I received a free week in this vehicle in exchange for my honest opinion. Read my Disclosure Policy.

So I spent the last week driving around in the luxurious 2016 Lexus NX 200t F-Sport SUV.

Pros:
//The AWD of this SUV was amazing.  It was great on the rainy days I had to travel on the highway or around town.  I didn't feel nervous once that I was going to spin out, slip, or be affected by the road conditions.  I love a vehicle that can keep it's cool along with me.


//The NX 200t handled around corners and sharp turns exceptionally well.  Surprisingly, the contents of my purse didn't spill out like I'm used to. 

//The best way to describe the exterior of this SUV is sexy and fierce.  I love the trim both inside and out but the headlights and the overall exterior design has such a badass look.  And while it's an SUV it doesn't have a bulky appearance.

//I love that you can select the driving mode - there's Normal, ECO (fuel efficient) and Sport.  I really love ECO mode because it truly had great gas mileage.

//The 2016 Lexus NC 200t F-Sport has amazing lighting on the inside and out.  Tap to turn on the interior lights if you're rooting around for something and don't worry about driving at night - the LED headlights are fantastic.  And for someone who squints all the time because driving at night means bright lights in my side and rear view mirrors - this vehicle was a miracle! Gotta love that sunlight reflection feature!

//The center console sits high up and I love it as not only an arm rest if I'm waiting in the car, but also it has amazing storage  space. 

//I have to say that the seats of this vehicle are the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in when it comes to driving.  Even after a 2 hour drive I wasn't sore or stiff. 

//I can't believe how much cargo space this SUV has.  I love it!

//The temperature control and heating system is a true blessing and I didn't have to wait 20 minutes till I could comfortably drive to work in the morning.

//This vehicle has a great sound system with an eight-channel amplifier and 8 speakers!   I also am in love with the Qi wireless charging tray inside the console box. 

//The 200t has some great safety features like a roof impact system in case the roof is impacted, Whiplash-Injury Lessening front seats, and 8 SRS airbags.  There's even a Pre-Collision System.  Talk about peace of mind.

Cons:

//The amount of knobs and buttons on the front dash was a bit overwhelming for me.  I tend to like more of a minimalist dashboard but I'm sure after a month in this vehicle, one would be used to where everything is and what it all does.    

//It may be because I'm used to having large open windows in my current card but I thought the windows were a bit small, especially the windshield and at times I felt "cramped" in a way.

//Obviously this is an SUV so it will be larger than most cars meant to fit into a parking spot. Still, I found it relatively easy to pull in and out of a parking spot and while it was especially tricky to parallel park in the city, the backup camera helped!

Overall, this is a great vehicle for anyone  that wants a comfortable ride, great technology, and PLENTY of cargo space!!!  This is like the queen of SUVs to me!

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A Relaxing Week in the 2016 Hyundai Elantra Value Edition

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With all the hustle and bustle of December, I somehow managed to get a relaxing week in and when I say relaxing I mean every aspect of it was comfy and calm.  

See this smiling face? Yea, I got to drive her! It's the 2016 Hyundai Elantra Value Edition.   Don't let the word "value" fool you though.  This gem had heated front seats, a sleek interior design and a sporty outside.

The size is perfect. This car was so easy to park even in the city and the tiny spaces in the parking garage for work.   It's can stop on a dime and it accelerates with ease.  I couldn't believe how quiet the ride was.  And even though there are bumpy roads in the city, I literally felt like I was floating to and from work.  What a smooth ride! 

The interior is very spacious and I love the cargo room in the trunk.  It's great for your weekly grocery trips or when you need

I love the interior.   There are a few bells and whistles but nothing terribly overwhelming.   Steering wheel controls are always a plus for me because it keeps me from being distracted if I have to reach over and turn the knob on the radio. 

I was quite impressed with the fuel economy.  32 mpg on average with 28 in the city and 38 highway.  I was a happy camper!

All in all - this is a great car.  It's perfect for a single person or a small family.  I loved going on a tour of all the local neighborhoods and their christmas lights. It was a great car to drive around town in but it also did great when we had to jump on the highway.  It's a very practical car!

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My Week in the 2015 Kia Optima SX

I was provided a week long loan in a vehicle in exchange for my honset opinion.

