul also comes with Kia’s famous warranty – 10 years/100,000 miles unlimited powertrain warranty, 5 year/60,000 mile limited basic warranty, and 5 year/60,000 mile roadside assistance.

The Kia Soul has 5 seats and plenty of cargo space in the back for day-to-day driving, shopping, sports, etc. There is plenty of leg room in the Soul, too. No knocking knees on the back of the seat in front of you!

Because I drove the Soul during a week of late-in-the-season wintery weather, the heated seats and heated steering wheel were very much appreciated. And the panoramic sunroof was exactly what I needed to enjoy the feeling of being outdoors without actually having to be outdoors (I feel much the same once the summer hits – I love being outside, but I prefer a less humid, air conditioned environment). I tried taking a picture of just how huge the panoramic sunroof is. I could hardly fit it all into a single picture. It feels like a convertible without the hassle of having the wind mess up your hair.

The Kia Soul was very popular with my kids, receiving a thumbs-up from all of them. It looks “cool and sporty” but it doesn’t give up comfort and convenience for its good looks.

Kia has once again impressed us with its comfort, ease-of-use, and appealing features. It’s definitely a strong contender!

A few technical specs and features of the 2014 Kia Soul:

Some of the Souls’ STANDARD features:

2.0L GDI 4-cylinder engine
6-speed automatic transmission with Active Eco System
Electric power steering

18″ alloy wheels
Dual front advanced, front side-mounted, and full length side curtain airbags
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with brake assist (BAS)
Traction control system (TCS)
Air conditioning
Bluetooth technology
Sirius/XM satellite radio with a free 3-month subscription

USB and Aux jacks
Center console with armrest and storage bin
60/40 folding rear seats
Cruise control and trip computer
Steering wheel-mounted audio controls
Heated power-folding mirrors with turn signal indicators
And so much more!

A few notable additional available features:

Sun and Sound Package: automatic climate control, panoramic sunroof with power sunshade, navigation with 8″ screen and Sirius/XM traffic, Infinity audio system, speaker lights
The Whole Shebang: HiD low-beam headlights, push button start with smart key, leather eat trim, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, heated steering wheel, supervision meter cluster with 4.3″ color LCD, engine immobilizer

Have you driven the 2014 Kia Soul? If you have, what was your favorite feature? If you haven’t driven one yet, what feature is most appealing to you?

Many thanks to Kia for letting me test drive the “Urban hatchback” Soul! Check out more about the 2014 Kia Soul at Kia.com.

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander SE Review

Lolli — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 18:59:52 +0000

I never considered myself a car person. That was my dad. He knows facts and details about cars that still blows my mind. And yet here I am, the one in the family doing car reviews. Just a little disclaimer: first, I am not a car person. Remember that. I look at features with the eyes of a mom. How will my family “fit” with this car? How easy is it to learn and how comfortable is it to drive? Second, I was given a 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander SE S-AWC SUV to drive for a week. No other compensation was received, and all thoughts are my own. The top photo is a stock photo of the Mitsubishi Outlander, and all others are pictures I snapped myself.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way…

I drove a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport last year and other than the similarities between Mitsubishis, I felt like this newer, larger model was a totally different car. Where the Sport seats 5, this Outlander SE seats 7, with 2 seats in the front and back, and 3 seats in the middle row.

As a mother of a rather large family, I HAVE to own at least one 7-seater vehicle. And in my opinion, this 7 seater would not be an ideal car for a family that needed all 7 seats regularly. That’s not a mark against the Outlander. I have yet to find a mid-sized SUV that would comfortably fit 7 people *and all their stuff* (especially when any kind of luggage is involved…and we tend to take a lot of road trips). That said, I think the Outlander would be perfect for a family of 5 with 2 extra seats for carpooling and friends. When in the car for normal around-town driving and road trips, I’d keep the back 2 seats folded down to allow for extra cargo space in the back.

What I thought about the Mitsubishi Outlander SE S-AWC:

One of my favorite things about the Outlander was the ease with which the seats could adjust. Whether it was a kid hopping into the back row or scooting the middle row back for more leg room or folding the back seats down to store all my groceries, the process was so easy.

The Outlander is comfortable to drive and very easy to figure out. I loved that I drove all week (183 miles) and only used up about a half a tank of gas. The ECO mode definitely makes a difference. What I didn’t love was that driving in ECO mode definitely zapped the power. It took a while to get up to speed (granted, that helps it be more fuel efficient…). And like I said above, if this were my car, I would need more cargo space. The third row definitely eats that up.

I loved the button on the back hatch that allowed me to easily push it to close the door, even with an arm full of groceries. Definitely a mom-friendly feature.

One feature I had mixed emotions about was the Lane Departure Warning (an optional feature). While I think it’s fantastic to have a warning beep when you’re straying from your lane, I found it a little too sensitive for my tastes.

