5 To Drive: Cars Designed with You in Mind
By Sarah Rufca Nielsen November 3, 2015 Published in the November 2015 issue of Houstonia Magazine
For the Upwardly Mobile Inner Looper: BMW 7 Series
Starting price: $81,300
On the radio: KBXX 97.9
Eager to impress your law school colleagues when you meet them for a meal in Midtown, but haven’t quite nailed the parallel parking skills required? The new 2016 BMW 7-series will park itself, and you’ll look like James Bond every time you step out of it. Your passengers will also be awed by the no-touch touchscreen—it responds to a series of hand movements—straight out of Minority Report.
For the Multitasking Mom and Dad: Honda Pilot
Starting price: $29,995
On the radio: KSBJ 89.3
Whoever designed the Pilot has clearly done a tour of duty in the carpool line; the kid-friendly back row filthy with cup holders, roomy enough for teens or adults, and equipped with a rear entertainment system. With the touch of a button, parents can easily open or close the tailgate and fold second-row seats forward. Even the safety features cater to potentially distracted drivers, with brakes that activate in advance of a collision and an alert that pops up when you drift out of a detected lane.
For the Cultured Commuter: Volvo XC90
Starting price: $49,800
On the radio: KTSU 90.9
You’re going to be sitting in traffic anyway. Shouldn’t the experience be as pleasurable as possible? The completely revamped XC90 looks more like a Range Rover than the boxy
Volvo wagons of yore, and its detail-oriented design features seats that contour to your shape and an optional 1,400-watt sound system designed to mimic the acoustics of the Gothenburg Concert Hall. The Scandinavian less-is-more approach applies only to the engine, a supercharged four-cylinder that provides plenty of pep with fewer trips to the gas station.
For the True-Blue Texan: Nissan Titan XD
Starting price: $30,735
On the radio: KTHT 97.1
The Nissan Titan XD is designed to fit into the sweet spot between a light-duty truck and a pricy heavy-duty one with all of the bells and whistles. The Cummins V-8 turbodiesel engine has enough torque to tow a 12,000-pound boat or trailer. But Nissan’s fatigue-minimizing Zero Gravity Seats and spacious center console make this more than a work truck, and drainable, removable storage compartments basically beg you to take this truck tailgating.
For the Road-Tripping Urbanite: Fiat 500X
Starting price: $20,000
On the radio: KROI 92.1
Think a car that zips around the city can’t handle the open road? Think again. The new 500X may look similar to earlier models, but this Fiat has basically been reimagined from the ground up. A smooth, comfortable ride—built on the same chassis as the Jeep Renegade—with upgraded interior fixtures and finishes make this budget-friendly car an appealing mix of Italian form and American function.
