2016 Honda HR-V Achieves Highest Overall Score for Collision Safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

If you haven`t had the opportunity to view and test-drive the all-new Honda HR-V, now is the time to do so. In addition to its stunning appeal, advanced technology and affordable pricing, the new 2016 Honda HR-V has just received a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score, the top score available in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program.

As an entry crossover, the HR-V also achieved an IIHS Top Safety Pick Rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  With multiple standard and available safety features including SmartVent Front Side Airbags, Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH), Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction control, Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering, Anti-Lock Braking System, Honda LaneWatch (EX, EX-L Navi), Hill Start Assist, Expanded View Driver`s Mirror, Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Guidelines, Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning (LWD) (EX-L Navi) it`s no wonder this vehicle received such a high accolade.

Summarizing it best, Dave Gardner, Senior Vice President of Operations, Honda Canada said “Using Honda’s packaging magic, powertrain innovation and safety engineering expertise, the HR-V delivers a high level of occupant safety protection along with top class fuel economy and interior space…”

Without a doubt, this is one Honda vehicle you must experience.  Visit us at www.Imagehonda.com to schedule a test drive or stop in and speak with one of our reputable sales consultants. As always, stay connected to Hamilton Auto Blog for the latest news at Image Honda.

Source: Honda Canada

Child focused safety features for the exterior of your vehicle: PART 2

PART 2: Child focused safety features for the exterior of your vehicle

Most family friendly vehicles come with a long list of child focused safety features, but what do they actually mean?

We have put together a brief list of vehicle safety features that you might want to consider when purchasing a child friendly vehicle. A lot of the features we mention are standard, but we want to explain what role they play in your family’s safety.

DOOR LOCKS – REAR CHILD SECURITY LOCKS: Child safety locks are built into the rear doors of most vehicles to prevent rear seat passengers from opening the doors, both during transit and while the vehicle is stationary. These locks provide the driver with a simple, safe & secure method of preventing unauthorized exit from the car.

 WINDOWS – REAR WINDOW LOCK-OUT FEATURE: A driver-controlled lockout switch prevents passengers (usually small children) from accidentally triggering the switches.

SAFETY RATINGS – NCAP 5 STAR SAFETY RATING: The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) rates vehicles to determine crash worthiness and rollover safety. The safety ratings are gathered during controlled crash and rollover tests, which are conducted at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s research facilities. Five stars indicate the highest safety rating.

AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM: This system recirculates cabin air to help prevent exhaust fumes from entering the interior of the vehicle. The filters also remove dust, pollen and other airborne irritants from outside air that is pulled into the vehicle.

REINFORCED STEEL SAFETY CAGE: Helps diffuse impact energy in the passenger compartment and provides a stronger foundation structure.

CRUMPLE ZONES: Crumple zones literally crumple up in a collision by absorbing the energy of the collision and diverting it from the passenger compartment.  As a result the safety cage remains intact.

SIDE IMPACT BEAMS:Side impact cross-car beams help channel energy during a collision.

STABILITRAK:  Electronic Stability Control System intervenes automatically, helping prevent lateral skids and restore steering control.

PROCACTIVE ROLL AVOIDANCE (on most SUV’s):  Proactive roll avoidance reduces the vehicle’s tendency to roll over in a panic situation.

TRACTION CONTROL: A system that automatically applies brake pressure to appropriate wheels, limiting the wheel-spin and helping to re-establish traction.

FORWARD COLLISION ALERT:Forward Collision Alert is a crash-avoidance system that uses sensors to help detect when the driver is getting too close to a vehicle. The systems alerts the driver with visual cues on the dashboard, as well as an audible alert.

LANE DEPARTURE WARNING AND SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT:A camera, mounted in the rear-view mirror, reads the lines on the road. Should the vehicle stray, the system alerts the driver via visible and audible cues.

REAR PARK ASSIST: This is designed to alert the driver of obstacles while parking. These systems use either electromagnetic or ultrasonic sensors.

REAR BACK-UP CAMERA: Back-up camera displays are activated on a monitor when the vehicle is set in reverse. This is alternatively known as ‘reversing cameras’ or ‘rear view cameras’ and it is specifically designed to avoid a backup collision.

HILL START ASSIST: The system prevents the car from rolling away when driving on an upward or downward incline. The system engages automatically when the vehicle is completely stopped on an incline; it then acts to hold the car stationary for two seconds after the brake is released, giving the driver time to apply the throttle.

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM: A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is an electronic system for monitoring your vehicle’s tire pressure. A tire pressure monitoring system will alert drivers when underinflated tires are detected.

SOME OTHER CONVENIENT SAFETY FEATURES TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A VEHICLE WITH A CHILD IN MIND ARE: Wheel mounted audio controls, DVD entertainment with headphones, auxiliary audio input jack, USB Port, flat-folding rear seats, fold-flat front passenger seats, remote start, cargo area security net, halogen headlamps, fog lights, cup holders, extra lighting, keyless entry, Bluetooth and a large storage area.

We hope you enjoy all the excitement that comes along with selecting a new vehicle with your family. Please remember to ask your sales associate what standard and optional features come with your vehicle of choice. Walk away with peace of mind knowing that your family is safe and secure.

