I was hired by A Girls Guide to Cars, on behalf of Toyota, to share my thoughts regarding Toyota and the upcoming New York International Auto Show. All opinions are my own.
Every mom deserves a Toyota and there’s a Toyota for every mom
The evolution of being a mom
I’ve been a mom now for over 13 years and I have to say there are definitely cycles to being a mom. As we evolve from carrying our first child to seeing the last one off to college, parenthood changes. Our needs change, and what our children need from us changes. When we bring our first baby home from the hospital, we may not know how much our lives will change. We still feel young and we still want a car that feels sporty. But now safety is more important than ever. Everytime we buckle up our babies in their car seat in the back seat we are reminded we are now carrying precious cargo.
Then, comes baby number 2. Suddenly, we need a bit more room. A child on one side in a forward-facing car seat, the newborn on the other side in the rear-facing car seat, we need to be able to manuever our babies and little ones into our cars easily. We need pockets and storage for wipes and diaper bags. Don’t forget about the trunk, you need more cargo space to hold those larger tandem strollers. Before you know it the kids get bigger, maybe you’ve added one or two more. You’re carpooling from school to sports, from multi-cart grocery store trips to vacations. the four-door car that worked when you had one to two kids no longer works. You need room for more kids. You need more room for their sports gear, multiple suitcases or grocery bags. You need cup holders and charging ports, because every kid wants their own. Minivans, larger SUVS, those are the cars moms need and deserve at what might be the busiest stage of parenthood.
Then, you blink. As quickly as the babies became kids, the kids became teenagers, the teenagers started leaving home for college. It’s not a stage I’m looking forward too. Thankfully, I have some time. I know when that stage comes my car needs will change again. While I don’t expect to still needi seating for seven or eight passengers, I’ll likely still need something with significant cargo space for those trips back and forth bringing my boys from one college dorm to the next and eventually their first home outside of our family home.
We’ll keep roadtripping as long as we can. I’ll miss this stage of momhood.
This year as I think about my own history of cars from motherhood to now to where I want to be, I couldn’t help but think about the Toyota cars that would be right for me at each stage and the one that’s still on my wish list. The NY International Auto Show kicks off this week from March 30 to April 8th. Once again, not only will I be back to scope out the Toyotas and other new family cars on the market, but I’m also helping to give away tickets to the show to readers like you. Take a look at these Toyota cars and let me know which one you deserve and want. Then, enter to win tickets.
For the new mom that still wants a sporty fun-to-drive car, the all-new 2019 Corolla Hatchback is for her.
With a long list of standard features such as Entune 3.0 with Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa Connectivity; a revised sport-tuned suspension, and Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, Corolla Hatchback gives new moms a car that’s practical, stylish, and safe. I can see the new moms now… driving down the Garden State Parkway on the way to the Cape May Zoo with Alexa reading a story about zoo animals. On a mom’s day at the beach, the Apple Car Play can be set to jam with a playlist of the songs of summer. Learn more about the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback at the Toyota site.
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Moving up to two kids? Move up to the Toyota Camry hybrid.
You need more space. For the mom looking for a 4-door sedan, but who doesn’t want to give up looks or features, the Toyota Camry is for her. Plus the bonus of being a hybrid means this mom will get better fuel economy that helps her and the environment she’s leaving behind for her kids. Here’s some other mom-friendly features the Toyota Camry offers that we would love and are sure you would too: bird’s eye view camera, relocated cruise and side mirror controls, wireless charger, fold-down rear seats for extended truck space. Learn more about the Toyota Camry in a full review at A Girls Guide to Cars.
For the soccer mom with a big family or who is always carpooling a few extra kids, take a look at the Toyota Sienna
Families grow! When you go from 2 to 3 kids, a four-door, two-row car may no longer do. Trust me I know. Last fall, I didn’t listen to my gut. I thought I could trade in my minivan for a 4-door car. I was wrong. With a teen, tween, and an older kid I’m finding that we need more room, two rows just won’t do. I’ve got a teenager as a backseat driver trying to control my radio station (ack!!) from the front passenger seat and I’ve got two boys in the back who are always fighting over the middle space. Boy do I miss that third row and the fun of being able to take friends with us on our adventures. We are always ALWAYS going somewhere! I am counting the days till I can get a car spacious enough to give my boys breathing room between each other again.
2018 Toyota Sienna at the New York International Auto Show
The Toyota Sienna offers three rows and seating for 8. It gives families 150 cubic feet of storage space for balls, bats, and sticks for sports practice and suitcases for family vacations. Every kid has their own cup holders and USB ports making longer trips more doable and fun.
Inside the Toyota Sienna
Watch my brief video tour of the 2018 Toyota Sienna
I remember trying my best to give you a brief tour of the 2018 Toyota Sienna in a minute or less, but with all that room… it was a challenge. Take a look.
