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When it comes to finding the perfect family car, safety, comfort, and practicality are of utmost importance for us. Combining the elegance and luxury of a premium SUV with family-friendly features, the BMW X5 stands out as a versatile and reliable choice for families of all sizes.

We worked with BMW Canada to craft a beautiful getaway through Victoria, BC and enjoy family-time together while having a smooth ride. We spent a few days testing why the BMW X5 is great for families and how it delivers an unmatched driving experience that caters to both parents and children alike.

We started off our journey leaving Vancouver, BC and heading off to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to make our way to Victoria. We got on the ferry and it was a smooth ride.

Spacious and Versatile Interior

With 3 adults and a toddler in the car, we felt like there was plenty of space for our luggage as well as personal bags to keep beside us. As we are only about 5’7, there was plenty of leg and head room.

Driving long distances, it was great to have the driver seat with power adjustable lumbar support as the lower back can get tired.

Ease of Parking and Getting into Tight Spaces

The front and rear parking sensors as well as the rear view camera are essential features for our family especially getting into tight spots like the ferry or narrower parking stalls. We were always able to make sure we had enough space to get in and out of the car. Especially with my round pregnant belly. I needed some extra space to get in and out of the car.

Right off the ferry, we headed to The Butchart Gardens as that’s were I really wanted to see as I haven’t been back since I was a kid. It’s an exquisite garden, which you can spend hours adoring through all the different seasons. It has over 100 years of history and it’s a must for locals and tourists.

We spent a good amount of time at The Butchart Gardens, so it was time to head to Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke, BC. Traffic on the highway was pretty bad during rush hour, so Google Maps too us on some smaller side roads and we loved how the BMW X5 handled on high turns through the forest. It was very smooth and even our toddler fell asleep.

We picked Prestige Oceanfront Resort because it was very affordable and was away from the city, so we could relax and enjoy the views of the water. Our toddler loved seeing the seals basking in the sun on the rocks without a care in the world.

We had dinner close by at Stoked Pizzeria and wow, their pizza was so crispy and flavourful. The place was bumping in the evening. For breakfast, we checked out the new cafe inside Prestige Oceanfront Resort called Island Tarts Cafe & Catering, which is a local small business selling the most amazing coffee and treats.

As we checked out, we packed up our bags and put everything in the trunk. We loved the 2 piece tailgate was great to quickly grab items from the trunk, but if there was something that started rolling around in the back, nothing would fall out.

The rear window sunshades were fantastic for the kiddo in the backseat as it would be very sunny and having it up would help her relax and take longer naps on this road trip.

For the second day of our trip, we focused more of kid friendly activities since the kiddo wanted to get out of the car to see some animals. First stop was Beacon Hill Children’s Farm. It’s by donation and there’s even lots of goats to pet and brush. We stayed about 30 minutes and then headed off to brunch at Eva for some German cuisine.

We needed to get a bit closer to the Ferry, so we stopped at Sydney, BC which was a few minutes away from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. We all made sure we did something a little different so we can enjoy the sights and sounds of Sydney. My husband went to visit Victoria Distillers for a gin tasting and they are best known for their Empress Gin. The kiddo spent some time at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Seas to learn more about the local animals in the area. The rest of the time, we spent wandering the pier before it was time to head to the ferry.

Getting to all these locations was easy because of the Apple CarPlay feature. We just connect our iPhones and we have our music and maps all ready with a touch of a button.

Final Thoughts

A family road trip with the 2024 BMW X5 is an exciting and comfortable adventure to help us get to our different destinations with ease. It’s known for it’s performance, spacious interior, and advanced features. Our family had a great little getaway and felt very safe. Definitely check out the vehicle if you and your family go on local getaways throughout the year.

This blog post was sponsored by BMW Canada but the opinions are all my own.

As the world opens up, everyone is taking their own pace to travel again. Our family of 3 is focusing this year exploring the beauty of British Columbia. We worked with BMW Canada to craft a beautiful getaway to Vancouver Island and keep our trip as sustainable as possible and reduce our carbon footprint.

With the pandemic, we barely travelled as we wanted to keep our family safe. 2 years of going nowhere and we’re ready to explore our own backyard as British Columbia is truly stunning and beautiful.

With gas prices, inflation, and general spending soaring, any way to save money is a bonus for growing families. Here are a few tips on how we kept our local getaway as zero waste where possible.

Go Far with Electric

We currently own an electric vehicle but the range gives me a lot of anxiety for longer trips. With newer electric luxury vehicles hitting the market, the 2022 BMW iX xDrive50 was everything we needed to go further.

Range

With a driving range of up to 521 km, that’s pretty impressive for an electric SUV. If you are plan on going larger distances, proper planning is needed as you will need to figure out where the super chargers are located as level 2 chargers will take some time to recharge the battery for the next day. Sometimes they’re not always available at where-ever you are staying overnight. That’s the case for all vehicles that are over 500kms in range.

Our resort did have one level 1 charger available to guests but it only charged about 7% overnight. Luckily, going to Victoria Island wasn’t a problem at all and we had plenty of charge left after the trip. We juiced up on our level 2 charger at home overnight and got back to 100% the next morning.

Comfort and Drive

With the luxury vehicle of a BMW, you will have the ultimate comfort for the driver as well as all passengers. The ride as smooth the suspension absorbed all the little shocks in the paved and gravel roads. Our little kid took many naps as well as the other adults in the SUV.

Tech

Packed into the 2022 BMW iX xDrive50 are a lot of features that we are still discovering. My favourite were the USB-C chargers in the back seats so passengers can keep their phones and tablets charged for any long road trips. The curved central display was a stunner as it merges the informational display and the control display. It looks really nice and we kept admiring how sleek and modern it made the car feel. The panoramic roof is stunning and I love how it can be electrochromatically shaded for more privacy.

The 2022 BMW iX xDrive50 is a stunner and we got a lot of positive comments about the look of the vehicle and questions about it’s performance and price point.

Photo Credit: Villa Eyrie Resort Resort

Staying Sustainable

I’ve always wanted to go to Villa Eyrie Resort on Vancouver Island in Malahat for their European-esque vibes and incredible views. Look out for resorts that provide electric charging. Villa Eyrie provides one outlet to use for electric vehicles on a first come first serve basis, you just need to bring the cord.

I did have a thought about what happens to all the remaining toiletries in the rooms after each stay. Villa Eyrie confirmed they keep all of the soap and shampoo that is not completely used and donate to Soap for Hope. The organization works with community facilities that serve vulnerable individuals across the country to provide essential hygiene services. They also donate remaining lotions too. Nespresso coffee pods are recycled along with the bathroom tissue empty rolls. 

