Top Family-Friendly Kid-Haulers

It’s always sad to see summer come to an end, but with its end comes the start of a new season.  As families say goodbye to summer road trips and days at the beach, it’s back to school time for many.

With carpooling, after school activities, sports and the like, families will be spending a considerable amount of time in their vehicles.  In fact, an online poll taken by CarGurus.com showed that a third spend more than an hour in their car on any given day. Needless to say, comfort and dependability are important features.

This year, CarGurus.com put together a list with their “10 Best Top Family-Friendly Kid-Haulers” and we are happy to announce that both Honda & GM made the list.

Here are the vehicles that made the CarGuru’s List!

Midsize SUV

  • 2016 Chevrolet Traverse

2016 Chevrolet Traverse

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minivans

  • 2015 Honda Odyssey

2015-Honda-Odyssey-01

 

 

 

 

 

 

Large SUVs

  • 2016 Chevrolet Suburban

2016 chev suburban

 

 

 

 

 

We are excited to see that these vehicles made the list.  Visit us at Image Honda or Queenston to schedule your test drive today.  As always, make sure to follow Hamilton Auto Blog for the latest news and updates!

Source: http://www.cargurus.com

http://www.canadianautodealer.ca/2015/09/top-kid-haulers-for-back-to-school/

2016 Honda Accord Reveal

Today in California, Honda introduced the 2016 Honda Accord, which received a major overhaul in appearance. The new, sportier and more sophisticated Accord will be the first Honda model to feature both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Without a doubt, this will be the “highest-tech Accord ever.” Additional changes will include new styling, new display audio touchscreen interface, Honda Sensing (set of comprehensive safety and driver-assistive technologies), front and rear parking sensors, wireless charging and numerous other standard and available features that we are told will be revealed over the next several weeks.

0B3C8700The exterior changes include a new aluminum hood with a more aggressive front grille, while the back of the Accord sports restyled LED headlights and a redesigned bumper.
If the Accord Sport and Touring trims are something you are interested in, you can also expect new, larger 19-inch wheels and tires along with a new rear deck spoiler.
We are already counting down the arrival of the all-new 2016 Honda Accord. Make sure you stay connected with Image Honda and Hamilton Auto Blog for the latest information on this outstanding vehicle.

Source: Honda Canada

2016 Civic Concept

At the 2015 New York International Auto Show, Honda unveiled the 10th-generation Honda Civic Concept. Launching this fall, the new Civic lineup will include the Civic Sedan, Coupe and Si models along with the return of the Civic hatchback, followed by the launch of a new Civic Type-R as the performance flagship of the Civic lineup. The new Civic also will be the first North American model to apply new VTEC® Turbo engines from the company’s Earth Dreams Technology™ powertrain series.

2016 CIVIC“The new Civic will be, flat out, the most dynamic, the most technologically advanced and the most refined and stylish Civic we’ve ever made,” said Dave Gardner, senior vice president of operations, Honda Canada Inc. “We couldn’t be prouder to be the global manufacturing lead for this epic vehicle, and they’ll be built by Canadians right in here in our renowned Alliston, Ontario facility.”

Featuring a longer wheelbase and lower, wider stance, the new Civic emphasizes its aggressive personality and engaging experience behind the wheel. Its sporty and expressive face is highlighted by bright new LED headlights flanking the “Flying H” Honda grille which is supported by deeply sculpted lower air intakes.

The 10th-generation Civic is based on a compact platform that targets benchmark levels of efficiency, dynamic performance, safety and production efficiency. Leveraging this new platform in conjunction with new Earth Dreams Technology™ powertrains – including a new 1.5-liter VTEC® Turbo engine with direct injection, a short-shifting 6-speed manual transmission, and a new, more sporty and efficient continuously variable transmission (CVT) – the Civic will target class-leading fuel economy ratings and fun-to-drive performance with near-luxury levels of cabin quietness and ride refinement.

The new Civic will also focus on safety performance and will offer the Honda Sensing™ suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies, including Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Multi-Angle Rear-view Camera, Adaptive Cruise Control and Honda LaneWatch™, along with Honda’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure.