You can learn more about the Toyota Sienna at the Toyota website. Click on over www.toyota.com/sienna.
For the empty nest, off-roading mom..this 2019 Toyota RAV4 is for you.
When the kids start leaving the nest, and you find yourself lugging lots of gear from college dorm to back home or from the dorm to their first home, you’re going to want a Toyota RAV 4. This spaciousness of this SUV will give you just the room you need for all their gear or for yours. Because with the kids away moms have more time to play. Whether that’s off roading to go camping and kayaking or a drive up the East Coast to find the best place for a funnel cake, the Toyota Rav 4 will be ready. With hearty 18-in. 5-spoke Black alloy wheels, durable rocker panel guards, integrated black roof rails, 3 12V power outlets, 1 120V/100W power outlet, over 70 cubic feet of cargo space, this Toyota is ready for every adventure. The all-new, fifth-generation 2019 Toyota RAV4 will make its world debut on Wednesday, March 28, at 9:10 a.m. EDT during the 2018 New York International Auto Show. Get your front-row access here without even having to get in your car https://livestream.com/Toyota/NYC2018.
We’ll post pictures of the 2019 Toyota RAV 4 as soon as they are available to the media.
Get to the New York International Auto Show to see these Toyotas
About the New York International Auto Show
Showing off the latest automotive trends, the 2018 New York International Auto Show will showcase an incredible collection of cutting-edge design and extraordinary innovation. More than four floors of displays from the world’s automakers will feature the newest vehicles and latest futuristic concept cars. Nearly 1,000 cars and trucks will be on display at North America’s first and largest-attended auto show dating back to 1900. Get inside, take selfies, ask questions and discover what just might be your next car.
What’s on your car wish list? Which Toyota would you choose?
The fabulous thing about the New York Auto Show is that you can shop for cars in a hassle-free environment. Get close. Climb inside. Count the cup holders and the USB ports. Adjust the seating, can you easily adjust the mirrors? Are you comfortable? Could you see every seat (child) from your driver’s seat? If you have questions for the representatives, ASK. There will be no feeling like you need to sign on the dotted line and take home a car that night, though you may want to.
Last year, I was ‘seeing’ myself in a Sienna.
You can view our 2017 New York International Auto Show videos in this Jersey Family Fun YouTube Playlist or see our 2017 New York International Auto Show photos in this Facebook album.
Enter to win tickets to the New York International Auto Show or other fabulous prizes!
Compliments of A Girls Guide to Cars, the New York Auto Show, Mazda, Genesis, Toyota and AutoGravity, click below to enter to win tickets to the show! You can also enter to win one of the following prizes:
- Apple Watch
- Kate Spade Smartwatch
- B&O Play Headphones
- Amazon Echo
- Amazon Echo Dot
- Rose Gold Cat Ear Headphones
Here’s how to enter one of the above 6 prizes: Just share a photo, video or gif at designated locations at the New York Auto Show between March 30 and April 8, 2018, post the image publicly to Twitter, Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #NYIASGetSocial and you’re entered to win! No purchase necessary to participate, contest open to all residents of the US, entries must be completed by midnight April 8, 2018. Winners will be chosen at random from qualifying entries; entries must be original social media posts and may be disqualified for inappropriate content.
The New York Auto Show runs from March 30 to April 8th (ticket winners will be able to attend between April 3 and April 8). Check our Facebook page for updates and the announcement of the names of ticket and prize winners!
New York International Auto Show Ticket Giveaway Contest rules
A total of 10 pairs of tickets will be given away: 9 pairs of tickets and one pair of tickets accompanied by a $150 gift card, will be awarded. All tickets are valid for entry during any public day of the New York Auto Show. Contest rules: Entries must be completed by midnight April 1, 2018. No purchase necessary; contest open only to US residents and subject to the laws of New York. Winners will be notified by email by April 2, 2018. Winners MUST pick up tickets in person at the New York Auto Show, Jacob Javits Center, 655 W. 34th St., New York, NY 10001, New York, NY, between April 2 and April 8, 2018. Winners may be asked to provide identification to receive their prize. Prize value $34 per prize, not exchangeable for cash or other items. Grand prize value is $184. A total of 10 pairs of tickets will be awarded and a total of 1 grand prize will be awarded.
After you’ve entered here be sure to check out our other current giveaways.
Join the Twitter Party for more New York International Auto Show fun
On Monday April 2 at 8PM ET join us on Twitter by following these hashtags: #NYIASGirlsNightOut, #GenesisGNO, #MazdaGNO, #ToyotaGNO and #AutoGravityGNO. Find out what we loved the most about the auto show and share in the conversation about your new car journey!