Exploring Florida in a Ford Explorer

Wow.  That's all I can say.  WOW! 

Have you taken a look at Ford lately?  If you haven't, you should.  The new fleet of Explorers are to die for!

I was recently given the chance to drive the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport Edition to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  What a great SUV!  It was so "space-ious" and comfortable for my family. 

First off, the Explorer Sport is "powered by a 3.5L EcoBoost^® V6 Direct fuel injection and twin turbochargers.  And it has instantaneous low-end torque responsiveness with virtually no turbo lag."  I am no car enthusiast, and I have absolutely no idea what that means, but that car can ZOOM!  I barely touched the pedal and we "blasted off!"

Room enough for 7 (& all my stuff!)

The Explorer Sport has everything I would need in an SUV.  It comes standard with 3 rows of seating for up to 7 adults.  I've found with some SUVs in this category that when your 3rd row is up for seating, you lose trunk space.  That was not the case with the Explorer Sport.  There was PLENTY of room in the trunk for all that I needed to lug around on a daily basis.  I don't have a stroller, but I honestly feel that one would fit in perfectly even with the back row in the upright position.  The 3rd row also folded down completely to create the allusion of a truck. 

Check out the technology!

Did I mention it was fully loaded with all the "bells & whistles"?  Awesomeness!  The Explorer Sport comes standard with the Driver Connect package.  That gives you SYNC^® with MyFord Touch^® driver-connect technology.  I was able to use voice commands to make phone calls, choose music and more!  (My husband's Ford F-150 truck has it....I have technology envy!)  

In the front console there was a media hub with two USB ports, SD card reader and video input jacks.  Just perfect for the tech savvy family on the run!  There were also many other AV jacks and an actual outlet to be used with standard plugs (handy for those extra electrical devices that you may have).


The kids thought the Ford Explorer Sport was "sweet" and the "coolest car ever!"  I loved how, even though it's considered a midsize SUV, I didn't feel like I was driving a truck...it handled like a luxury car.  

At the pump:
16 mpg city
22 mpg hwy

If you're looking for a midsize SUV, consider the Ford Explorer Sport if you also like:

• Chevy Traverse
• Toyota Highlander
• Honda Pilot     
• Jeep Grand Cherokee

 

I was loaned the Ford Explorer Sport with a full tank of gas to facilitate this review.  All other costs associated with visiting Cocoa Beach were personally paid for.  All opinions are my own. No compensation was received for this post.

Alexis

Escaping in the 2013 Ford Escape

Everyone loves a new car....what's not to love?  It smells good, it's clean, it's like a new toy!  I recently had the chance to drive the new 2013 Ford Escape.  Talk about a new toy!!  (Not to mention it was fully loaded...score!)

The Escape is a great family car with a roomy interior that seats 5 comfortably with plenty of leg room.  It was kind of weird for us to be so close together in a car because we are used to our minivan, but I liked that we could reach each other.  This really came in handy when one day "Little Ricky" had a nose bleed while we were driving! (Never a dull moment...) 

The trunk space was great!  We loaded it with our purchases from Target, where we NEVER leave with a just a few items.  "The Nag" had his birthday party and we were easily able to load everything we needed.  There was even a trunk cover to hide items from prying eyes....love it!  And speaking of the trunk, the coolest thing ever....it had a foot-activated liftgate.  When my arms were loaded, I could just wave my foot under the trunk and voila, it magically opened!

The Escape had other magical features as well.  It has intelligent access...you know the key fob that only has to be on your body in order to open the door...no more pushing the button for unlock.  All I had to do was walk up to the car and it unlocked.  Not to mention the push button start.  I never had to find my keys....awesome!  

My favorite feature?  The message letting me know how many miles until empty.  I know it's a bad habit, but I continue to drive when the arrow is on red.  In my own defense, I am usually running late and can't stop at the gas station until after work.  While we are on the topic of gas, the Escape has EcoBoost technology.  I didn't have to fill up for MANY miles (and I have a long commute each day).

The Escape was equipped with SYNC technology with MyFord Touch.  You never have to take your eyes off the road to find a song on your synced iPod or to call your husband when you're on the way to the store.  Just speak your command to SYNC and your wish is the car's demand! 

My family and I loved driving the new 2013 Ford Escape and became a little pampered by all of the new features that it had.  It was really hard climbing back into our 2008 minivan...

If you're looking for an SUV that's not too big in size, but knows how to pack in the perks, check out the 2013 Ford Escape!




***Disclosure: The vehicle was provided at no charge for a week. No commitment to review the vehicle was made. All opinions are my own.





Alexis

The Honda Pilot ~ My Dream Car

Ok, so it's no secret that I am SOOOOO over my minivan.  
I mean, come on, I only have 2 kids and I'm not having any more (at least not planning to).  Do I really need a minivan?  

I do like having 3 rows.  I do love the trunk space.  I do love the comfort.  I'm just not in love with my minivan.

I recently had the chance to drive the Honda Pilot.  Wowza!  I'm in love....with a car.....

Look how beautiful....and clean.  My minivan is never clean.

The Pilot was awarded the 2012 Top Safety Pick by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  That speaks VERY highly with parents.  It is outfitted with side and curtain airbags, 3-point seat belts, anti-lock brakes, and LATCH on each rear seat (even the third row!).

This 4-wheel drive SUV seats up to 8 comfortably.  We were able to fit two booster seats and an adult in the backseat with no problem at all.  (No more making a third adult sit in the 3rd row...it's so hard to hear back there!)  Not to mention it has tremendous cargo space for storage.  Under the trunk is another storage compartment, great for keeping items out of sight.  With the third row down, the Pilot has the space of a small pick-up truck. 

The Pilot has fun technology too!  I mean, come on, it says "Welcome" when you get in the car...does your car do that?  The Bluetooth HandsFree Link and navigation system with voice recognition makes me feel like I'm in "KITT" from "Knight Rider." 
My kids loved the DVD rear entertainment system with removable remote.  I loved the wireless headphones!  

So many nifty techy gadgets...

Storage is a MUST with kids!

And of course, all the "Mommy touches."

The Honda Pilot is perfect for families, large and small, with busy lives who want the comfort and safety of a midsize SUV.  

How do I convince my husband that we need to head to Honda right now?

 

I received a Honda Pilot for the weekend as a loan along with a full tank of gas. All opinions are based on the experience of me and my family during the time we had the vehicle and were not influenced by Honda in any way. No compensation was received for this review.

Alexis

Bye Bye Soccer Mom Car? Uh, NO!

I thought my mini-van days were behind me...I was wrong!

When my second son was born, my husband (aka MEANIE) talked me into getting a mini-van. And at some point during the car buying process, I convinced myself that it was "cool."  I think I was blinded by the newness of the car, the "new car" smell, the side-curtain air bags, the space...and then I woke up.  I drive a mini-van and I'm 29 years old.  And not one of the souped-up mini-vans with the doors that open as if by magic, with built in entertainment, leather seats that will repel spilled milk.  Nope.  Just a plain old mini-van.

This past June, I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel...my lease was almost up.  I can finally have a "cool mom" car and I'm still in my 30s.  Not bad, not bad.  But then "Meanie" came along, too bad.  

"It's in our best interest to buy out our lease," he said.  "We will be able to sell it in a year," he said.  "Pretty soon our sons will be out of car seats and you can get a smaller car," he said.  Blah, blah, blah.  He doesn't care, he doesn't drive it.  He doesn't even like to drive it when we go on our occasional "date nights."  What does that tell you?

So, I'm still a "soccer mom" van driver.....maybe I'll just go buy a sweatshirt with a teddy bear on it and call it a day.


Alexis