Make sure to stop at Alpina Restaurant at the resort and make reservations. Pro-tip, in the comments request a table by the window for the best view and they will do their best to accommodate. We love their selection of produce that is sources locally where possible.

Reuse, reduce, and recycle

A good way to reduce any waste is to bring reusable containers and bottles. Plus, in some cities they are charging for take out containers, so you’re saving a bit of money too. Win win!

I always carry a large water bottle of filtered water just in case the family get thirsty or if I need some water to clean up any messes. When you have a crazy toddler, sometimes things happen.

We also carried around a cooler with us throughout the trip if we needed to keep anything cool and chill. We would refreeze the ice packs back at the resort.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we had a fantastic weekend and loved how we kept it as sustainable as possible. We absolutely loved the 2022 BMW iX xDrive50 and we are still debating if we should upgrade to this vehicle. If you’re in the market for an electric SUV, definitely give it for a test drive and you might just fall in love with it just like our family.

This blog post was sponsored by BMW Canada but the opinions are all my own.

I’ve begun my maternity leave and I have a few weeks of rest before the little human arrives. For the first week of ‘Matirement’, we decided to go Hygge with Ford Canada and good timing too because it has finally hit below freezing in Vancouver with patches of heavy snow. Not quite the Polar Vortex weather, but cold for the West Coast.

Hygge is a Danish word used when acknowledging a feeling or moment. It can be alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary. No tight rules, but to just enjoy.

As it is the middle of Winter, Hygge was created to survive boredom, cold, and dark times to break up the day, months or years. As it has been pretty cold in Vancouver, I planned my days to have time for myself and with others to raise my spirits.

Staying Warm and Toasty

We began this adventure with the 2019 Ford Escape Titanium. The perfect vehicle for getting around town with the icy and snowy roads.

Before we begin, we gotta utilize the remote start function. With a push of the remote, it’s a great way to get the car started and warmed up before you get in. Don’t let the sunny skies deceive you, it was really cold at -7c.

Getting in the vehicle, I was so happy to crank up the heat, turn up the heated seats, and the heated steering wheel too. I was warm and toasty in no time.

Rest and Relaxation

I like to stay home in the evenings and how I relax is with a good podcast, a warm coffee and snacks of course. Sometimes it’s good to just have quiet time to myself. Enjoying all that time to myself before I won’t get any in a few weeks when Baby E arrives.

Even reading The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking gave me some inspiration to get through this cold week and enjoy it as much as possible.

Finding the Best Sights

I love getting out of the city and see my home from far up on a mountain to really appreciate the beauty. Burnaby Mountain is one of my favourite spots to just gaze off into the distance. On a good clear day, you have great views of the Lower Mainland with many opportunities for photos. There are some wildlife in the area like deers, eagles, woodpeckers, black bears, and blue herons roaming around so keep your eyes open.

The park is home to Ainu totem pole carvings to commemorate the relationship with Kushiro, Japan – it’s sister city.

Removing any Anxiety

Truth be told, I absolutely hate parallel parking and not being able to see those pesky blind spots. Although I have a spotless driving record with zero accidents, I always have this fear of taking too long to parallel park or just doing a terrible job. I’m sure you can relate. During the week, the sensors and rear camera helped me to swoop into any spot with ease.

Getting Together over Food

I love hanging out with others over food. We have to eat at least 3 times a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so what better way to enjoy those moments than with friends and family.

I planned my week so I could get out of the house every day and catch up with someone so I am not cooped up at home. It’s good to have a balance of alone time and socialization.

Throughout the week, I’ve been to so many cafes and restaurants because that’s the best way to connect with people. Plus, it’s so delicious. I plugged in my phone and utilized my maps so I can punch in previous locations or new locations to get to my destination the fastest. I love how it tells you how long it will take to get to the location, arrival time, and options for other routes. Very handy to get me where I need to go with the fastest route so I’m not late.

There were a few times where I did end up going to cafes alone, but that didn’t bother me. Something about people watching is eerily therapeutic as I observe them walking by.

Cozy Up to a Classic Movie

There are a lot of good movies out in theatres right now, but we opted to stay in with one of my favourite classics – Beauty and the Beast. We are really just big kids and even though I’ve seen this movie so many times, it never gets dull. Surprisingly, they don’t have this on Netflix Canada but only the live action with Emma Watson. We paired the movie with root beers, chocolate, popcorn and some dried fruit. One of the best ways to enjoy the cold winter weather while staying indoors.

Entertainment in the palm of your hands

I am on my phone constantly and its always at arms length. Apple Car Play makes it very convenient to keep my settings on my phone and customize my entertainment options in the vehicle like my songs. I secretly like to jam out to classics of Kelly Clarkson and Backstreet Boys when no one else is listening.

If anyone calls or texts me, I get notified hands-free when I’m on the road. It’s more important than ever just in case the doctor calls as I hate missing calls because getting a hold of them again is a pain. This feature is a great way to stay connected will making sure I adhere to traffic laws.

Final Thoughts

I had a great week with the 2019 Ford Escape Titanium to enhance my Hygge experience and we were impressed by the comfort and technology of the SUV. Even simple things like the adjustable lumbar support really helped especially when I’m less than 2 weeks away from my due date.

The first week of mat leave was relaxing and just what I needed to de-stress and have time to myself before Baby E arrives.

Let us know in the comments below what little things you do to live the Hygge lifestyle during these cold dark months?

Website:
https://www.ford.ca

This blog post was sponsored by Ford Canada but all opinions are all my own.

The 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In is a sleek hybrid vehicle that gives customers more options to save on gas consumption while relying on electric power. Personally, I’ve been looking for a good hybrid or electric vehicle in the near future, so test driving this vehicle was very exciting. With the EV rebate for some Canadian provinces, it makes the price points more appealing. As a Honda owner myself, I have a Civic and has been very reliable so far.

There are 3 power trains available for the Honda Clarity – hybrid plug-in, EV and Fuel Cell. All great options, but it really depends on your driving habits and weekly routes.  The hybrid plug-in gets about 75 kms before it runs out of battery and switches over t0 gas. You’ll need a dedicated place to charge your vehicle whether it be at home, work or some other location.

Exterior

At first glance, the exterior is very sleek, modern and edgy for a sedan. The lines and shape of the curves are nice.

It is a mid-sized 4 door sedan with beautifully designed headlights.

Interior

The drivers and passenger side is very nice with the design on the dash and materials used.

When driving around in electric mode, it’s very silent and you don’t hear too much noise from the outside.

