family car

Tips To Select the Best Family Car

November 16, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

It’s amazing how my car needs have changed over the years, and I’ve come to realize that the perfect family car isn’t going to be the same car from year to year. Four or five years ago, I could buy a Hyundai Accent that would be perfect for me as a single mother with two boys. Now, with a husband, three children and a dog, my needs are completely different and an SUV is a better fit.

If you’re also looking for a new vehicle the whole family will love, make sure to keep some basic tips in mind! Whether you’re planning to buy a Hyundai Accent for its fuel economy or a Ford F-150 for its versatility, knowing what features are most important will help you make a great choice every time!

[Read more…]

Summer Sports with the 2018 Ford Escape Titanium

June 27, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Testing out a new Ford vehicle is always a treat, but it’s especially enjoyable in the spring! Finally getting out of the house after a long winter and cruising in a beautiful new car is the best way to say goodbye to cold weather for the next few months.

So, when Ford Canada offered me the chance to take the 2018 Ford Escape Titanium for a week-long test drive, I couldn’t have been happier. And as luck would have it, I ended up receiving the vehicle during the same week my boys had eight different sports games over a two-day period!

The new 2018 Ford Escape Titanium is packed with family-friendly features that make it the perfect vehicle for packed weekends, road trips and running errands. The blind-spot alert ensures that when a vehicle is in the car’s blind spot to help avoid accidents. Curve Control applies automatic brakes if a curve is taken too fast. And the rear view camera lets the vehicle get in and out of the tightest spots with ease. [Read more…]

Cruising in Style in the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium

November 22, 2016 by Kathryn 18 Comments

With my old Ford Taurus starting to get a bit outdated, my husband and I have recently been browsing potential new vehicles for our family. So, when Ford gave me the chance to try the new 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium, I jumped at the chance to see how it performed as a potential new family vehicle.

Right off the bat, I could see that the Ford Fusion Titanium had a lot of features I liked. The size of the car was perfect; it felt nice and roomy but still drove and handled like a compact vehicle. The boys had plenty of space to stretch out in the back seat and since I was planning to use the car on a three-hour drive to drop off my boys with their dad for the weekend, I knew the space would be appreciated! [Read more…]

Need a Family Vehicle That Does It All? You Need the 2016 Ford Flex!

June 1, 2016 by Kathryn 36 Comments

Right now, my fiance and I each drive fairly basic passenger car sedans. My own Ford Taurus has had a lot of miles added to it since I bought it two years ago, and I’m thrilled with how reliable and comfortable it’s been. But before too long, Jeremy and I want to upgrade that Taurus to something bigger and more versatile. So when I got the chance to review the 2016 Ford Flex, I couldn’t wait to see if it might be the vehicle we’d been searching for.

I have to admit that part of the reason I was so excited to test-drive the Ford Flex was because I think it looks so funny. The boxy rectangular shape certainly isn’t designed to look sleek and sporty, and I’d always giggled to myself a bit when I saw one driving down the road. But there’s no doubt the Ford Flex is a popular family vehicle choice and I wanted to see just what it was about this crossover that made drivers flock to it, and its “unique” design. [Read more…]

The 2015 Ford Fiesta ST is a Dream Combination of Power and Style

August 12, 2014 by Kathryn 2 Comments

I have to admit that I have a love of speed when I drive and even though I control my urge to race down the road, I can’t help but fall in love with a vehicle that has a lot of zip. So when Ford Canada recently gave me the chance to test drive the 2015 Ford Fiesta ST, it was love at first sight. The ST model of this little hatchback comes in standard only and boasts 197 horsepower, aluminum interior detailing and an ST-unique suspension. It’s virtually impossible not to have fun behind the wheel of this vehicle.