Here are some features in the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander SE:

26 MPG combined city/highway
Base price: $25,795 (the model I drove had an additional $6,100 of optional equipment added)
Excellent 10-year/100,000 mile POWERTRAIN LIMITED WARRANTY
Super all-wheel control 4WD system
Electric power steering
Continuously variable transmission
Auto-off headlights
18-inch alloy wheels
Heated front seats
60/40 split fold-down rear seats
50/50 3rd-row flat fold feature
Front dual-zone/automatic climate control
6.1″ touch screen display audio

Fuse hands-free link system
Rearview camera system
Steering wheel-mounted cruise and audio controls
Fast-key entry system
One-touch start/stop engine switch
Eco Mode switch
Hill start assist (HSA)
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Active stability control (ASC)
Traction control logic (TCL)
Side curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, front seat-mounted side airbags, and advanced dual-stage front airbags
And so much more!

In the end, I would definitely recommend the Mitsubishi Outlander SE for the busy mom with 1-3 kids who occasionally drives other kids around and needs a few extra seats.

Many thanks to Mitsubishi for loaning me the car.

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Review

Lolli — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 17:04:07 +0000

Note: I received a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE AWC to test drive around town for one week in order to facilitate my honest review. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

If you’ve read any of my previous car reviews before, you’ll know that I am not a car expert. A lot of the technical mumbo-jumbo goes in one ear and out the other, so I like to focus my reviews on comfort, affordability and ease of use, particularly from a mom’s point of view.

My initial opinion of the Outlander Sport was that it was a completely comfortable fit for me. You know how some cars just feel right? Whether it was the comfort of the driver’s seat or the ease of finding the buttons and knobs that I needed or the smooth driving conditions…I don’t know. I suppose it was a combination of the right features and handling. It just felt like the car was made for me.

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a 5-passenger, 4-door CUV with adequate legroom and cargo space. I would imagine the Outlander Sport being perfect for a single person all the way up through marriage and a few kids. And based on the Outlander Sport’s excellent scores on the Government 5-star safety rating scale (it received all 4 and 5 star ratings for frontal crash, side crash, rollover and overall vehicle safety) it is an excellent choice for keeping all your precious cargo safe.

Some other safety features on the 2013 Outlander Sport:

All-wheel control
Advanced dual front, seat mounted side, side curtain and driver knee airbags
Tire pressure monitoring system
Latch system for child seats
Hill start assist
Anti-theft alarm system
Engine immobilizer

In addition to safety, the Outlander Sport rates well on fuel economy, getting up to 24 mpg city and 29 mpg highway and a combined 26 mpg. That’s an estimated fuel cost savings of $1350 per year compared to the average new vehicle.

Standard features in all Outlander Sports:

148-hp, 2.0-liter MIVEC engine
Color LCD multi-information display
18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with P225/55R18 all-season tires
Electric Power Steering (EPS)
FUSE Hands-free Link System with USB Port
Seven airbag safety system including a driver’s knee airbag
Tilt and telescopic adjustable steering column
Active Stability Control (ASC) with Hill Start Assist

The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has a starting price of $19,170 to $24,895, depending of course on the trim and features you select. The Outlander Sport comes in several trims: Outlander Sport ES 2WD or AWC, Outlander Sport SE 2WD or AWC, and the Outlander Sport LE 2WD or AWC. I test drove the SE AWC trim.

One of the features I enjoyed the most on the model that I test drove was the panoramic glass roof with LED illumination (funny story–it took me a couple of days of driving around before I realized that a particular button was turning the mood lights on the sunroof on and off…Possibly because I was driving around by day most of the time). When they say panoramic, they mean panoramic. To say it’s big is an understatement. When I drove with the sunroof open to let the light in, I noticed that I was appreciating the beauty of the sky and the trees even more than I normally do. I tried several times to capture that beauty, but cell phone pictures of the sunroof just didn’t do it justice.

I also appreciated the navigation with rear camera system – the view from the screen was fantastic, making it so much easier for me to back up, and the navigation system was both easy for me to control and easy for me to follow.

Since I was driving the Outlander Sport during June, I enjoyed the air conditioning with micron filter, and the automatic climate control was a huge plus. I definitely didn’t have a need to utilize the heated front seats or the heated side view mirrors, but I know I would have enjoyed those features during the winter months. And since June is one of our rainier months here in Maryland, I thought that the rain sensing wipers were a very helpful feature.

As I looked back on my test drive period, I honestly couldn’t think of anything I didn’t like about the car…and that is saying a lot.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the week that I spent with the 2013 Outlander Sport and would recommend it to anyone in the market for a smaller sized SUV/CUV.

Many thanks to Mitsubishi for loaning me the car.