 I spent last week driving around a gorgeous Remington Red 2015 Kia Optima SX.   It was quite a luxury.   I love sedans because they are so spacious and the Kia Optima did not disappoint.  The inside was so luxurious with black leather and seats that cradled me like an infant.  So comfortable!!

What I really love is the sporty exterior.  The LED lights and heated outside mirrors with turn signal indicators are quite the luxury.  I also love that the mirrors fold in when you lock the car.  There's electric power steering and a 6-speed sportmatic transmission AND there are even paddle shifters on the steering wheel! So nice to have manual features without it being a fully manual car. 

The 2015 Kia Optima really handles curves and sharp turns very well and it did great on the highway and in the city.  I was so impressed with the fuel efficiency  - 27 MPG with 23 in the city and 34 on the highway. I barely put a dent in the tank for all the driving I did.

There is a fantastic sound system in the Kia OPtima and the Push Button Start and Smart Key entry is amazing!!! I love the navigation system, the satellite radio and the Bluetooth abilities.   

What was really cool was that there are controls on the door for the trunk and the gas. You can learn more about the 2015 Kia Optima on the Kia website.

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My Week in the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE

I was provided a complimentary week in the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport by DriveShop.  All opinions are my own.

So last week I got to enjoy the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE.  It's a 4 door SUV that came in a sexy Rally Red with black interior.   Let me tell you that this was the perfect time for me to try out this vehicle considering that we had an insane amount of rain and yucky conditions.  


I did many fun things in the Outlander like...






Went to a comedy show and met Steve-O.

It was a super riany and wet night and I have to say that this SUV handled it like a champ.  The All Wheel Control helped me stay focused and not have to worry about lightly flooded roads or huge puddles.  It's nice to not have to worry for once! The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has Active Stability Control and Traction Control Logic to really help keep you safe.

There's even a driver's knee airbag as well as the usual front and rear side curtain airbags.  And if you park in a questionable spot it's okay because it has Hill Start Assist!

A photo posted by Ellen Ross (@ellenr886) on Oct 5, 2015 at 1:24pm PDT

Purchased and brought home this gorgeous bench from Marshalls.
I was so stoked to be able to make this purchase finally. I had really been looking for a bench for in my closet so that I can go in there to relax or just to sit down and put my shoes on.



  The back seats folded down super easy so the guy from Marshalls was able to load the bench in the trunk of the car. 

A photo posted by Ellen Ross (@ellenr886) on Oct 10, 2015 at 11:36am PDT

Stocked up on plants for the Fall.
I took advantage of a large trunk to go get some fall blooms from a local nursery.  It was nice to have plenty of space to load, unload, and transport delicate things like plants.   There was also a rear cargo area light which helped me in the evening. Oh and with groceries - WOW there was SO much room for activities...oh and shopping bags!

And of course my regular errands and grocery trips.  

Overall, I give this SUV a 9 out of 10!   The navigation system was fantastic for my trips around town and to the local orchards. The sound system was great as well and I really enjoyed jamming out. 

The inside of this vehicle is so luxurious.  I especially love the panoramic sunroof.  The heated seats were also a lovely touch. There is plenty of room for passengers in this vehicle too and I love it's size.  It's definitely bigger than a car but it's not overwhelming at all.  I had no problem parking and making my way through narrow aisles.  I also have to rave about the fuel economy - a whopping 27 MPG (24 city and 30 highway).   I did A LOT of running around during the week I had the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and guess what - I only used half a tank of gas! I was super impressed.  Most people associate an SUV with being a gas guzzler but not this SUV! 




For more information on the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport you can visit the Mitsubishi website.

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My Week in the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco

I was provided a vehicle for 1 week in exchange for my honest opinion. Read my Disclosure Policy. 
 

So last week I got to drive the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco.  It's a fantastic car! This Venetian Red beauty has a 1.6L Turbo Gasoline Direct Injection 4-Cylinder Engine with 178 horsepower and a 7-speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission.  

Inside it's SUPER roomy and has such comfortable seating not only for the driver but all passengers.  I love the blind spot alert and I absolutely love the sound system and the 5-inch color touch screen.

There's so much room to store things in the various cup holders and storage cubbies that keep everything all within reach.  I have to say one of my biggest pet peeves is when I go around a bend and all of my stuff falls out of the holders but that doesn't happen in this car.  I can't imagine having kids in the back and trying to get somewhere with all the chaos of things falling around so that's why I really loved that small detail of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco. 