The back seats have a good amount of head space as well as leg room

Tech

The 8 inch screen comes with my favourite features of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and rear view camera when backing up. There are also lots of safety features to give you a better view around the car as well as keeping your family safe.

Drive

When the vehicle is using electric power, it is so quiet and and accelerates with good force. Very good first impressions.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s a pretty solid vehicle that won’t disappoint. It is comfortable and  has a great range when driving along highways.

Website: https://www.honda.ca/clarity/

We drove around Edmonton, Alberta for 3.5 days in and out of the city to explore sights, sounds and of course eats with the 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir. It’s a little larger than vehicles I normally drive but I always love to get outside of my comfort zone to experience a wide range of vehicle options. It can seat up to 7 people in the car with adjustable seating configuration to have more or less storage in the trunk.

We drove around the city and into Elk Island National Park about 40 minutes away from Edmonton to go find some bison in their natural habitat.

Sleek Interior

I love the interior and it has such a luxurious feel. The leather, the wood, and the chrome accents. As we both got into the car, we were very impressed with the look and feel. This full-sized SUV has it all to make you feel comfortable.

Passenger Seating

The 3rd row of seating is a little bit narrow, so a full sized adult will have trouble sitting in that row. It’s best for people under 5”0 or children.

The 2nd row is very spacious and the arm rest make sitting comfortable. Best for adults to be in the front and second rows.

 

Lots of USB Charging Ports

There are plenty of USB charging portlets in the vehicle, 2 in the back, 2 in the middle and 2 in the front row. Paired with the wifi network in the car, no one will be complaining about keeping connected to the internet or dying phones. It’s pretty awesome.

Whether you’re on a short trip or a longer road trip, you’re all set.

 

Smart Entertainment System

I’m not a fan of the default entertainment system, but with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, plug in your phone and the whole dashboard changes to suits you needs – navigation, calls, texts, Spotify, etc.

Safety and Visibility

I felt very confident that I could get in and out of any parking spot with ease. The front and rear facing cameras, with the 360 camera view made the areas surrounding the vehicle easy to see so you can judge how much distance you have between other cars, people or other objects.

Parallel parking in tight spots usually makes me nervous but I think I actually became a better driver having the cameras around to help me see and judge distance.

With that being said, you can’t say the same about other vehicles on the road. On the last day of our trip, another vehicle in our hotel parking lot decided to scruff up a side of our rear bumper. A sad end to our trip, but we did everything possible to prevent such a situation.

 Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed the 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir. It handled well on paved roads and even off road at Elk Island National Park. Being inside the vehicle was very comfortable and looks very stylish. I was so proud to show this off to my friend and introducing her to features that you wouldn’t find common in older vehicles.

If you’re looking for an upgrade for a full-sized SUV that gives you a feeling of luxury, comfort and reliability, definitely take a look into the Buick Enclave. I would highly recommend you check this out with a test drive.

Website:
https://www.buick.ca/enclave-large-luxury-crossover.html

I live in Burnaby, BC, which is a suburb 30 minutes away from Downtown Vancouver. There is so much to explore in Burnaby as it is quite large. One of my favourite spots to get a great view of the city is from Burnaby Mountain. You can see the Japanese totem poles with the backdrop of the mountains and the rest of the Lower Mainland.

We had the 2018 Ford Explorer Limited for the week to test out and it was a perfect place to test out the car with the amount of hills in the neighbourhood. Check out what we thought of the 2018 Ford Explorer Limited.

Exterior

This full-sized SUV has a new and cleaner look with their new grille and distinct front and rear fascias, as well as LED lighting. With use of LED lighting, it is brighter, durable, lasts longer, and more energy efficient. I really like those lights as its so much easier to see at night.

The grill reminds me of chain link mail or scales of a fish.

There are 5 new wheel option if you want to customize it to suit your style. The one of this vehicle is the 20″ premium lustre nickel-painted aluminum wheels. The chrome body accents on the bottom of the SUV is a nice touch to give it more character. From the outside, you wouldn’t think this is a 7-seater vehicle, but it is.

Did you know, there is a Hands-Free Foot-Activated Power Liftgate? If your hands are full and you need the trunk open, just wave your feet along the rear of the vehicle and it will automatically open up. One of my favourite features.

Technology

The interior is just as important as the exterior to give you comfort for all types of adventures. For me I rely on technology to make my adventures as smooth as possible. With auto-dimming rearview mirrors, I don’t have to squint my eyes when other people have bright headlights especially at night.

Rear view camera, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, and blind spot detectors are my other favourite features. When I drive larger vehicles, I want to make sure I get full view of the whole vehicle when getting around town and when I park. There are a lot of built in features that I haven’t mentioned but they come in handy when you need it like power heated steering wheel.

Drive

The drive was very smooth and has good handling. If you have 1 person compared to a full SUV of 7 individuals, you’ll definitely feel the difference.

Third Row Seating

If you need extra room in your vehicle for people or cargo, the vehicle has a third-row PowerFold feature where you can configure it to your needs. In the trunk, you can find 4 options to choose from. You can fit quite a bit of cargo in the back. If you need additional space, you can fold down the 2nd row too.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a full-sized SUV with lots of room for the family and cargo with flexible configuration, this is a good option. The car looks great and is packed full of safety and entertainment features to make any adventure comfortable.

Website:
https://www.ford.ca/

As consumers, it’s always great to see change driven by our feedback. The 2019 Buick Envision has a new design, performance and great technology features added to this small luxury SUV. At first glance, you notice the subtle difference in the sculpted front fascia, new grille and headlamps compared to previous models. The new 19-inch wheels provide an expressive and distinct profile as well.

As a consumer, I value safety and technology in an SUV. I can have confidence that myself or anyone else driving will be assisted by the car when our eyes can’t see obstructions in our blind spots or just anything that we’re not aware of.

Envision highlights

  • New nine-speed automatic transmission for 2.0L turbo models.
  • 2.0L turbo engine offers increased vehicle performance of 252 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The engine and transmission updates produce 0-60 mph acceleration just under a half-second quicker than the 2018 model.
  • Engine stop/start deactivation switch – a Buick first in North America.
  • Single rate brake booster for improved overall brake performance that requires less effort.
  • Flexibility to switch between Adaptive Cruise Control and conventional Cruise Control.
  • Enhanced visibility on Rear Vision Camera.
  • Improved hands-free microphone for better call quality and better voice recognition.
  • The seat heating system warms up quicker than on the previous model year.
  • Next-generation wireless charging with more power for fast and efficient charging including iPhone8/iPhoneX compatibility.
  • Lighting upgrades across all trims: HID headlights standard on 2.5L models, bi-functional LED headlamps on 2.0L turbo models and LED wing signature lights on every model.
  • In-vehicle air ionizer that helps eliminate odours, reduce bacteria and provide better air quality.

