The Best Family Cars That Fit Three Carseats

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The best family cars balance features and economy. One of the biggest challenges facing car-shopping families is size. Fitting the whole family can be difficult when bulky car seats are involved. Sizing up to a minivan or third-row SUV isn’t strictly necessary for families who need room for multiple children and all of their gear. Sedans that can accommodate are few and far between, but they’re out there for car shoppers looking to keep their vehicles small, even while their families grow.

Chevy Impala | Raymond Boyd via Getty Images

Chevy Impala

A huge factor families consider before buying a car is storage space. The Chevy Impala has an extra-large trunk that can easily accommodate a stroller, diaper bags, coolers, and all of the other gear families need. The roomy backseat can accommodate three car seats across, something few sedans can claim. The whole family can ride together in comfort in the Impala’s well-appointed interior.

The Chevy Impala impresses with high crash safety ratings. Active safety features and high-tech systems make the Impala easy to drive. Its steering system will automatically adjust sensitivity based on speed. Its smooth handling and well-balanced wheelbase make it easy to navigate any driving conditions in safety and comfort. Lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic detection, and forward collision alert make driving a breeze for busy parents.

A high-speed 4G Wi-Fi hot spot makes it easy to take work, studies, or entertainment on the road. Remote start lets parents ready the car and control the temperature from a distance. Streamlining travel is essential when multiple children are involved. These features take a few details off of drivers’ plates.

The best family cars have style

A red 2020 Dodge Charger on display
2020 Dodge Charger | Raymond Boyd via Getty Images

RELATED: What Is the Best Trim for the Dodge Charger?

A Dodge Charger is a world away from the typical family car. It’s not every day that parents pull up to PTA meetings with hood scoops and aggressive grilles. This 8-speed automatic has a powerful V6 that sounds like more like it belongs at the track than in the carpool lane.

Despite its powerful engine, this roomy sedan is a comfortable ride for the whole family. Three carseats fit across the rear seat safely. As children transition to booster seats, the Charger provides ample leg room. Older children will appreciate the rare luxury of heated leather rear seats.

Safety ratings matter for family vehicles. The Charger has received NHTSA 5-star crash test ratings year after year. Optional driver-assist features like blindspot monitoring and forward collision warning make travel less stressful for busy parents. Adaptive cruise control makes family day trips a breeze.

The Chrysler 300 has trunk space to spare

Chrysler 300 | Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

RELATED: The Chrysler 300 Is Dated but Still Classy

The Chrysler 300 may not be a sport sedan but it does offer a fun driving experience. This is a great car for families that aren’t ready for the sleepy acceleration of a minivan. It’s also loaded with features that make families more comfortable. This sedan covers all the features a busy family needs in a daily driver.

The interior of the 300 is spacious enough to accommodate many family configurations. Three car seats can easily fit across it’s wide rear bench seat. Older children will find the back seat provides ample room as they grow. The trunk provides plenty of room for everything busy families need on the go.

Chrysler earned high IIHS and NHTSA crash safety ratings for the 300. On-board safety features like rear head airbags provide extra peace of mind for rear sitting passengers. The Chrysler 300 is a spacious, safe and reliable sedan that can serve families well for years to come.

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The Best Lawn Mower Brands According to Bob Vila

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Not all lawn mowers are created equally. In fact, some lawn mowers are better than others. The same can be said of lawn mower brands. The good news is that Bob Vila recently highlighted its picks for the best lawn mower brands. Let’s find out what they are.

Honda is one of the best lawn mower brands

Honda doesn’t just make cars. They make lawn mowers too. In fact, Honda is one of the best lawn mower brands out there, Bob Vila reports. There are plenty of reasons for that too. Honda lawn mowers reportedly start quickly and require minimal lawn mower maintenance. Honda’s patented two-blade cutting system reduces wear, meaning that Honda lawn mowers typically last longer too. Perhaps the only downside to Honda lawn mowers is that they tend to be on the more expensive side of things.

You can’t beat a John Deere if you want one of the best lawn mowers

John Deere | Jim R. Bounds/Bloomberg

If you’re shopping for a new lawn mower, chances are you’ve come across several John Deere models, including the John Deere S120. Though, why wouldn’t you? After all, John Deere is one of the most well-known lawn mower brands in the business. It’s also among the best lawn mower brands, Bob Vila reports. Though, that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The company debuted its first lawn mower in 1963 and has been churning out some of the best lawn mowers ever since. 