It had been years since I’d last driven a standard vehicle and I have to admit that I’d forgotten how much fun it was, especially in a sporty little car like this one. The Fiesta is built very compact, which means that it’s great on gas and perfect as a commuter car. Even so, it had a surprisingly roomy back hatch that could easily have held all the groceries from one of our family’s monthly stocking-up grocery trips.

[Read more…]

Head Out On a Summer Adventure with the 2014 Ford Escape

July 14, 2014 by Kathryn 56 Comments

Our summers are always full of travel and this year has been no exception. From a week-long trip to explore North Dakota to a weekend excursion in Edmonton to a few day trips around Saskatchewan, we’ve been having a blast enjoying the warm weather and indulging in some summer adventures. And to make those adventures even better, Ford Canada recently let me test-drive the new 2014 Ford Escape so that we could hit the road in style!

This car lives up to its name in every way; as soon as I was behind the wheel I wanted to head out on the highway and see something new. As a family vehicle, it combines fuel efficiency, power and roominess in the most ideal way. And with the option of adding a Class II Trailer Tow Package, it can even be used to hook up that camper or boat for some wilderness exploration.

[Read more…]

Ford Canada Combines Cutting-Edge Technology and Affordability with the 2012 Ford Focus

April 23, 2012 by Kathryn 18 Comments

A few weeks ago, I wrote a feature about the MyFord Touch system available in the new 2012 Ford Canada vehicles. Last week we got the chance to test out the system for ourselves when our family was able to review a fully loaded 2012 Ford Focus.

2012 ford focus hatchback This sleek little hatchback featured Active Park Assist and the newly redesigned MyFord Touch system with Ford SYNC by Microsoft and I couldn’t wait to try out the technology for myself. For the next week, the Ford Focus was our family vehicle and it was so much fun to see how far Ford has come in the last few years.

The first thing that we tested out was, of course, the voice controls. Zackary and Benjamin found this to be the most entertaining feature of the vehicle, especially since my husband had to repeat himself a few times as he was figuring out how the system worked. Listening to him say things at the wrong time or repeat a word more than once had them both laughing hysterically!

Once Curtis had spent a bit of time getting used to the system, though, it really did give him an incredible level of control just using his voice. I think the navigation system was the hardest feature to operate using voice since cities and addresses had to be pronounced so clearly and often sound very similar. Fortunately, the system has the option of spelling a city name or address for those situations!

My personal favourite feature of the MyFord Touch system was the ability to stream music wirelessly from my phone to the car’s stereo system using Bluetooth. Being able to listen to my favourite tunes without having to plug in a USB cord or put in a CD was so convenient.

2012 ford focus interior

My husband’s favourite feature had to be the Active Park Assist. He loved putting on a big show while parking by holding his hands up in the air and waving to anybody that might be passing by, and his friends were completely amazed by how perfectly the car could parallel park itself with just the push of a button He used the feature every chance he had and I have to admit, the boys and I enjoyed it almost as much as he did.

A hatchback would not have been my first choice for a family vehicle and my husband agreed; we were actually wondering if the car would be able to hold all the grocery bags from our major monthly shopping trip. But as soon as I opened the hatch I could see that this was no ordinary hatchback! The hatch had just as much, if not more, room than a standard trunk because the storage space extended right under the rear seats. It almost felt like a magic trick to see that much storage space in such a small vehicle.

While our entire family loved the Ford Focus and its features, it’s not a car that would be my first choice for the primary vehicle of a family of four; it would make an incredible work or commuter car since it’s great on gas and the features make for a very comfortable ride, but the seating is a little crowded for regular family use.

If you’re looking for a small, fuel-efficient car that has all the latest features and will give you the ultimate safe and comfortable ride, check out the new 2012 Ford Focus. It’s a perfect little car for anyone that wants a compact, affordable vehicle with all the latest technology!

Disclaimer: I was loaned the 2012 Ford Focus media fleet vehicle for one week to review. All opinions belong to Mommy Kat and Kids and have not been influenced in any way. Please view full Terms and Policies.