THE BUZZ ON THE STREETS
The Cadillac Escalade ESV SPORT PLATINUM
NEW DREAM CAR: UNLOCKED
If money wasn’t a problem… and you could buy ANY car in the world, what would it be?
It’s fascinating when people can rhyme off their dream cars within 0.3975397 seconds of being asked. Usually it’s a car they’ve always loved as a kid or have some sort of memory or familial/generational connection to. But how do you fall in love with a specific car when there are so many unique ever evolving options?! I’ve never been one to limit myself in ANYTHING… until now. I THINK I have found my new dream car …. in the luxury category LOL!
Key Details
MSRP: $134,798.00
Engine: 6.2L V8, 10-speed automatic
Drivetrain: 4-wheel Drive
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 3,492.72 kg
Wheels: Aluminum 22 inch rims
Infotainment: OLED, 16.9” diagonal color information display
This SUV has very quickly made its way into my heart for so many reasons, but let’s start by talking about the MASSAGE SEATS. Am I the only one who thinks massage seats would make everything better on the roads? I mean, if more people had massage seats how could you have road rage? Did I just solve road rage?! LOL! The luxury trim of the ESV has 4 or 5 massage options, with 3 pressure levels which feels like light, medium light and medium. I personally like my massages HARD. If I could change anything about this ride, I’d start there.
Let’s chat top features,
The rear view mirror camera is a specialized camera mounted in the back if the vehicle which allows you to see traffic behind you with the flick of a switch. You’re probably wondering why someone would even need that? Well, imagine your car is filled with people and stacked high with items in the trunk? Exactly. You wouldn’t be able to see out the rear window which is important for navigating the roads and protecting your precious cargo.
The Cadillac conversation enhancement system includes microphones that project conversations from the front of the vehicle to the back and vice versa, showing just how massive this 7 seater vehicle really is! Don’t worry, if you’re having a private conversation that feature can be turned off 🤫
The 16-way adjustable, heated and ventilated and massaging seats, 3 overlapping screens for the drive & 2 12.6 screens on the back of the front seats that come with their very on sets of headphones for personalized viewing which makes for a vehicle that really could also double as a living space on wheels are ALL honourable mentions for top features. I also cannot forget about the thirty-six & subwoofer providing surround-sound for all other passengers.
If I had to change one thing….
It was hard for me to find ANYTHING wrong with this perfect specimen of a vehicle…. but if I had to name ONE con… and this isn’t major, it would be that the apple carplay and android auto didn’t fill the main screen up front. This isn’t a deal breaker for me at all and if I had 150k in the bank to afford this beauty/beast… I’d save some more so I can afford he upkeep and get one of my own LOL!
2023 TOYOTA SEQUOIA CAPSTONE
Big, Bold & Turning heads
If a luxury vehicle and utility vehicle had a baby — we would be welcoming the Sequoia with open arms and saying it looks a lot like both mom and dad! The Sequoia appeals to almost all the senses — sight, touch and hearing at the top of the list. It has presence, the candy apple red paint job laced with soft leather seats and walnut trim and the roar of the Twin Turbo V6 had other drivers turning heads when I drove by! That’s for sure.
Key Details
MSRP: $95,334.54
Engine: 3.5 Litre Twin Turbo V6 Hybrid
Drivetrain:c Rear Wheel Drive
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating:
Seating Capacity: 7
Wheels: 22” Alloy Wheels
Infotainment: 14” multimedia system, wireless CarPlay
Speaker System: 14 Speaker JBL Audio System
First Thoughts…
The Cadillac and the Sequoia can only be compared when it comes to size — and even then, not really! One of the minor drawbacks of the Sequoia is the fact that it has limited trunk space BUT… you can make more if you just put down the back seats, which is pretty easy to do! I will say, because it’s not as long as the Cadillac its far easier to maneuver, park and to adapt to your needs. If you do need to pile people in, though, that’s when you may have to play some jenga when it comes to trunk space! If you’re anything like me — your trunk is ALWAYS full of stuff (emergency kit, clothing, grocery bags, etc.) so it’s something to consider if you’’re planning to always have a full house PLUS travel heavy.
Let’s talk top features,
The interior car colour scheme was one of my favorite parts of the Sequoia, it just has PRESENCE! The interior walnut trim is such a luxurious touch for a vehicle that also gives a vibe that it’s meant to be functional, go down the beaten path and get things done. I loved the white leather seats, too! Rain sensing wipers & panoramic moon roof are a really nice touch. Conveniently placed 2nd row power outlet is a great touch for passengers riding in the back!
If I had to change one thing…
The vehicle has wireless carplay/Android Auto however the wireless charging situation is probably one of my least favorite things of this ride. Make any sort of turn where your phone shifts and it stops charging. It’s a bit distracting. having to put it back in place every time to get it charging. I’d love to see a charging pad that you could tuck your phone away into or would hold it in place.
2024 mazda cx-90 PHEV
the largest suv mazda’s ever built
I loved getting an early look at this ride, which has just hit the market for consumers to get their hands on. I drove the CX-90 all the way from Brampton to Portland (about 4 hours away), picked up my 4 family members and drove them 30 minutes into town to go for brunch and got decent reviews on space and feel for the CX-90!
Key Details
MSRP: $47,445
Engine: 2.5 Litre, 4 cylinder gasoline engine and electric motor
Drivetrain:c All Wheel Drive
Seating Capacity: 7
Wheels: 21-inch Alloy Wheels
Infotainment: 14” multimedia system, wireless CarPlay
Speaker System: 12 Speaker Bose Audio System
First thoughts…
This PHEV is Mazda’s largest and first ever stroll into the EV space and I think the wait was worth it. The PHEV has 2 rows of captain chairs, so while other trims seat 8 this one sat 7. When I stacked the car with 5 additional people, they were surprised by how comfortable the ride was! I will say that the 3rd row could use a touch more room but compared to some other vehicles, my passengers were happy with what they got which says a lot given half of my passengers are more than 6 feet tall. I loved getting an early look at this ride, which has just hit the market for consumers to get their hands on. As noted, I drove the plug-in hybrid which offers about 42 KMs or 26 miles of electric driving range — perfect for running local errands, and can be charged up overnight on a standard 120-volt outlet. The vehicle has about 42 KM’s worth of EV range, buttery soft leather upholstery which I was a big fan of upon entering the vehicle.
Let’s talk top features…
I loved the storage space available in the center console, there is tons of room and tons of ways you can keep yourself organized! The safety features were also on point, with their i-Activsense driver assistance suite keeps you safe with emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and lane assist.
If I had to change one thing…
While driving the CX-90 I found that Apple Carplay would just disconnect in the middle of my drive. It didn’t happen often, but it happened enough for me to take notice as not being just a one off. The issue with Carplay encouraged me to try using bluetooth and… the audio wasn’t the best. Even when increasing the volume, even with 12 Bose speakers in the vehicle the volume was was incredibly low for phone calls and music. I’d work on that as well as the wireless charging pad which doesn’t hold your phone in place very well — so your phone may slide slightly and stop charging until you put it back.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Having the luxury of test driving the latest and greatest on the market has really opened my eyes to the intricacies of each vehicle, the specific intentions of each manufacturer and the labour of love that goes into designing and building each vehicle. It’s such a HUGE commitment to sign up for a vehicle whether you’re leasing or buying! Make sure to give these cars a test yourselves with my experience in mind and you’ll be in good shape!