There is such a sleek and sporty look to this car.  I love everything about it!   It did a great job handling turns on rough roads and it also did great in the city with all the stop and go.  

The headlights made it so easy to see at night and in crappy rainy conditions.  I also love the safety features like a rearview camera (works wonders when parallel parking), ABS, Impact Reducing Front Seats, Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Management, and like I said earlier the Blind Spot detection.

The little luxuries like the proximity key entry system, push button start, heated front seats, and the auto dimming rearview mirror make everyday that much easier.   I really love not having to worry about where my key is, as longa s it's with me I can get in the car and start it.  I love the trunk, it fits an insane amount of stuff. I put 8 trash bags of clothes in there to donate!!!  

This car had such a quiet ride.  Even on horribly torn up city streets I barely felt the bumps and I had such a quiet and relaxing commute to and from work.  It feels like you are in your own little private bubble.

 
You can even hook up with Blue Link and search using your voice to find a location you wish to go and the navigation will take over.  Also, I loved the voice text messaging.  This is a GREAT safety feature and a major convenience!   You can select a friend all with your voice and then the system dictates your text message back to you before sending.  I also love that I can share my location with friends and see where they are!   And of course Roadside Assistance gives you an insane amount of reassurance when you are in a bad situation.  

I love this vehicle.  This specific one costs $28,310.00 which is pretty good for everything you get. 

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My Week in the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD 2.0T

I was provided a vehicle for 1 week in exchange for my honest opinion. Read my Disclosure Policy.

I was lucky enough to try out the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD 2.0T for a week and I have lots to tell you about it. 

There's something about the Canyon Copper color that makes this vehicle so edgy and modern.   The 2015 Santa Fe Sport comes with Traction Control and a Vehicle Stability Management system.  It's got ABS with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist.  It even has downhill brake control which was perfect for when I was going into and back out of the mountains for this little photoshoot. 

A great safety feature is the blind spot detection.   When a car is in your blind spot a little light activates on your mirror and it makes a beep sound.  It's great because I don't have to worry about craning my neck to see if someone is there.   

There is also 18 inch alloy wheels, front fog lights and an awesome sunroof.   I love the way the Santa Fe Sport handled in the snow and slush up in the mountains.  I didn't even feel nervous like I would in my normal vehicle.  I have to say it was GREAT on gas for an SUV of it's size.  I also love how it accelerated on the highway. There was no drag or lag. 

The sport look really won me over and I nearly fainted when I saw how much trunk space there is. 

If you need more trunk space you can fold down the back seats.  This is awesome when it comes to transporting groceries, pets, or sports equipment!

As you can see, Grace loved how spacious the inside was. She actually insisted on photobombing me every chance she got. We both loved how spacious the front and back were.   I love that there is so much storage space and room to charge and plug in your devices.  

Oh and this vehicle not only has a proximity key entry but it's got a push button start too!  Seriously this really does make a huge difference that I don't have to clunk around and jam my keys in to try and start my car. 

You can even hook up with Blue Link and search using your voice to find a location you wish to go and the navigation will take over.  Also, I loved the voice text messaging.  This is a GREAT safety feature and a major convenience!   You can select a friend all with your voice and then the system dictates your text message back to you before sending.  I also love that I can share my location with friends and see where they are!   And of course Roadside Assistance gives you an insane amount of reassurance when you are in a bad situation.  

I loved the visibility in the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.  Tons of light could come in through the panoramic sunroof and I didn't feel like I had to crane my neck to look around when I was pulling up to a shopping center trying to find the store I wanted. 

The touchscreen was easy to use and navigate through and I really loved the sound quality when I played my music and danced, I mean... sat calmly and bobbed my head!   Also I really loved the auto-dimming rear view mirror because I always struggle with people's headlights in my mirror and it makes it so hard to focus when I'm driving. 

Overall, this is a GREAT vehicle for taking around the outdoors for a random road trip or a planned campsite outing.  I love the space inside and it's perfect for someone with kids that needs a roomy (and safe) SUV but not over sized.   The seats are so comfortable and the overall experience was pleasant!   This vehicle retails at $38,350.  



Is this a vehicle that would go with your lifestyle? 

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