I was so upset when we had to sell my car before moving up to NYC. Although it’s not incredibly practical for us to have a car here in the city, I long for the day when we can have one.
Now that we are a family of four, there is a lot for us to think about in terms of searching for a car. We can no longer think about some of the guilty pleasures we want in a car, but what would be practical for our family. Thankfully Nissan has thought about both the parents wants and desires as well as those that are needed for families.
Last month I had the opportunity to head out west to San Francisco to test drive the all new 2013 Nissan Sentra and the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder.
The only two cars that I have ever owned in my life have been a sports car and an SUV. I’ve never considered driving a full sized sedan, but after taking a look and test-driving the Sentra, I think I’ve changed my mind.
It’s sleek style makes it look like a luxury vehicle, but it’s reasonable price point makes it completely affordable for most. Starting at $15,990 for the S Model and with over five models to choose from, you will find your ultimate sedan in the Sentra.
There have been many changes for the 2013 Nissan Sentra. The completely new design resembles the new 2013 Altima and not your typical compact sedan. The sophisticated new design includes high-end details such as LED accented headlights and taillights. The new lightweight 2013 Sentra is 150 pounds lighter than its previous model, but has more interior room and trunk space. The lightweight design allows for better fuel efficiency in the 1.8-liter engine. The new Sentra gets a best-in-class combined 34 MPG fuel economy.
Our first afternoon in San Francisco was spent test driving the Sentra. Jessica from Momma’s Gone City and I shared a car and took turns driving from the beautiful city of San Francisco to the gorgeous hills of Napa Valley.
I was first in the drivers seat and my first test was to get the car from the roof of the dealership in San Francisco down to the street. That included making sharp turns through different levels of their showroom and finally onto the street. Although I was a nervous wreck because I was driving a brand new car inside of a building and down steep ramps, I must say that they steering capabilities and the ease of the turns in the car made it much more bearable.
Driving over the Golden Gate Bridge was one of the most amazing experiences in the world. We had the sun roof open, the windows down, and were enjoying the beautiful views.
We stopped in Sonoma at CornerStone, home of the Big Blue Chair, to stretch our legs and switch drivers. I was sad to leave the driver’s seat because I had really learned to love all of the features of the Sentra. The upscale interior and user-friendly technology made it a simple and luxurious drive. Even through the hills of Napa Valley, the Sentra maintained a smooth and steady ride.
After our stop at CornerStone we made our way to our hotel in Napa to switch gears and dive into the all new 2013 Nissan Pathfinder. Because my previous car was an SUV, I tend to gravitate towards larger vehicles. As soon as I saw the new Pathfinder, I fell in love.
The fourth generation Pathfinder comfortably seats seven people and includes 4WD and a 5000-pound towing capacity. It is definitely more of a family vehicle and is something that I would consider if in the market for a new vehicle.
The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder offers a long list of both best-in-class and unique-to-class specifications and features, including best-in-class fuel economy, best-in-class interior passenger volume, best-in-class front headroom and front legroom, most standard towing capacity in class, class-exclusive selectable 2WD, Auto and 4WD Lock modes, class-exclusive Xtronic CVT®,class-exclusive 3rd row seat recline, class-exclusive Around View™ Monitor, and class-exclusive Easy Fill Tire Alert System.
As a mother, one of the first things that I think about when purchasing a vehicle is the comfort and safety of my girls. One of the greatest features that the Pathfinder included was the 360 degree cameras that allow you to see around you as you back up the car.
With the third row seat, it comfortably allows you to keep the car seat in the seat while accessing the third row.
The moon-roof that extended from the second and third rows is a delight for anyone riding in the back seat.
After checking out this beautiful car, Jessica and I hopped in one and took it for a drive around Napa Valley. I had first turn at the wheel again and immediately felt comfortable when I sat down. I loved having the controls to the radio right on the steering wheel, the navigation system was flawless and could even be accessed by pushing a button on the steering wheel and making voice commands.
Most of the drive through Napa was made up of completely windy roads. My experience with most SUV’s on those type of roads is to be very top heavy with the fear of flipping over if you take the corner too quickly. While driving and even riding in the passenger seat of the Pathfinder, I never experienced that feeling. The Pathfinder took the curves smoothly and easily, which made our drive and our sightseeing that much more pleasant.
As a mom with two girls, the Pathfinder would definitely make a great car for our family. With the amount of space that it offers, a third row that reclines, extra cargo and storage space in the back, and the countless safety features, it’s everything that I would want in an SUV without the high price. Starting at $28,270 the Pathfinder is affordably priced for a luxurious vehicle.
My trip to San Francisco and Napa Valley was absolutely amazing. I loved being able to learn more about the 2013 Nissan Sentra and the 2012 Nissan Pathfinder. Both vehicles made for a safe, fun, and enjoyable ride! Thank you to Nissan for exceeding my expectations on this trip.
{Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. Nissan provided me with both travel and hotel accommodations to attend the Nissan Pathfinder and Sentra media preview. I was under no obligation to write or speak about this event. All thoughts and opinions are my own.}