Standard features include Buick’s signature QuietTuning; 10 airbags, including side curtain and knee airbags; Rear Park Assist; and newly added Rear Seat Reminder. Available features include Surround Vision, Safety Alert Seat and Forward Automatic Braking, among others. Every Envision comes equipped with an 8-inch diagonal infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Autocompatibility, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, a limited trial of OnStar (including 3GB or 3 Months of data, whichever comes first) and access to the myBuick app at no additional cost.

The 2019 Envision goes on sale in the spring of 2018 and will be available in four trim levels starting at Preferred ($39,995), Essence ($43,995), Premium ($47,095) and Premium II ($50,995). Prices are inclusive of Destination Freight Charges and A/C tax.

The 2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite is a full size luxury sedan which has gotten a large cosmetic update for this year. The diamond pentagon grille, LED lights, and reshaped hood gives this vehicle its aesthetic beauty.

We tested it for a week in the rainy Vancouver weather to get a good feel for the vehicle for the west coast weather conditions.

Hybrid

It’s great that this is a hybrid vehicle, but it surprisingly wasn’t very fuel-efficient at all. Seems a bit backwards since I didn’t drive very much in a week but got through half a tank. The vehicle really excels on the highway giving it a very powerful drive especially on sport mode.

Technology

Despite the updated exterior, the technology seems dated when it comes to software. The omission of the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were missed, but they were able to add the stylish Head-Up Display, which projects a digital speedometer as well as turn-by-turn navigation directions, which is very handy.

With the surround view camera system, parking sensors, and dimmable mirrors, it felt very safe driving around town during the day and night. One of my pet peeves are cars with insanely bright lights, so with the dimmable mirrors, it helps prevent the light piercing into my eyes at night.

Spacious Interior

As a full-sized sedan, you get plenty of leg room in the front row and the back seats.

There is also ventilation and seat warmers for the back seat. It’s important for passengers to be comfortable for short to long rides.

I always find the seat warmers a joy for back seat passengers to play with. Their eyes just instantly light up as they have buttons to push.

Final Thoughts

 

If you’re thinking you’ll save gas money by purchasing the 2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid Elite, you may not depending on how you drive. Since the vehicle is a full size sedan, it is very comfortable for the driver and passengers. Plus, the safety features are great.

Websitehttps://www.acura.ca/rlx

 

Vancouver has pretty mild weather most of the year, but once a year there happens to be a surprise snow storm that paralyzes the city. We drove the 2018 Honda Accord Touring around the city in both sunny, rainy, and snowy conditions.

Heads Up Display

One of the new features is the Head Ups Display (HUD), which places important information in the driver’s line of sight. It can display navigation directions, speed, incoming calls, and any warnings. At first, this feature was a bit distracting, but I loved it the most for navigation so I wouldn’t miss a turn.

You can make adjustments on the left panel using the HUD button to adjust position.

You still have your normal dashboard if you decide not to use the HUD.

Blind Spot Indicators

Being able to quickly see if anything is in the blind spot is a blessing just in case there is a smaller car or even a cyclist. Being aware of your surroundings is key.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Even though Honda has their own satellite linked navigation system, I much prefer the Apple CarPlay feature to sync items on my phone to the dashboard like my music, any calls and Apple maps. Just plug in the phone and let it do its magic.

There is also wireless charging in the front console if you want to charge any devices that have the capability.

Roomy Interior

Besides being a driver, I also enjoy being a passenger to get an overall feel of the car. With the Honda Accord, space has never been a problem. Since the car itself is a bit longer than the Civic, it gives extra leg room in the back seats for added comfort.

There is also ventilation, charging ports and heated seats too. Now thats comfort.

Drive

The Accord was comfortable to drive. It has a powerful engine to go up any steep hills as well as going fast on the highways or slowly through city congestion.

There is a sport mode button if you want extra power. There are also steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. For city driving, you can turn on Econ mode to save a little extra on gas without compromise to the feel of the car.

Final Thoughts

I only covered a small fraction of feature of the 2018 Honda Accord Touring, but I was impressed with it’s capability and it’s packed full of features to give you comfort and safety when on the road in any conditions. I always felt safe when in the city and the suburbs.

Website: https://www.honda.ca/accord_sedan

I spent a week test driving the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, which is a mid-sized off road truck. As I normally drive a sedan, this was a fun upgrade driving around Downtown Vancouver and escaping for the weekend in Whistler. The truck is a great size for city driving and then ripping up the roads if you dare.

This isn’t a vehicle for everyone, but great for those who is looking for a ride in all types of environments.

Exterior

The short and narrow dimensions make it very manageable getting around tight corners especially for off-roading compared to a full-sized truck.

There is quite a bit of ground clearance at about 9 inches, so getting around obstacles shouldn’t be an issue especially with rockers that help protect the vehicle. But, if you are short, it takes a bit of effort to hoist yourself inside. From first glance at the vehicle, the front and rear bumpers have been modified to give better off-road clearance, plus it’s shield protects the underbody.

The additional sport bar and lights is additional, but gives it an awesome sporty and aggressive look.

Interior

The interior is roomy and has plenty of head clearance for those who are tall. The seats are comfy and come in either leather or cloth seats. Our vehicle had leather seats.

There are cupholders and USB ports for the passengers, so they can keep their phones charged if you’re going on a trip.

Tech

There is Wi-Fi, On-Star, navigation, Apple Carplay, Android Auto, wireless charging, lots of USB ports, and many other features that you can customize for your vehicle. Heated seats and remote start are great for those days when it’s freezing outside.

They do have safety technologies like a standard rear vision camera and available Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning to help prevent collisions before they happen. It would be good if they had push button start or a blind-spot detection.

Drive

As this particular model has the Duramax 2.8L Turbo-Diesel engine, it has quite a pronounced sound, but then again it is a truck and some people love to hear the sound. The ride is pretty smooth and there are different engine options too.

Final Thoughts

It starts at around $46,000 CDN, but can go up based on customizations you add to the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. Give it a test drive and see how you like it.

Website: http://www.chevrolet.ca/colorado-midsize-truck.html#

Ford Canada brought together a group of bloggers from Western Canada to experience a West Coast Adventure up to the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia. Since I am from the West Coast, I am very fortunate to be so close to the water and the beautiful mountains everyday. I loved seeing those from landlocked Provinces take in the views of the Pacific Ocean.

We started off the day at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to meet up and grab our Ford SUVs. My driving buddy – Valerie and I hopped into the 2017 Ford Flex enroute to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal.

