My oldest daughter is now licensed and driving herself and her siblings to school and activities. At the moment, we have her driving our oldest car which is just enough for around town. In about a year and a half she’ll be heading to college and will need a more reliable, safer, and more economical vehicle. Recently the 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage ES review opportunity was presented and this tiny little car was cute and sensible and sure packed a punch.
The 5-door hatchback was delivered and shined bright in it’s sapphire glory. Right off the bat we were told it gets a combined 40 miles to the gallon plus, and that is top of the line as far as non-hybrids go in the United States. This can be a real contender for those high school and college students who are light on cash and heavy on dreams. Of course I didn’t agree to the car review for our family of five, but having a small 9-year old, we can all fit in the car cozily. But overall 4 average-sized passengers fit pretty well. Though my daughter didn’t drive the car, she sat in both the driver’s seat and passenger seat and was comfortable with her 5’4″ frame. My 5’10” husband on the other hand felt like a giant, as a passenger when I was driving he had his seat pushed back as far as it went and the passenger directly behind him had to be tiny, non-existant, orlegless (just kidding).
The trunk fits groceries, narrow suitcases, sports equipment and more. Putting the back seat down, the trunk doubles in size easily and conveniently and I can see traveling back and forth from college visits being easy on packing. Split folding rear seat can give just that little more room you may need plus space for an extra passenger. 
The interior of the car is styled pretty basically (plastic), controls are straight-forward and easy to work. Steering wheel mounted cruise control, audio controls, and Bluetooth controls are good to keep young drivers focused on the road and not fumbling with music or phone calls when driving. Is that the ignition button on the left below the dash, that’s odd!
Teens love the stereo with iPod and USB compatability for their electronics and the navigation system can be added for importance of learning a new area when away from home. 
None of our 3 current cars have a screen for navigation, so the rearview camera is a nice add for new drivers but in this tiny car you can really maneuver in and out of spaces so easily it’s pretty amazing! 
The screen can open for CDs and tilt for glares due to the sun or surrounding lights. Now here’s another oddity, the letter B on the automatic shift panel. We’d never seen this and looked it up, it’s similar to the L on some cars. B stands for engine braking and should be used when you are “riding the brakes descending a long steep slope” and when asking others, they say it’s not necessary at all. We didn’t touch it.
Cup holders are pretty abundant for the small size of the car my daughter noticed, and the bulky key has it’s own spot to hang out. I’ve never given it a second thought or needed to use the panic button on the FAST key, but knowing it exists for a young adult on their own gives me some security for having my child outside our care!
The driver’s sun visor includes a vanity mirror (lid and ticket holder) but the passenger side does not. Strange, yes as a passenger would more likely need or want to use the mirror in our experience with kids, just another something we noticed and placed in that odd column.
Despite my daughter saying the car felt low to the ground and louder than usual at higher speeds, the safety and security behind the Mirage is something I feel good about when my daughter will be on the road. Side curtain airbags, driver’s side knee airbag, and advanced dual-stage front airbags are more than what’s in the car she currently drives so if ever there was an accident we have something protecting our precious cargo!
Overall the car is a great buy starting at 12,995 though ours was $16,295 for the model we tested. The gas mileage alone is the biggest selling point for a young driver. 
It’s definitely cute says the Junior in high school, and would be “so easy to park” in town or a college city we’re currently exploring. To learn more, visit http://www.mitsubishicars.com/mirage
Car was provided for a week’s loan, all opinions are our own.
I turned 16 in 1989 and I was consumed by things that most teenage girls were. Things like boys, clothes, shopping, and most importantly, I was old enough to get my driver’s license! Nevermind that I only lived two blocks from my high school, driving alone with your friends was a rite of passage and something I just couldn’t wait to do. I was also blessed with the opportunity to purchase a 1984 VW Rabbit Convertible as my first car! 
Convertible cars are to California as palm trees are to Hawaii, a way of life! There was that small fact that my new car was a stick shift and it was bought before I knew how to drive it, regardless, it gave me butterflies just looking at it!
25 years later, I got those very same butterflies as the 2015 Mazda MX5 Miata Grand Touring pulled into my driveway. The shiny Meteor Gray exterior just sparkled in the sunlight. I jumped right in to find that my past has come back to me and the car has a 6-speed manual transmission. Noted to myself, remember how to drive a stick and fast! 
After a quick retractable hard top tutorial (it’s simple and easy when you remember to keep your finger on the button the whole time), I was on my own with this gorgeous car!
The interior options and dash are pretty basic though it does have a trip computer for mileage. The steering wheel has cruise control and audio capabilities. There isn’t a navigation system in the car, I didn’t really miss it since I have navigation available on my smartphone and I was staying pretty local during the time we had the car. But I do miss not having a USB port for connectivity and charging. There was Sirius Radio installed and a nice Bose audio system with 7 speakers about the car. With the top down and 65 mph, the sound made an impact!
Window controls are behind the shift knob in the center console area with two cup holders and there is also a compartment for storage. That compartment contains the gas cap cover release lever.
