Tag Archives: safety

2014 Chevy Impala Receives NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating, Top Marks from Consumer Reports

Car shoppers who consider safety their top priority have another great new option among the 2014 models.

Late last week, the 2014 Chevrolet Impala received a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program. The vehicle also has the distinction of being the first American sedan in two decades to receive the top score from Consumer Reports.

How did the Impala earn such a high rating from the NHTSA? Chevrolet packed the Impala with the latest safety features including traffic-sensing radar, adaptive cruise control, crash-imminent braking, lane departure warning, and more. Additionally, OnStar will send out a call to emergency services if the vehicle is in an accident, and the rear-view camera prevents collisions when parallel parking.

Best of all, the Impala is a bargain compared to its competitors. The starting price is $26,725, and standard features include 10 air bags for the vehicle, SiriusXM and HD Radio audio system, 4.2” diagonal color infotainment display, and seat adjuster for the driver and front passenger.

Are you looking for a safer car or one with better fuel efficiency? No matter what you’re looking for, Approved Loan Store wants to help you get in a car you want at terms you can afford! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

New Car Financing: 2014 Versa Note Price Under $15,000

Nissan has recently announced the pricing on the 2014 Versa Note, and car shoppers on a limited budget will be happy to hear that the base price is still very low.

According to Nissan, the 2014 Nissan Versa Note has base price of $14,780 which includes shipping. This is actually a price drop compared to the 2012 Versa hatchback which started from $15,450, shipping included. The new Versa Note will have a fuel economy of 36 mpg highway, 27 mpg city and come standard equipped with a trip computer, speed-sensitive volume control, Nissan’s Advanced Air Bag System, Vehicle Dynamic Control, and AM/FM/CD audio system with auxiliary audio input jack.

The only real downside to the new Versa Note is that it loses some power over the 2012 Versa hatchback. For an economy car, though, it is hard to complain about the list of features that come standard and the price for a new car.

Readers, we want to hear from you! What do you think of the 2014 Nissan Versa Note? Would you take it for a test drive? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Summer time is here! Are you finally ready to get into a great new or used car? Approved Loan Store wants to help YOU! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you to get a car you want at terms you can afford! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Consumer Reports: Speeding Lowers Vehicle’s Fuel Efficiency

Do you want to improve the fuel economy of your car today? According to Consumer Reports, all drivers need to do is follow the speed limit.

Consumer Reports recently conducted a series of tests which measured the fuel economy of the Honda Accord four-cylinder, the Toyota RAV4, and three different Ford Fusion models. Each car’s fuel economy was measured driving at 55, 65, and 75 miles per hour. Every single car that they tested had a better fuel economy at 55 mph vs. 75 mph, and every car also exceeded their fuel economy estimates when the car was driven at 55 mph.

Speeding on the highway might be tempting, especially when in a rush, but drivers end up paying more both at the pump and in speeding tickets. At Approved Loan Store, we recommend following the posted speed limits. By following the speed limits, you are making the roads safer and putting wasted gas money back in your pocket.

Image courtesy of Paul / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ford Announces New, Improved Regenerative Brakes

Since regenerative braking systems were introduced in the 1990s, automakers have been working to improve efficiency and transfer more braking energy back into the vehicle. Now, Ford is claiming that their new regenerative brakes can recapture twice or three-times the kinetic energy of their competitors.

A normal braking system utilizes friction between the brake pads and brake rotors, and the friction turns the kinetic energy into heat. In comparison, regenerative brakes reverse the vehicle’s electric motor, and the energy that is produced goes back into the vehicle’s battery. In the past, these brakes could recapture about 30 to 50 percent of the kinetic energy, but Dave Crombez, a technical expert at Ford, claims that Ford’s latest regenerative brakes can recapture up to 95 percent of that energy.

If the brakes can live up to these claims, Ford drivers will see a huge improvement in their vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Ford is predicting as much as 30 percent improvement, though once again it might not live up to those numbers in practice. When regenerative brakes are combined with lighter vehicle bodies, better engines, and other updates, however, they will create a much more fuel efficient vehicle together.

2014 Jeep Cherokee Pricing Announced: Budget Cost, Premium Features

Here at Approved Loan Store, we love searching for great affordable vehicles for our customers, and we believe that you shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality, even with a lower budget.

For all those reasons, we were excited to hear this week that the new 2014 Jeep Cherokee will have a starting price of $22,995, and considering the low price tag, the standard features are pretty impressive. Some of the standard features include a 5-inch color touch screen control panel, 60/40 split-folding reclining second-row seats, a 9-speed automatic transmission, and a 2.4L Tigershark Multiair I-3 Engine. The Jeep Cherokee can also delivery up to 31 mpg highway and 271 horsepower.

There are a number of add-on options available for additional cost as well including SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Adaptive Cruise Control Plus, heated steering wheel, and an upgrade of the color touch screen to an 8.4-inch screen among others.

For a full run-down of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee and the available features, click here, and if you are ready to get into the car you want at terms you can afford, Approved Loan Store is ready to help YOU! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Chevy Malibu Updates Improve Fuel Efficiency, Add Legroom

The 2014 Chevy Malibu won’t go on sale until this fall, but GM is already releasing details about what car buyers can expect from the updated Malibu.