It started hailing quite a bit as our entourage of Ford SUVs descended through Downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park to get to the terminal.

Once we got through Downtown, it was a smooth drive to the terminal.

As we waited to board the Ferry, I had a fun time playing around with the 2017 Ford Edge’s Foot Activated lift-gate. It’s a neat feature especially when your hands are full of groceries, how else are you going to open that trunk? I love these hidden features.

As we got onto the Queen of Surrey, we cruised smoothly across the waters taking in the views of the beautiful ocean as we crossed into Langdale. It was very windy and cold, but that didn’t stop us from taking a bunch of photos.

Gibson’s Landing

Next stop was in Gibson’s Landing to eat lunch at Smitty’s Oyster House, a local favourite for seafood from the West Coast. We parked our whole fleet of vehicles right by the pier and it was pretty epic to see the whole line up of Ford SUVs side by side and see the difference between each one.

Smitty’s Oyster House

At Smitty’s Oyster House, we were invited to shuck our own oysters, eat steamed mussels, and a bunch of other tasty treats to give us enough energy to make this day a blast.

It was my second time here and food is always solid. The quality of their seafood is pretty damn good.

Look at this plump mussel. Best place to have fresh seafood.

Oyster, oysters everywhere but it’s always best when they’re in my tummy.

Sunshine Coast Olive Oil Company

 

Our next stop was Sunshine Coast Olive Oil Company just up the street where we tasted the different types of infused olive oils, vinegars, and balsamics. I had a fun time trying all the weird flavours. The staff are very knowledgable so they can even recommend combinations of flavours too.

Yoga on the Pier

Right after that, we had Yoga at Robert’s Creek, a beautiful secluded area with a pier where you can look at the surrounding areas. We spent some time loosening out muscles and stretching.

Gumboot Cafe

We had some quick nibbles at Gumboot Cafe before heading out. I couldn’t say no to some more coffee.

Painted Boat Resort in Madeira Park

Painted Boat Resort

Getting back into the Ford Flex, we drove 45 minutes north to get to the beautiful and luxurious Painted Boat Resort in Madeira Park. We unloaded out luggage and headed to our suites. The sun also made an appearance, which was amazing. We really lucked out on the weather.

The room was a massive two bedroom villa complete with a gourmet kitchen, barbecue grill, stainless steel appliances, fireplace, living room, a balcony and two HD TVs. The top floors even has an upstairs loft.

So much fun being here again since my last visit about 4 years ago. Love it.

Car Photography Lesson

As we got acquainted with the surroundings of the resort, we headed to a photography lesson led by Jess Findlay, an award winning Canadian photographer.

He gave us these tips to shoot the vehicles:

  1. Surroundings: Avoid things in the background that will distract the eye
  2. Time of day: Best time to shoot will be a few minutes after sunset or before sunrise
  3. Show motion: Get some nice movement on the road
  4. Pay attention to reflection: Minimize the reflection by shooting at an angle
  5. Shoot details: Capture the car’s curve line and design features

2017 Ford Edge

The 2017 Ford Edge is built in Canada at the Ford Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario. The midsize crossover features technology engineered to give you confidence on the road like Enhanced Active Park Assist, Blind Spot Information System, Front 180 degree Camera and Lane Keeping System.

2017 Ford Flex

The 2017 Ford Flex is also built in Canada at the Ford Oakville Assembly Plant in Ontario. The seven-passenger Flex comes standard with AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and SYNC 3 infotainment system. My favourite feature is the trunk because you can configure the seats in so many ways, especially the tailgate mode. You can now easily sit out of the trunk and be very comfortable.

2017 Ford Escape

The 2017 Ford Escape got a major update with latest driver-assist technologies, connectivity and two new efficient EcoBoost. The redesigned centre console and instrument panel features front-mounted USB port with a pocket for devices, new climate controls, new storage bin at the bottom of the stack and 8 inch LCD touch screen. The two new powertrains are 1.5 litre EcoBoost and 2.0 litre twin-scroll turbocharged EcoBoost engine producing 245 horsepower.

2017 Ford Explorer

The 2017 Ford Explorer is the #1 selling large utility in Canada. The Explorer comes packed with the newest technologies like SYNC Connect with Ford Pass. The Ford Pass app lets you start, stop, lock, unlock and schedule starts your vehicle directly from your smartphone.

Kayaking

After the photography lesson, we had a bit of time, so we went kayaking. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a canoe type contraption and I feel pretty confident maneuvering it, but the water is what freaks me out the most. Ironic right? Sometimes we need to overcome some fears to enjoy new experiences. As we were rowing through the waters, we thought it would be fun to see what “boat” songs we could find on Apple Music. We found – “I’m on a Boat”, “Boats and Hoes”, “Boat Song”, and “Row Row Row Your Boat”.

Caviar Tasting with Northern Divine

After exercising off all the food we had, it was time for a Caviar Tasting. Northern Divine is North America’s only certified organic caviar and voted one of the world’s best sustainable caviars. You are likely to see many higher end restaurants using this on their menus. It’s cost quite a bit, so it’s definitely not cheap.

Dinner at The Restaurant at Painted Boat

After a few nibbles, it was time for dinner. A lot of us were wondering how we could possibly eat more, but I’m always up for the challenge.

First Course:

  • Painted Boat Organic Salad with organic greens, strawberries, shaved beets, candied pecans with a spiced maple vinaigrette
  • Tomato and Avocado Tartar with basil paint, balsamic reduction and crispy capers
  • Spiced BC Beef Carpaccio with radish, focaccia crisp, basil crema and arugula
  • Grilled local octopus with smoked potato, grilled chorizo, Piquillo Aioli, crispy basil

Main Course:

  • Malbec Braised Beef with Black Fig, and Port Jus
  • Gladiator local wild prawns with roasted garlic hummus, chimichurri, grilled lemon and hot house sauce
  • Organic chicken supreme with saffron israeli couscous, smoked carrot puree, portdrunk shallots, roast garic jus
  • Steamed mussels with red curry, lemon grass, ginercoco nut broth

Dessert

  • Maple pumpkin pot de creme
  • Dark Chocolate diplomat mousse cake with pistachio crust

It was a very generous meal and we had a lot of fun connecting with the other bloggers.

S’Mores and Star Gazing

The night was still young and the night didn’t end there. We had an astronomy and star gazing lesson, which ended with a s’mores party. It was a great place to star gaze as there isn’t a lot of light pollution. So many stars and planets were visible to the naked eye.

Early Morning Exploring

It’s good to have friends who are willing to sacrifice some sleep to go exploring in the early mornings before breakfast. It was hard to capture the sunrise with the vehicles, but we had a great time driving up and down the meandering roads, listening to music, and enjoying good company.

