Its official, the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel has been named “Top Diesel Car of the Year”, as well as “Diesel Manufacturer of the Year” by Diesel Driver Magazine. Voted on by the readers of Diesel Driver, 59.3% of the 11,030 votes cast were for the Cruze, beating out competing models that included: Audi, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW and Porsche.This isn’t the first award for the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel – earlier this year they were recognized by Wards Auto as having one of the 10 Best Engines.
The all-new Chevrolet Cruze is a 2.0L clean-turbo-diesel-powered model, and has a fuel consumption rating of 4.2L/100km highway. This new diesel achieves a better fuel consumption rating than any non-hybrid or gasoline passenger car in North America.
While there is much excitement still surrounding the 2014 model, Chevrolet just revealed the 2015 Cruze Diesel at the New York International Auto Show. Making revisions to the exterior styling, as well as enhancements to the interior convenience of the vehicle, Chevrolet has made available a diesel powertrain that still maintains its class-leading fuel economy.
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:
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.
It’s a new year and a new start. You’ve probably already made your own New Year’s resolutions, but what about when it comes to your car? This year, let’s resolve to take better care of our vehicle and be a more conscientious car owner.
I resolve to use rubber mats seasonally to protect my car
Rubber floor mats protect your interior from dirt, water, mud, and more. At Queenston Chevrolet Buick GMC and Image Honda, we sell mats that are custom fit to your vehicle. These floor mats not only provide you with the satisfaction of having OEM quality protection, but you won’t have to worry about them slipping underneath your pedals, which can be a serious safety risk.
I resolve to invest in seasonal tires
Sliding, slipping, zero traction….the list goes on. Winter tires are critical, especially with our Ontario winters. Not only are they a good investment that give you added safety and peace of mind, but they save you wear and tear on your all-season tires. Swapping them out twice a year gives you added life on your wheels!
I resolve to schedule regular maintenance appointments
Our certified technicians at Image Honda and Queenston Chevrolet Buick GMC are trained to know your vehicle inside and out and are able to spot things that you might otherwise have missed. Bringing your car in at least twice a year for regular checkups and preventative maintenance may cost you in the short term, but will save you in repair costs and increase your resale value.
I resolve to check for fluid leaks at least once a month.
This is always a good idea and one of the easiest things to check for. We recommend taking a pizza box and placing it under your car for the night – in the morning, bring the box into the dealership and show us your art work. We will be able to tell what is leaking based on the colour and where it dripped on the box.
I resolve to be a more fuel efficient driver
This year, don’t use the old excuse that your vehicle isn’t fuel efficient! True, it may not be the best on gas, but there are always ways to improve your fuel efficiency. Watching your speed, maintaining your vehicle, carpooling with people co-workers are all easy ways to save on fuel costs.
I resolve to kick my idling habit
There really is no reason to leave your car idling – it is bad for the environment, increases your gas consumption and will cost you extra money each year.
I resolve to wash and keep my car clean.
I make this resolution almost every time I clean out my car. Not only will cleaning your car make it look better, but it will extend the life of your car, protect the paint and increase its resale value.
I resolve to be a more patient driver,
Most importantly, don’t rush! Leave plenty of time if you need to be somewhere at a specific time. If you are running late, evaluate the circumstance – will you really be that late if you don’t make the green light?
I resolve to learn new driving skills
No one is a perfect driver and there are certainly driving skills we can all work on. Perhaps, you want to learn how to back into a spot or even parallel park. Whatever it is, work on it – you’ll be glad you did.
I resolve to check my tire pressure and tread regularly
There is nothing worse than getting to your car in the morning when you are late for work, only to find your windshield frozen over. Often times, people will run their blades over the frozen windshield in order to clear it. This severely reduces the life span of your wiper blades. Wiper blades frequently get neglected on most cars and yet, they are constantly used and exposed to harsh conditions. We recommend that you change your blades at least once a year, preferably every 6 months.
If your wipers are rattling, streaking or simply not cleaning your window, it is time to replace them. This also goes for wipers that are cracked, torn, nicked or damaged. Winter especially can have an effect on your blades with cold/freezing temperatures, causing them to crack and split. If you are unsure whether or not it is time for a change, perform a simple check with your washer fluid.
Changing your wiper blade yourself, believe it or not, is one of the easiest maintenance jobs that can be performed on your vehicle. I discovered this myself last week when I realized it was time for new blades, and had our friendly service advisors show me how.
Please watch our quick “How To” video on changing your wiper blades – you’ll be happy you did!
If you are in need of new wiper blades, please call our service centres and we will be happy to assist you! www.queenstonchev.com
We all know this has been a big year for Chevrolet and their entire full-sized truck line. With the reengineering of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, we saw a lot of big changes and truly got a sense of what Chevy meant when they said “finding new roads”. Well, on November 20th at 12:30pm ET at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Chevrolet will be revealing the final piece to Chevrolet’s pick-up truck portfolio with the reveal of the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado.