Child-Focused Safety Features For The Interior Of Your Vehicle – Part 1

car safety

Most family-friendly vehicles come with a long list of child-focused safety features, but what do they all mean? We have put together a short list of vehicle safety features that you might want to consider when purchasing a child-friendly vehicle. A lot of the features listed below do come standard, but what roll do they play in your family’s traveling safety?

3-point belts: A 3-point belt is a ‘Y’-shaped arrangement, similar to the separate lap and sash belts, but unitized. Like the separate lap-and-sash belt, in a collision, the 3-point belt spreads out the energy of the moving body over the chest, pelvis, and shoulders.

Safety belt pre-tensioners: Reduces slack that may exist in a seatbelt system at the moment of a collision.

Shoulder belt height adjusters: Simply aligns the seat belt comfortably away from the neck of the passengers when properly positioning the height of the seat belt.

LATCH (Lower Anchors and Top Tethers for Children) Rear Seats: Also known in Canada as, LUAS (Lower Universal Anchorage System). LATCH is a way to secure a child safety seat to the vehicle using straps from the child safety seat that connect to special metal anchors in the vehicle. LATCH consists of lower anchors and top tethers, which are built-in to your vehicle, and connecting hooks that are built-in to your car seat. Lower anchors are used instead of the vehicle’s safety belt to secure the child seat to the vehicle. Tethers are used in addition to the lower anchors or the vehicle’s safety belt to secure a forward-facing child safety seat to the vehicle.

Vehicle LATCH Anchors:
Lower Anchors: These are a pair of metal “u-shaped” bars that are often hidden in the crack of the vehicle’s seat.

Tether Anchors: These are metal rings that are found behind each rear vehicle seat.

OnStar In-Vehicle Communications and Assistance Service – Subscription-based communication that provides customers with peace of mind through auto security and safety features -these include:

Automatic Crash Response
Emergency Services
Crisis Assist
Stolen Vehicle Assistance
Remote Door Unlock
Roadside Assistance
Remote Horn and Lights
Turn-by-Turn Navigation
Hands-Free Calling
Vehicle Diagnostics

Sliding rear seat: The rear seats have the ability to slide back and forth to give more leg room or more rear cargo space.

Tinted glass: Solar-absorbing tinted windows that are UV-filtered to limit children’s sun exposure.

Driver and Front Passenger Frontal Air Bags: Front air bags that help restrain the driver and front passenger in moderate to severe front impact crashes. Dual-depth units automatically adjust the deployment of the air bags based on the severity of the collision, the seat position and other factors.

Airbag Deactivation: The purpose of the switch in the OFF position is to disable a frontal air bag in order to transport occupants who are at increased risk for air bag-related injury due to age, size, or medical condition.

Head Curtain Side Impact Airbags: Seat-mounted and head curtain air bags help provide additional protection in moderate to severe side impact crashes.

ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System): ABS helps the driver maintain proper vehicle steering control during hard braking, even on slick surfaces. ABS is standard equipment on most GM and Honda vehicles.

Hill Start Assist: This system prevents the car from rolling when trying to pull away on an upward or downward incline. The system engages automatically when the vehicle is at a complete stop on an incline. It then acts to hold the car stationary for two seconds after the brake is released giving the driver time to apply the throttle.

Some other convenient features to consider when buying a vehicle with children are: Steering wheel mounted audio controls, DVD entertainment with headphones, auxiliary audio input jack, USB ports, flat-folding rear seats, fold-flat front passenger seat, remote start, cargo area security net, halogen headlamps, fog lights, cup holders, extra lighting, keyless entry, Bluetooth and a large storage area.
We hope you enjoy all the excitement that comes with selecting a new vehicle for you and your family. Remember to ask your sales associate what features are standard and which are optional when you are selecting a vehicle. Give yourself peace of mind and leave our dealerships knowing your family is safe and secure.
Coming soon- PART 2: Child focused safety features for the exterior of your vehicle.

photo credit: http://www.mymetroparents.com

2013 Chevrolet Spark

The Spark is so action packed; you would never know it is the first mini-car from Chevrolet!  Aside from the eccentric colour pallet – Jalapeno, Salsa Red, Denim, Techno Pink and Lemonade – Chevy’s new vehicle has been coined as a “small engine in the big city”. The 1.2L, 4 cylinder engine with variable valve timing allows the Spark to run more efficiently by conserving fuel.  Another fantastic feature is the Hill Start Assist, which keeps the brake engaged while your foot switches from the brake to the gas pedal on inclines.   

This 5 door, 4 passenger mini car is easy to park and so much fun, you will be offering to drive your friends everywhere! Although the Spark is small, it is surprisingly roomy and high volume for its size.  With the 7 inch Chevrolet MyLink display screen, you have everything at your fingertips. MyLink allows you to get directions, take phone calls, watch movies and listen to your favourite music. This car has so much to offer, it is without a doubt an attractive option for anyone who is in the market for a small, economy minded car.

If you are interested in the Spark or any of the vehicles in our award winning Chevrolet line-up, please visit us at http://www.queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

Credit: GM Canada