Final Thoughts

It was a fun 2 days and since I am in the market for an SUV, I personally love the Ford Edge and Ford Escape as those 2 would fit my needs perfectly for my family. The Ford Flex and Ford Escape are both great vehicles and are both 7-seaters. All 4 are packed with technology depending on the tier you choose.

I loved revisiting the Sunshine Coast on this West Coast Adventure with Ford Canada.

The 2017 Hyundai IONIQ is the world’s first vehicle to be powered by a choice of three different electrified powertrain options in a single model: hybrid, electric and electric plus. I am a huge fan of hybrid and electric vehicles, so when I heard about the Hyundai IONIQ, I had to give it a try for the week to get a good feel for the car.

  • IONIQ electric operates solely on electric power and can go up to 200km on a single charge and produces zero emissions.
  • IONIQ hybrid can run on a traditional gasoline engine, an electric motor, or both. It is great for daily commutes and weekend adventures with over 1,000 km per tank. It is a blend of pwer and efficiency.
  • IONIQ electric plus can be switched between electric and gas. When you select electric, it can go about 40kms, then you can switch and it will work like the IONIQ hybrid. This power train isn’t available until late 2017.

There are some really good government incentives in Canada by going green. Ontario offers up to $14,000, Quebec up to $8,000 and BC offers $5,000. Any discount is a good discount especially when you can keep on saving and reduce your gas intake and emissions. The infrastructure for electric vehicles are growing to have electric chargers readily available. It just take a little bit of planning, but once you know where your go-to charging stations are, it’s a breeze.

Exterior

The style of the car is pretty conservative and doesn’t have any aggressive curves, a good simple design that fits.

The LED lights in the front and the back are bright and stand out in the daytime and nighttime.

The blind spot detection lets you know if there are cars in your blind spot, so it lights up to alert you that there is some object there. Very handy when changing lanes.

Interior

The interior of the vehicle is comfortable in the front 2 seats, there is dual climate control if one person likes it hotter and the other wants it cooler.

The seats are heated and even the rear seats can be heated too.

The trunk space is good and you can fold own the rear seats to add more space if you’re carrying more stuff.

Technology

Technology in the vehicle will depend on the package you choose, but I find that the IONIQ was a good range of technology that is essential to a good driving experience. You aren’t overwhelmed with unnecessary features.

Proximity keyless entry and push-button ignition are great as an upgrade, but some people can find it confusing at first to use. Once you get use to it, you’ll love it. You never have to dig into your bag to find your keys.

A few favourite is the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Just connect your phone and you have access to your music, maps, phone and other compatible apps.’

For parking, a rearview camera with the dynamic guidelines makes parking a breeze. All those time where I had anxiety with parallel parking are all gone since you can see how you close you are to other cars. A great safety feature too. Even with the lowest package – IONIQ Blue, you get these 2 great features without blowing the bank.

There is wireless phone charging option too with the Limited package if you want to set your phone down to charge without having cords around. Good thing the new iPhone 8 has wireless charging capabilities now, so it will come in handy with vehicles.

Drive

The drive was pretty smooth and has quite a bit of torque for a hybrid vehicle. The vehicle combines an efficient 1.6L gasoline engine with a powerful 32kW electric motor for impressive performance and fuel efficiency. When it automatically switches from electric to gas, it’s not very obtrusive compared to other car models.

You can even shift into sport mode to really have more fun with the vehicle.

Final Thoughts

My husband and I really enjoyed this car commuting Downtown from the subburbs on the weekday and then took some longer drives on the weekend. We drove quite a bit with the IONIQ hybrid, but we still had plenty of gas left in the tank. We were estimating that a tank would last us about a month, which is amazing. It’s a solid competitor in the compact sedan space if you are looking to going electric or hybrid.

Website:
https://ioniq.hyundaicanada.com/

For my last weekend getaway, I had the opportunity to try out the 2017 Buick Envision Crossover SUV. We took the car from downtown Toronto up the 400 north to cottage country near Orillia.

The car is a five passenger compact luxury SUV. It was very spacious, while still being easy to maneuver. Now while there were only two of us on the road trip, it could have easily fit several tall people and a large cooler full of beer and snacks very comfortably. Or if we were to take the car on a longer trip, the rear seat easily folds flat with the pull of lever.

The technology features made it a quick and fun drive on our hour and a half up north. We connected to the OnStar 4G LTE Wifi Hotspot so that we could blast Tiesto (my boyfriend’s choice) on the ride up without racking up a massive phone bill. Not only was the main touch screen easy to navigate in terms of the built in Maps feature, but the driver’s dashboard also reminded us of the changing speed limits.

As the 400 North is full of cottage-bound cars and trucks, we really appreciated how the Envision was able to block out the surrounding roar of traffic. Thanks to the QuietTuning technology and Bose premium sound system, the car minimized road and engine noise so that we could focus on the sweet, sweet croons of Justified-era Justin Timberlake (my choice).

It was a very smooth, comfortable and easy drive up to our friend’s cottage. Usually after prolonged periods of driving, cracking open a beer is not a matter of choice, but rather, one of necessity. I’m not saying that we didn’t drink beers while lying on the dock, but this time it wasn’t stress-induced.

The technical features were helpful when we drove the car back into downtown Toronto. The auto stop-start technology turned the engine off when the car was stationary, and then seamlessly restarted once the foot was off the brake. This definitely contributed to the great mileage and we made a 360 km round trip on less than one tank of gas.

As a nervous driver (and yes, I hate being such a stereotype), it was great to have five cameras and ten sensors in the vehicle. Lights on the wing mirrors glowed when a car was passing. The driver’s seat also vibrated when it detected an approaching hazard – very useful in a city where drivers, bikers and suicidal jaywalkers battle it out on a daily basis. The automatic parking assist feature and camera made it easy to park in the tight downtown lots. Unfortunately, Buick has yet to invent a feature that makes the cost of downtown parking less astronomical.

The Buick Envision in the early morning light of Washago.

Keep in mind that while I’m no car expert, I can tell you that the entertainment, safety, and performance features of the 2017 Buick Envision made the ride as comfortable and stress-free as possible in both the city and the country roads.

A big thanks to the Oshawa Buick team for dropping the vehicle downtown with me – we couldn’t have had a river-tubing, beer-drinking, s’more-filled weekend without you!