The 2013 Chevy Malibu had a fuel efficiency rate of 22 mpg city driving and 34 mpg for highway driving, but GM expects the 2014 Malibu to improve on those numbers. While the engine will still be the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, it will come equipped with a new intake valve technology and stop-start technology, giving the Malibu a 23 mpg for city and 35 mpg for highway driving.

Additionally, the new Malibu will have more legroom for the backseat passengers, a redesigned center console with a longer armrest, and the option for Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Pricing will not be announced until later this year, but the 2013 Chevy Malibu had a starting price of $21,995.

2014 Subaru Forester Earns Perfect IIHS Score

Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) started using a new safety test measuring a vehicle’s effectiveness in front, side, rear, and roll-over crashes. Earlier this month, the 2014 Subaru Forester was officially the first vehicle to earn a perfect score on every single test.

When the 2014 Forester was tested, the IIHS was in the midst of testing 12 other small SUVs. Out of the 13 tested vehicles, only the Forester and the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander were the only small SUVs to receive an acceptable rating or higher. The rest performed very poorly, receiving a poor or marginal rating from the IIHS.

How did the Forester perform so much better? First of all, the structure of the vehicle was significantly better than the rest of the SUVs with the exception of the Outlander. It held together in the frontal crashes, and the restraints and airbags worked properly. Other models in the test had issues with the airbag deploying and seatbelts letting the crash dummies’ heads and torso move too far forward.

The full IIHS report on the 2014 Subaru Forester is available online here.

Chevrolet Spark Upgrades With New DC Chargers

Ever since electric cars hit the market, they have had a tough time taking off. At first, it was the price hindering sales, but recent discounts and tax incentives have made them more affordable. When they became affordable, people started questioning their safety, and rumors still persist that electric cars are significantly more dangerous than gas-driven cars despite automakers’ steps to make them safer. Yet another real problem plagues the electric car, however, and that is how long it takes an electric car to charge.

Right now, alternating current (AC) energy has to be converted to direct current (DC) before the energy can be stored in car batteries. The conversion process slows down battery charging, and it takes longer to charge up electric cars. If a car could power up with a DC charger, it would speed up the charging process.

With that in mind, General Motors announced this week that the new Chevrolet Spark will have the standard AC port as well as two DC ports. Since DC chargers are not as readily available, a number of companies are stepping up to make them more available, though Eaton and Fuji Electric do have DC chargers available on the market at this time.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Does GM’s announcement make you more likely to test-drive the Spark? Would a faster charging time make you consider checking out other electric cars? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you ready to get into a new or used car? Approved Loan Store wants to help YOU! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you to find a car you want at terms you can afford! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Major Recall Affects Over 3 Million Vehicles Worldwide

Toyota, Honda, and Nissan announced this morning that they would be recalling over 3 million vehicles worldwide due to faulty passenger-side air bags.

According to the Associated Press, the inflator on the air bags could potentially burst and send loose plastic pieces flying at passengers. So far, Toyota has had five reports of air bag problems, but fortunately none of the automakers have received reports of injuries.

Toyota will be recalling approximately 1.7 million vehicles including Corollas, Tundras, and other models produced between November 2000 and March 2004, and Honda and Nissan will recall 1.1 million and 480,000 vehicles respectively. Of the vehicles recalled, approximately 1.26 million of those vehicles are in North America.

To find out if your car has been affected by the recall, Toyota owners can find out more information here, Honda owners can find out more here, and Nissan owners can find out more here.

Are you ready to get into a new or used vehicle today? Approved Loan Store wants to help YOU! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you to get a car you want at terms you can afford! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

U.S. News & World Report Rank Top Family Vehicles for 2013

If you’re looking for a new family car in 2013, you might be surprised at the sheer variety that automakers are offering.

Last month, U.S. News & World Report named 19 vehicles as their 2013 Best Cars for Families in a variety of categories ranging from Best Compact Car to Best Luxury Full-Size SUV. Winners were judged based on safety, reliability, interior space, seating capacity, and the inclusion of “family-friendly” features like keyless entry and back seat entertainment systems.

GM dominated the list with six winners. The Chevrolet brand took home two awards with the Chevrolet Suburban winning Best Full-Size SUV and the Chevrolet Cruze winning Best Compact Car. Buick also took home two award with the Buick Verano taking Best Upscale Small Car and the Buick Lacrosse taking Best Full-Size Car, and the Cadillac Escalade rounded out GM’s wins with Best Luxury Full-Size SUV.

Here is the full list of winners:

Compact Car – 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
Upscale Small Car – 2013 Buick Verano
Hatchback – 2013 Toyota Prius
Midsize Car – 2013 Ford Fusion
Upscale Midsize Car – 2013 Acura TL
Full-Size Car – 2013 Buick LaCrosse
Luxury Full-Size Car – 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Hybrid Car – 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Wagon – 2013 Subaru Outback
Compact SUV – 2013 Honda CR-V
Luxury Compact SUV – 2013 Audi Q5
2-Row Midsize SUV – 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee
3-Row Midsize SUV – 2013 Chevrolet Traverse
Luxury 2-Row Midsize SUV – 2013 Lexus RX350
Luxury 3-Row SUV – 2013 Lincoln MKT
Full-Size SUV – 2013 Chevrolet Suburban
Luxury Full-Size SUV – 2013 Cadillac Escalade
Hybrid SUV – 2013 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Minivan – 2013 Honda Odyssey

No matter what kind of car you are looking for, Approved Loan Store wants to help YOU! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you to get a car you want at terms you can afford! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!