Toro lawn mowers have a reputation for durability and reliability

Bob Villa suggests choosing a Toro lawn mower if you’re shopping for the best push lawn mower for your yard. Why? Well, to put it simply, Toro is one of the most well-known names in push lawn mowers. It’s also one of the best. These mowers come equipped with Briggs & Stratton engines and boast a thick-gauge steel construction. According to Bob Vila, Toro lawn mowers don’t require oil changes either.

Troy-Bilt lawn mowers are affordable and reliable

Troy-Bilt also found itself among the best lawn mower brands. Troy-Bilt lawn mowers boast the kind of rugged construction and reliability needed to keep your lawn in good shape. Bob Vila reports that Troy-Bilt sells more affordable lawn mowers than many other lawn mower brands too. In fact, a new Troy-Bilt will have you spending anywhere from $219 to $1,399. 

Greenworks is a groundbreaking lawn mower brand

Perhaps you would prefer an electric lawn mower instead. If that’s the case, Greenworks is one of the best lawn mower brands to shop, Bob Vila reports. Greenworks is best known for launching the first dual-blade battery-powered cordless mower back in 2013. Nowadays, the company sells several different types of battery-powered, cordless, and electric lawn mowers.

Craftsman has been one of the best lawn mower brands for decades

Odds are, you’ve heard of Craftsman. After all, it’s been one of the best lawn mower brands for decades, Bob Vila reports. Initially launched by Sears and later sold to Stanley Black & Decker in 2017, Craftsman lawn mowers are as durable as they are reliable. “Craftsman lawn tractors remain one of the best values among riding lawn mowers,” Bob Vila added.

Ego is known for its cordless lawn mowers

Ego has a reputation for innovation and is best known for its selection of cordless lawn mowers, Bob Vila reports. With affordable lawn mowers like the Ego LM2133 on the market, Ego is also known as one of the best lawn mower brands. This specific Ego lawn mower is available on Amazon and boasts a 21-inch cutting deck, a total 45-minute runtime, and a rapid charger.

Husqvarna lawn mowers are known for their reliability

Husqvarna lawn mowers on display, Husqvarna is one of the best lawn mower brands
Husqvarna | Hannelore Foerster/Bloomberg News

Bob Vila reports that if you’re shopping for a new lawn mower, you can’t go wrong with a Husqvarna lawn mower. In fact, this lawn mower brand is one of the best. Its mowers are known for two things: power and reliability. The brand’s most popular lawn mower types include riding tractors and zero-turn mowers. Expect to pay a premium price for these lawn mowers, though. Bob Vila reports that they often come with high-end features. And those high-end features? They’ll likely cost you a pretty penny.

Cub Cadet is known as one of the best lawn mower brands

Last but certainly not least is Cub Cadet. This Ohio-based lawn mower brand is one of the best, Bob Vila reports. The brand initially began by building small farm tractors in the 1960s. Today, Cub Cadet makes some of the best new lawn mowers. Much like Husqvarna, Cub Cadet lawn mowers are on the more expensive side. Though, you can blame their high prices on premium features like cruise control and pedal-speed control.

How to choose the best lawn mower for your yard

Choosing the best lawn mower for your needs can feel like an overwhelming task. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. There are several brands out there that make durable lawn mowers that are well worth your consideration. 

RELATED: The Best Lawn Mower Features to Look For in Your Next Mower

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This Electric Car Cleans Pullouted Air as It Drives Around and You Can Sleep in It

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When you imagine the future of the auto industry, chances are you’re thinking of ultra-clean EV’s that may even drive themselves. However, a London-based design studio seemingly took that concept and ran with it. The electric car in question is called the Airo and was commissioned by Chinese carmaker IM Motors. While it may look like just another concept car on the surface, this vehicle has one clear goal, clean polluted air.

Heatherwick Studio designed the Airo as not only a zero-emissions vehicle but one that also drives itself. Additionally, it features a modular interior design, allowing you to sleep in or even dine with friends as you drive along.

How does this electric car clean polluted air?

IM Motors Airo | Heatherwick Studio

Since this IM Motors Airo exists purely as a digital concept, it’s not concerned with any global regulations. This electric car is already on the weird side of things from a design aspect with its front horizontal openings, curved wheel arches, and massive glass panels. However, this is exactly how one of its key air-cleaning features works.

According to CarBuzz, this electric car features a HEPA filtering system. In short, the filter collects and cleans the air as it passes through the Airo’s under-carriage. As CarBuzz points out, this is likely to reduce the emissions created by other internal combustion cars on the road. Think of it then as the world’s most high-tech vacuum cleaner.

With tightening emissions regulations across the globe, it makes sense for even a new brand such as IM Motors to explore all ideas that could potentially reduce its overall carbon footprint.