Website: http://www.buick.ca/envision-crossover-suv.html

Chevrolet has introduced an all-new 2018 Equinox, a five-passenger compact crossover made in Canada. Compared to the previous years model, it is lighter, leaner, and more responsive. I took the Equinox out around the city, the subburbs, zooming along the highways, and into the middle of nowhere. I packed the car with my friends to explore the Othello Tunnels just outside of Hope.

Exterior

From the side, it is a bit boxy, but it help maximize the height of the vehicle and trunk space. There are some slight curves on the side panel of the car and the share of the windows to create an illusion of a sleeker look. It’s hard to see in the white, but it shows more in the other colours.

The hands-free power liftgate is an awesome feature too. When you have your hands full, use the simple motion of your foot to open the trunk. A gentle motion is all you need. Great if you have your hands full with while grocery shopping.

Interior

The interior was very roomy and everyone had ample amount of space. No complaints from any passenger. If you’re tall, you’ll have no problem at all.

The backseats can fold flat with a pull of a lever to increase the size of the cargo area to move large objects.

The sun roof was very large and let in a good amount of light. We occasionally closed it if it got too sunny. Heated seats and a remote starter are standard on all trims of the Equinox.

In the back seats, you have adjustable air vents, an outlet and USB ports. Great features to give control back to the passengers and also charge their phones.

Technology

Technology is increasingly becoming very important when considering purchasing a vehicle. As a smartphone user, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are crucial for me personally. It helps keep some preferences through your phone and makes the dashboard easier to use. Another great feature about Chevrolet vehicles is the OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot that it can provide your passengers access to wifi on their devices. Imagine a car ride where your kids will be entertaining themselves rather than screaming their heads off.

You can charge your phones through the USB ports or their is wireless charging for some devices.

The Premier trim includes such features like dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, power windows, door locks and liftgate, power heated outside mirrors, rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-zone alert and rear-view camera. Definitely no shortage of technology packed in the Equinox. My favourite feature is the surround vision, so it’s easier to park your car virtually anywhere that fits. You get a bird’s eye view of the vehicle due to the system that’s made up of 4 cameras – the standard rear vision camera, a forward-looking camera in the front grille and two on the sides of the vehicle. I didn’t have any more anxiety parking in smaller spots. I had a lot of fun showing off the tech features to my friends onboard.

Drive

There are 3 engines to choose from including a fuel-efficient diesel. Their’s definitely some customization you can do to make it work for you. I found the ride smooth over most road surfaces. You can also engage AWD with a touch of a button to improve traction on icy or snowy roads.

As I was driving in the city and on the highway, the engine was smooth and lively. No problem on inclines or declines.

It was very fuel efficient and didn’t burn through gas like crazy.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, it is packed full of technology to keep you safe, the ride is smooth and comfortable, and has good fuel economy. If you are looking for a compact crossover, give this a try and see how it compares. I personally loved it.

Websitehttp://www.chevrolet.ca/equinox-fuel-efficient-suv.html

The 2017 Buick Encore Sport Touring is a modern subcompact crossover. I’ve been obsessed with this type of car this year as it’s a good size vehicle for roaming around the city or going on an adventure. With parking spots getting smaller and smaller in the downtown core, you don’t have to worry about figuring out if you’ll fit in the small spots. I tested out this vehicle for the week to get a feel for the pros and cons of the Buick Encore.

Exterior

The side profile of the vehicle isn’t bulky at all. With it’s small size, it has impressive maneuverability and handling in city traffic and crowded parking lots. A big plus if you drive in and out of the city core.

With this model of Encore, you’ll notice the rear sport spoiler that gives it a bit of an edge.

The metal likes on the outside give it nice sleek feel. Also, 18″ Midnight Silver aluminum alloy wheels and fog lamps come with this model. Very handy when drive outside of the city.

Interior

The interior is sleek with the dark and metal accents like the exterior. With the Buick Encore Sport Touring model, it comes with the Remote Keyless Entry which not only starts the engine, but also turns on the rear-window defogger and heated outside mirrors automatically, if needed. A very nice feature.

The rear seats are a bit narrow, so if you are tall, it will be a little uncomfortable.

There is a hidden cup holder in the middle console to store drinks because sometimes vehicles lack them.

The rear seats do fold nice and flat when you’re moving large pieces of cargo. I never really need to use this feature unless I’m buying furniture.

On the downside, they significantly reduce the amount the front seats can move and recline back if folded all the way down.

If you have the rear seats folded up or laying flat, you do have ample amount of cargo room, but still not the same amount of space compared to larger SUVs.

Technology

One big plus for the 2017 Buick Encore is the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is now standard. I live off my iPhone and it helps bring my personal preferences into the car. It changes the functionality of the 8-inch colour touchscreen with maps, music and phone a huge win. With the laws in Canada, going hands-free is so much easier and prevent you from accidentally breaking the law.

In terms of other technology, the safety package is good to have as it gives you side blind zone alert and rear cross-traffic alert. One point of improvement would be the quality of the rear vision camera, it was blurry and not as crisp compared to others. They have also received a five-star overall rating for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Drive

Driving the Buick Encore was very smooth when going through the flat city roads and some bumpy roads. It takes corners with ease and rides comfortably over uneven pavement thanks to its stable suspension.

With the1.4L/153-hp/177-lb-ft turbocharged DOHC 16-valve I-4 engine, I did feel the engine could be more powerful especially going up hills. Once you start filling up the vehicle with more people and cargo, the base engine struggles to accelerate. There is an engine upgrade if you want more power and torque to deliver better acceleration to easily get up to highway and passing speeds.

Final Thoughts

The 2017 Buick Encore is an excellent subcompact SUV. It’s good for those who are young and style-conscious buyers who want to escape the city on weekend trips or those who want their next upgrade from a sedan to an SUV without the large size of a traditional SUV. At first it reminded me of the Chevrolet Trax as it had similar pros and cons, but the Encore has a few more luxury features and a higher price tag. If you’re in the market for a compact SUV, definitely add the Buick Encore to the list.

Website: http://www.buick.ca/encore-luxury-small-crossover.html

 

I have a corporate Modo account through my employer, but I recently got an individual account for personal trips in and out of town. I love how you can take their cars across the border and it’s a-ok. Their fleet insurance covers you to drive anywhere in Canada and the US. This definitely got my attention as I don’t like driving my own vehicle across the border because of wear and tear. When my foodie friends decided to go an impromptu trip to Seattle, Modo seemed like the perfect solution for our transportation. The pricing was very fair especially when insurance and gas (up to 200km) is covered.

Through the mobile app, I booked the 2015 Grey Nissan Vera Note, which is a 4-door hatchback with audio capabilities through an auxiliary cord, bluetooth, or USB. The best part is the rear-view camera, which not all cars in their fleet have. That rear-view camera really helped in a pinch especially when parallel parking.