The trunk space is tiny (5.3 cubic feet), like my basic suitcase was too big but I could fit a few small bags. So packing lightly for a weekend getaway or day trip is the best bet, you may getaway with a small cooler as well.
I’m 5’1″. I fit basically in any car pretty comfortably. The Miata was comfortable for me and although the two-seater is small and compact, I felt at ease behind the wheel with the wind in my hair! My husband is 5’10” and it wasn’t the most comfortable ride for him, but he endured it for the thrill of a sporty, open-air ride. 
Lucky for the amazing weather and wonderful local landscapes, the Miata is a perfect car for any Californian. Took my teenager for a ride and she broke out the sunglasses and hair tie! The 7 days I had the car the top was down for 6.5. Who knew the first rain in our 9 month central coast drought would occur while I had a convertible to test. 
The car is lightweight and handles well on the road with it’s electronic power assisted rack and pinion steering and 17 inch alloy wheels. Driving a stick shift is like riding a bike, and I loved having more control over my speed (167 horsepower, 2.0L, 4-cylinder engine)!
I can’t deny the fact that I loved the attention garnered by the beautiful car combined with the ability to go top-down. I felt young again driving down the coast to Monterey and the beach was a mandatory stop!
Looks aside, I have an almost licensed driver in the house that asks me, “mom, how safe is this car?’ While my VW Rabbit had a roll bar in case of a serious accident, the Miata does include driver, passenger, and side air bags, 4 wheel ABS, 4 wheel disc brakes, electronic stability control, and traction control. 
The ultimate bottom line: I have a family of 5, this two seater is not practical for all of us by any means. But if you have the extra $32,000 for a fun weekend getaway car, your husband and best girlfriend will love you! The car is fun and gorgeous and could totally be my “when the kids grow up” car for as long as I live the California lifestyle. I loved the memories it had of being young and wild and free. It reminded me of my old car that I had through high school, through college, marriage, and only for a short time after I had my first child. Even though life changes, your passion for the wind in your hair never dies! For more information, visit 
I cannot tell you how excited I am and I’ve already told my husband we need to go Chevrolet shopping, like immediately! Right now you can find 4G LTE Wi-Fi in the 2015 Volt, 2015 Malibu, 2015 Impala, 2015 Corvette, and the 2015 Equinox with a dozen more models connecting soon. Visit 
The Dad’s perspective:
The first test for the Santa Fe was in the cargo department. With big luggage for the girls, backpacks for the boy and I, finding space for all can be a challenge in any vehicle. The 50/50 third row bench seat provided a solution our current car does not have. We had one of the seats down for extra luggage space and one up for the 8-year old who needed the “extra personal space” from the older siblings. The Santa Fe included a second row with two luxurious captain’s chairs for the big kids with plenty of foot space and our front row seats included both heated and cooled seats. Summertime means shorts and bare legs on hot leather, Jen appreciated those ventilated seats! With all the cargo and leg room anyone could ask for, the space felt like a mini-van, no climbing over the seats to get to the middle or back, no footprints or damage to the interior. We set off on our voyage.
A cool July morning departure allowed for the panoramic sunroof to be opened wide for a breath of cool air and a view for days extending through the wisps of fog to the sun. Again we’re reminded of Jen’s convertible, so much open sky but without the hair flailing about our faces! As we left our coastal valley home and entered the central valley we promptly closed the sunroof in favor of the Santa Fe’s climate control bliss. Special features enjoyed by those on the sun side of the car were the integrated sun shades which I personally have not experienced in any other SUV. 
Two hours through the valley with no complaints from the peanut gallery means the Santa Fe has already exceeded my expectations. The Limited Technology Package (+ $4850.00) gave us amazing sound with the Infinity Logic Surround Sound Audio System, and our youngest in the back politely asked us to keep our music to the front of the car so she could still enjoy her DVD player plugged securely into the bonus 115 volt power outlet. Along those lines, the engine and drive train were remarkably quiet and efficient. From a driver’s perspective the Santa Fe’s performance was exceptional whether cruising along the freeway or flying over mountain passes.
Having blind spot detection is something my wife appreciates when exploring new areas, and I’m happy to see it in so many new cars with my oldest only weeks away from her driver’s license.
Thankfully, the airbags, traction control system, electronic stability control, vehicle stability management and electronic brake-force distribution safety systems were not tested on this trip yet it is nice to see that they were all ready to assist if necessary. In the mountains and hills of our cabin, there are no streetlights and pitch dark at night, we used the Xenon headlights and LED taillights to their fullest potential.
Our days with the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe flew by and I feel the car and family grew together. As we left our cabin we quietly wound our way out of the mountains and tearfully separated from our week with the Santa Fe. Hyundai has provided a great SUV fully capable of providing a family of five with all the comfort and features that could be dreamed of. One wish I had was that there was a slightly better gas mileage with the cost of fuel these days, we may have gotten 20 mpg during our trip. 
Also, is there any way my wife can get those seats with such great lumbar support comfort and heat/cooling as a desk chair model? Just asking.