You can sleep in or dine thanks to an adjustable cabin

A digital image of an IM Motors Airo concept electric car.
IM Motors Airo | Heatherwick Studio

RELATED: Buy This All-Electric Kia EV6 First Edition and You’ll Get a Free Apple Watch

If sucking up polluted air wasn’t enough, this electric car can go above and beyond that. That’s because you’ll have two main forms of drivability. The first is with you as the driver behind the wheel, steering it around like any other vehicle. The second is via a driverless autonomous system. While this technology doesn’t exist quite yet, it may very well arrive during our lifetime.

As you might imagine, since this electric car doesn’t need a driver, you can do other activities while on the road. Since the Airo’s seats swivel and fold completely, you could lay them flat to take a nap as you drive in a full-size bed. Additionally, this electric car offers a center table so you can also have a complete meal. Since the chairs swivel, all four occupants could technically face each other.

Will this electric car concept ever make it into production?

A digital image of an IM Motors Airo concept electric car.
IM Motors Airo | Heatherwick Studio

If this electric car sounds like it lives in the realm of fantasy, that’s because it does. While this exact model will likely never make it into production, it allows IM Motors to draw inspiration for its new models. For example, items such as the adjustable seats and onboard table could be useful regardless if the car can’t drive itself just yet.

While the air suction system likely won’t make it into production either, it’s at least one other potential avenue worth exploring as we work to reduce our carbon footprint.

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Consumer Reports’ Highest Rated Crossover With the Most Safety Features

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Car shoppers wanting something more substantial than a car but not quite as large as a full size SUV may look toward crossovers. With so many on the market, how do you choose the safest crossover? Consumer Reports compiled a list of crossovers with the most safety features, and the 2021 Lexus NX has the highest rating.

2021 Lexus NX | Lexus

Consumer Reports full list includes cars, SUVs and trucks that offer the most advanced safety systems. Only a few of the safest crossovers came standard with all of the recommended safety features. These are the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, 2021 Mazda CX-9, 2021 Nissan Murano, 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, and 2021 Lexus NX.

Of these, the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport and the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E are still being tested. The 2021 Mazda CX-9 received an 80 in Consumer Reports testing and the 2021 Nissan Murano received a 79. The 2021 Lexus NX, on the other hand, received the highest score, with an 82.

What makes the Lexus NX one of the safest crossovers?

Consumer Reports tested a four cylinder, 6 speed, automatic transmission Lexus NX 300. This crossover gets 24 mpg, while the hybrid version gets 29 mpg. Consumer Reports said it was snug, but nice to drive.

The Lexus NX has tons of safety features

A red 2021 Lexus NX against a white background.
2021 Lexus NX | Lexus

The 2021 Lexus NX comes standard with all of the advanced safety systems that Consumer Reports recommends, making it one of the safest crossovers. These include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking for the city and highway, pedestrian detection, lane keeping assistance and lane departure warning. Additional safety features recommended which the Lexus NX has are blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, rear view camera, anti lock brakes, traction control, stability control, and daytime running lights. 

Of crossovers with the most safety features, what makes the Lexus NX stand out?

The 2021 Lexus NX did well in Consumer Reports testing. The Lexus NX scored a 74/100 in the road test, getting the highest marks for its transmission. The Lexus NX accelerated to 60 MPH in 7.5 seconds. Its emergency handling scored only a 3/5.

As far as comfort, the 2021 Lexus NX did well in most categories, scoring a 4/5 in everything other than ride, which measures the effectiveness of the suspension, and the trunk and cargo space area. 

The predicted reliability for the Lexus NX was very high, at a 5/5. Consumer Reports determines the predicted reliability by combining a number of factors like survey data and technical knowledge. 

Crash test ratings were 4 stars and above

A white 2021 Lexus NX against a white background.
2021 Lexus NX | Lexus

The Lexus NX received at least a 4/5 in all of the crash test ratings that Consumer Reports shared. The IIHS ratings shared by Consumer Reports were all good.

The 2021 Lexus NX does have a downside

Consumer Reports predicted an overall customer satisfaction as being low, at a 2/5. This information is determined by surveys asking consumers whether they would purchase a vehicle again. The lowest rating in this category was for value, which is described as getting what you wanted relative to the price you paid. The score for this was 42 out of 100. 

Overall, the 2021 Lexus NX is the highest rated crossover by Consumer Reports with the most advanced safety systems. This makes it a great choice for crossover SUVs shoppers.

RELATED: Consumer Reports: 10 2021 Midsize Luxury SUVs With Advanced Safety Systems

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