We had it for an entire day and had no troubles with the vehicle. We filled up gas twice and since there is a Modo credit card inside, we had no problem using it at gas stations in Vancouver or Seattle.

You don’t have a traditional key for unlocking the vehicle, but you have your own fob that you scan over an electronic device over the reader and all the doors unlock. You don’t want to lose this fob.

Travel Tips with Modo:

  • Give yourself a bit of extra time before your trip to inspect your booked vehicle—inside and out.
  • Remove any items that don’t belong to you or the Modo car.

Overall, it was a great choice for a mini roadtrip, we will definitely use Modo again when we travel cross the border.

Website: http://modo.coop/

Food by-products, oversupply and other biomaterials are getting a second life in Ford vehicles. This is more important than ever as the world is changing and we only have one planet and scarce resources.

We were invited to see first hand how they are using soy beans, rice hulls, wheat straw, coconut and cellulose in their current Ford vehicles. What goes into a vehicle at the beginning of its lifecycle and what comes out of it at the end of production contributes greatly to its environmental friendliness.

Currently in Vehicles

Soybeans

As much as I love soy it surprised me that since 2011, all Ford vehicles built in North America have soy foam in their seat cushions and backs. This saves an estimated 2.3 million kilograms of petroleum per year.

Rice Hulls

Rice is a staple in many diets, but what do you do with the fibrous rice hull after? In 2014, Ford introduced a new composite plastic material reinforced with rice hulls in the wire harness of the Ford F-150.

Wheat Straw

Wheat straw-reinforced plastic is used in the storage bins of the Ford Flex – the world’s first application of this material. The use of wheat straw-reinforced plastics in the Flex reduces our petroleum usage by
some 9,000 kilograms and our CO2 emissions by about 13,600 kilograms annually.

Coconut

Coconut coir, made from coconut husks, is used in the trunk mats of some vehicles, including the Ford Focus Electric.

Cellulose

This material is being used to replace fibreglass reinforcement in the centre console. The material reduces weight by approximately 6%. It also has a smaller carbon footprint than the glass-fibre-reinforced plastic it replaces, in part because it takes less time and energy to mold cellulose- reinforced parts than traditional glass-fibre-reinforced plastics.

Being Tested

Sugar Cane

Sugar cane–based plastic has been made into interior fabrics and is being tested for durability and performance.

Tomatoes

Ford is collaborating with the H.J. Heinz Company to explore using tomato fibre, a byproduct of ketchup production, to develop a more sustainable bio-plastic material in vehicles. Ford researchers are
testing the material’s durability for potential use in vehicle wiring brackets and storage bins.

Corn

Agricultural corn by-product can be processed into plastic parts, fabrics, fibres or films. Ford is currently testing the product for potential uses in carpeting, upholstery and interior trim.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a fast-growing grass—up to 4 cm per hour—that is being researched for potential uses in veneers and as filler material.

Algae

Algae is a promising sustainable material being researched by Ford. It grows very quickly, replicating up to four times per hour, and has a high per acre yield when compared to other crops.

Final Thoughts

It’s pretty awesome to see Ford using all these food by-products to incorporate into different parts of their vehicles. It’s innovative to hear and see it all being put into action. It keeps these food items from being wasted even though they are mighty tasty. Hopefully other car companies follow suit too.

More info: http://blog.ford.ca/take-closer-look-whats-ford-vehicle/

2017 Chevrolet Trax Premier AWD is a small SUV catering for any lifestyle with modern technology, a flexible interior, and impressive efficiency. A spent a week testing this vehicle around town to get a good feel for the car in the city, the subburbs, and in the wilderness. For my next car, I want to get an SUV, so it’s really great to test a few that are out there in the market. Small compact SUVs are very popular now especially for city driving as you can escape from the city and head off to close by adventures.

Exterior

The Chevrolet Trax is tall and not that long. It’s great for the city since it’s not too large to find into the small parking stalls. I had no trouble fitting this car anywhere.

With the rear facing cameras, parking was a breeze and I never had to break a sweat.

There is also has Side Blind Zone Alert, so when you’re changing lanes, it will alert you if any cars or objects are in that area. One of my favourite features of modern cars in definitely the technology that enables you to be a safer driver.

For a compact SUV, it has a pretty generic look when you compare it with some other models out there. For this year’s model, you’ll notice the slightly edgier look with the big, new hexagonal grille on the front of the car and the elongated LED headlights that sweep upward as they wrap around to the vehicle’s sides.

Interior

The trim inside is jet black/ brandy leatherette trim. It wraps around the dash and on all the seats. It adds a pop of colour on the inside, but doesn’t exactly give you that luxurious feel.

The push button start is a great feature since you don’t have to dig into your purse to get the keys. The remote also has remote starting, so you can turn the engine on while you are outside the vehicle.

Chevrolet’s signature MyLink infotainment system is operated via the seven-inch touchscreen, is fairly basic and had some features I didn’t need. I would be nice to have a basic map, but they do have the OnStar turn by turn navigation instead.

I found it a better experience plugging in my iPhone to activate Apple CarPlay. If you have an Android, you can turn on Android Auto. This way you can look at navigation, have hands-free calling and texting, and music playing from your collection.

Did you know, the car be be turned into a roaming Wi-Fi hotspot? The kids can stop complaining and stay connected. You can connect up to 7 devices too. All three trim levels include a 4G LTE wireless trial from OnStar that consists of three months of service or 3 gigabytes of data, whichever comes first.

The passengers seat is roomy and there is plenty of head room. The only complaint from passengers was that the seats were a bit stiff and the headrests were not as comfortable. There is a 120v outlet in the back too.

With their partnership with Bose, the audio is pretty awesome. With all the Chevrolet cars I’ve tried, all my passengers really loved the audio quality.

With the compact size of the car and roomy space for occupants, the trunk space does suffer a bit. It’s hard to carry a lot of large bags and luggage with a full car.

Drive

It was comfortable driving in this car. The suspension handles potholes and bumpy roads with minimal rattling inside the car. Steering is quick and responsive especially on turns. I still wouldn’t recommend you go off-roading. As I drove all around, the fuel efficiency is pretty decent.

When accelerating on the highway or going up steep hills, the engine could be a bit more powerful.

Final Thoughts

This car isn’t for everyone, but it’s worth a look for city dwellers who want to use it for city driving but also have the capability of going outside of the city for some adventure. It is packed with technology features that make driving this car fun and customizable to you. It’s definitely a solid car, but there is tough competition these days for a compact SUV as other automotive manufactures are entering this space.

Websitehttp://www.chevrolet.ca/