As the best selling passenger vehicle in Canada for 17 years, the redesigned Civic is sure to be a hit and we can’t wait for its debut at Image Honda this fall. For more information about our outstanding Honda vehicle lineup, visit us at www.imagehonda.com or call us at (905) 561-4100.

Source: http://www.honda.ca/future-vehicles

2016 Honda Pilot

We love excitement and there is a lot of exciting news at Honda Canada lately.  One recent announcement is that the completely re-engineered and re-designed 2016 Honda Pilot SUV will be making its debut at the 2015 Canadian International Auto Show on February 12th in Toronto.  The all-new, eight passenger Pilot stands in a class of its own with “new technology, advanced safety, improved fuel economy and enhanced family utility and versatility.”  The newly re-designed 3 row SUV will surely impress.

Pilot_Teaser_Sketch

For latest updates and information on the all-new 2016 Honda Pilot, please follow our blog or visit us at Image Honda www.imagehonda.com.

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

The Chevrolet Hockey Helmet Program Is Back At Queenston!

Safe and Fun Hockey 2013

The Chevrolet Hockey Helmet Program is back in conjunction with Chevrolet’s Safe & Fun Hockey.  This program was created in 1999 for today’s youth to adopt proactive attitudes toward safety, as well as foster a healthy and positive attitude toward “competition, teamwork, fair game and grace under pressure” in hockey.

Through an ongoing partnership with Hockey Canada, in the last 2 years, Chevrolet handed out over 25,000 free hockey helmets to parents of 5 year olds in Canada.  This year, all players born in 2008 who register with Hockey Canada are eligible to receive a free Bauer Hockey Helmet.  It is important to note that parents must register their child to receive this offer.  coaches, managers or other team officials may not do so.  What is required?

  • A printout of the registration form; click here to register
  • Your child’s birth certificate/passport or other provincial/federal documentation that states his/her age.
  • Proof of registration with a Canadian Minor Hockey Association in this current hockey season.

If you meet the above requirements, all you have to do is drop by one of our two dealerships’ Queenston on the Mountain or Queenston on Centennial.  Present us with the appropriate documents for verification purposes and we will present you with a voucher to redeem for your child’s helmet at your local Forzani store (SportChek, Sport Mart, Hockey Experts, Intersport or Sports Experts).  In your package, you will also receive information and hockey-related items from Chevrolet Safe and Fun Hockey, Hockey Canada, Forzani and Bauer.

If you have any further questions or concerns regarding this outstanding program from Chevrolet, please contact us by visiting our webpage http://www.queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

Credit:
Chevrolet Safe & Fun Hockey http://www.safeandfunhockey.ca/en/helmet

Coming Soon to Image Honda: 2014 Honda Odyssey

Image Honda is excited to announce that the 2014 Honda Odyssey will be arriving at our dealership sometime next month!  As we have previously mentioned in our blog, the Odyssey underwent a minor model change and is full of interior and exterior design upgrades.  New features like the “HondaVac” make this stunning model a must have.  Two new trims have been added to the Odyssey line up this year: the SE trim and the EX-L-Navi trim, giving the consumer a total of seven trim options.286946_635637346449297_1103444555_o

 

Whether you choose the base line model or the top-of-the line Touring model, Honda guarantees luxury for everyone with their standard features:

  • New colour availability, and interior pattern change
  • New 17″ and 18″ alloy wheels
  • 6-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic control
  • Text message function
  • Expanded view driver’s mirror
  • LED taillight bars
  • One-touch turn signals

If you are looking for that little bit extra, we suggest that you take a look at the EX, EX-L RES, EX-L-Navi and Touring models that provide even more exceptional technology.

  • LaneWatch – Blind spot display
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Forward Collision Warning
  • Proximity key entry system and push button start
  • HondaVac in-car vacuum system (TOURING TRIM ONLY)
  • Power folding mirrors (TOURING TRIM ONLY)1008576_635637326449299_1228641143_o

As you can see, this incomparable vehicle provides you with options that are exclusive to the Honda Odyssey.  Please make sure you stay connected to Image Honda and Hamilton Auto Blog regarding arrival dates and other information.  As always, if you have any questions, please contact us at 905-561-4100 today!

By: Amy Cochren

Credit: Honda Canada