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What Was So Great About ’08?
Jan 02 2009 by Sara Lacey
There was a lot of craziness in 2008. What were some of the highlights? I’ll share some of my favorites:
* I loved that manufacturers are making the third rows in their vehicles more comfortable for the passengers back there. More legroom, moonroofs and easy access abounded in many of the cars I tested with third rows. On a safety note, more automakers are putting in Latch connectors and seat belt receptors that are easier to use.
* I liked the fact that smaller cars are becoming more accommodating toward families, with easy-to-access Latch connectors, folding seats and flexible cargo space, plus cupholders stashed in clever places.
Why are they doing this? Maybe because of $4-a-gallon gas. Now, I hated gas prices being so high, but at the same time I liked what they forced us to do: We all started considering how we were driving, how often and how to cut back. We contemplated selling our gas-guzzlers and figured out how to be more efficient. Even now that prices have dropped, it’s likely temporary and the considerations we’ve taken can help us if and when they rise again.
* All this is aided by the green cars that showed up in 2008. Chevy rolled out the Tahoe Hybrid and Malibu Hybrid. VW, Mercedes and Audi came out with diesels that are 50-state emissions compliant. I am excited to see how much more greening will happen in 2009.
* Don’t tell anyone, but I think 2008 indicated there may be a return of the wagon (OK, I may be overly optimistic). People want some space, but not in SUVs. Toyota premiered its Venza, which is a crossover that many people think looks a lot like a wagon. VW put its aforementioned diesel engine into its Jetta Sportwagen. As a fan of sporty family-haulers, I’m going to be looking out for more wagons in disguise.
* Advancements in cupholder technology and creature comforts abounded in 2008, and many of them were available to those of us NOT in the luxury-car demographic. Heated and cooled cupholders, chill zones and heated seats are finally available to people like me. While this may seem like no big deal, the time we moms spend in the car can be vast. A couple of fancy features can make all the difference in how comfortable that time is.
While 2009 looks to be a bumpy ride, to say the least, some of the treats left over from 2008 might make the ride a little smoother.