Re-defining what a midsize pick-up is, the new Colorado has been designed to be the “most capable, most versatile and technologically advanced midsize truck in the market”
We are inviting you to join us on our AutoHwy Facebook page on November 20th at 12:30pm for the LIVE reveal in Los Angeles!
As always, we encourage you to contact us if you are interested in any of the vehicles in our award winning line-up by visiting us at Queenston on the Mountain or Queenston on Centennial. For the latest and up to date information make sure to follow us at Hamilton Auto Blog.
Do you love the feeling of getting into a new car, experiencing new technology, knowing that you are in the safest of vehicles? Then leasing might be right for you. Unlike finance, where you pay for the entire value of the vehicle, leasing provides you with the option to only pay for a portion of the vehicle known as the residual value (value you expect to use over a set period of time), plus a borrowing charge and applicable taxes. Leasing also provides you with flexibility, especially when it comes to the end of term process. You, as the customer, are given the option to purchase and keep, purchase and sell, or drop off the keys and shop for a new vehicle.
There are many benefits to leasing that people are unaware of:
You only have to pay for the portion of the vehicle that you intend to use
You only have to pay tax on your monthly payments
Lease terms are shorter than typical finance terms, which allows you to drive a new vehicle more often
You don’t have a trade in obligation
With leasing you can drive upgraded models with more features for a lower monthly payment then if you were to finance. Your payment is often lower because you are only paying for the depreciation of the vehicle over your lease term
If you lease, often times you can deduct payments from your taxes if you use your car for business more than 50% of the time – please see your accountant for details
Leasing often provides you with the option for better products and lower interest rates.
Peace of mind since most leases will fall within the factory warranty period
At Queenston, we provide you with both GM and in house lease programs to accomodate you, no matter your circumstance. Combined with an award winning product line-up and outstanding GM program lease offers, there really is no better time to consider leasing your vehicle.
General Motors has won 8 best vehicle awards in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey, with all GM brands ranking above the industry average this year! Topping the chart at number 2 is GMC, followed by Chevrolet, who jumped 10 spots from last year to land at number 5. Cadillac tied for 13th and Buick came in at 15. What is even more exciting is that GMC and Chevrolet are the only two non-luxury brands to make the top 5. Click here to read more about the Survey
Consumer Reports has named the 2014 Chevrolet Impala as Best New Sedan, which has also received a five star safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program.
The 2013 Chevrolet Trax has been recognized by Vincentric as a “Consumer Best Value in Canada” in the Compact Sport Utility Vehicle segment. The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and High Country and the GMC Sierra produce the most power and torque of any light duty pick-ups currently on the market. Lastly, just announced, the 2013 Buick Encore has been recognized by Vincentric as “Consumer Best Value in Canada” in the Premium Compact Crossover Segment. These awards are only a few and we encourage you to visit our dealerships (Queenston on Centennial and Queenston on the Mountain) for more information or visit Hamilton Auto Blog for the latest updates.
This recognition combined with outstanding fuel economies, state of the art technologies like MyLink, voice recognition, Stabilitrak, Lane Departure Warnings, Forward Collision Warnings, Park Assist and additional airbags that come standard on most models, make the 2014 GM line-up one of the best ever!
If you are interested in leasing, we encourage you to visit our website for the latest Sign and Drive Event – we’ll make your first payment for you! Visit Queenston on Centennial and Queenston on the Mountain today and get into the vehicle of your dreams!
Last Thursday, husband and wife team Garry Sowerby and Lisa Calvi embarked on a challenge some might call crazy. Over the course of 10 days, they will venture on a cross Canada Journey from Vancouver to Halifax on the Trans-Canada Highway in an attempt to set the record for lowest fuel consumption. “We want to set a record that will be difficult for someone else to beat within the same parameters”, said Lisa Calvi.
Sp why did this couple choose to drive the all-new 2014 Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel? The answer is simple! It is better than any non-hybrid passenger car in Canada, so what better car to help them break the record. The Cruze diesel offers a segment leading 151 horsepower and 264 lb.-ft torque. Additionally, it comes with a sex speed automatic transmission, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, 3.20 final drive ratio, 140-amp alternator, 800 cold-cranking amps battery 17 inch alloy wheels, ultra-low-rolling resistance all-season tires, Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system and more. the starting price of the Cruze Diesel is only $24,945. Even with the $1550 destination charge, the Cruze Diesel is a better value than the comparable Volkswagen Jetta TDI automatic.
This current record for lowest fuel consumption was set last year by Volkswagen and Shell with a consumption of 5.59L/100km when they used a 2012 VW Passat with a gasoline engine. this year, with the Cruze Diesel, Garry and Lisa are hoping to have a highway fuel consumption rating somewhere in the four-point something litre per 100km range.
In order to achieve this, the adventurous couple will face a few challenges along the way such; maintaining the speed limits, finding the shortest route possible and having very little time for food, stops and accomodations.
If you would like to follow their journey, visit their blog at driving.ca or keep reading Hamilton Auto Blog for the latest up to date information on all things Chevrolet. If you are interested in purchasing the Cruze Diesel or any other vehicles in our award winning line-up please visit us at http://www.queenstonchev.com.
