U.S. News & World Report just released their annual list of Best Cars for the Money and Hyundai, Mazda, and Nissan cleaned up. Hyundai and Mazda each had two vehicles on the list and Nissan had one. Their list highlights vehicles across 21 different automotive classes with the best combination of positive reviews and long-term ownership costs. Specifically, they take the average price paid from TrueCar.com and five-year cost-to-own data from Vincentric combined with the U.S. News Best Cars rankings data. So let’s get right into it!
There was only one winner in the car class that we sell as a part of the Preston Automotive Group and it was the 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The Sonata won for the Midsize Car category. This is a true standout car with its new outward design and upgrades to the engine and various mechanical parts that many people don’t really see. We have over 70 Sonata’s in stock right now at our Preston Hyundai Dealer of Maryland.
The remaining four vehicles we sell that made the list came from the SUV and Minivan category. The first one we’ll talk about the 2015 Nissan Murano, which won for the 2-Row SUV class. The new Murano looks amazing with its curvy exterior, mean-looking lights, mesmerizing front grille, and huge touchscreen system inside. We have a handful of these at our Maryland Nissan Dealer on the Eastern Shore, Preston Nissan.
The winner for the best 3-Row SUV was the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe. This SUV is top notch and its 80 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity is a great value for the money. It’s certainly not tops in its class in terms of cargo capacity, but it certainly is tops for the value it brings; thus, the reason why it is on this list!
The two Mazda’s to make the list were the CX-9 and Mazda5 in the Large SUV and Minivan classes, respectively. The 2015 Mazda CX-9 just recently won another award for Most Popular Large Crossover SUV, so you know this vehicle is legitimate. It is stylish on the outside and functional with a large feel on the inside. The 2015 Mazda5 admittedly doesn’t win many awards, but it is extremely functional and you get a fantastic amount of bang for your buck with this minivan. You may not think of this vehicle as a minivan because it is smaller, lower to the ground, and more stylish than the stereotypical “Soccer Mom” minivans that usually come to mind, but it is in fact classified as a minivan. With three rows of seats and decent cargo space, this minivan is tops in terms of value in its class. Preston Mazda, a two-time consecutive Gold Cup Mazda Dealer (the highest honor a dealership can achieve), has a small inventory of these vehicles now, but are receiving more every week.
There were several other vehicles from the Preston Automotive Group which were finalists too. The finalists – or honorable mentions if you will – in the overall Car category were as follows: Ford Fiesta, Fusion Hybrid, Mustang, C-Max Hybrid, Mazda Mazda3, and Hyundai Genesis. The three Preston finalists for the SUV and Minivan categories were the Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, and Lincoln MKC. At last, the lone finalist in the Trucks category was of course the Ford F-150.
*Now, remember this list is naming Best Cars for the Money – in other words, Best Value. So, when you see the F-150 and Mustang and other popular cars only making it onto the “honorable mentions,” remember that, while being great cars, they just may not be as great of a value as the cars that were ultimately picked by U.S. News.
Preston Mazda is a 2015 Gold Cup Dealer Again
While every new Mazda vehicle seems to be winning award after award, it came time to name the Gold Cup Mazda Dealers of 2015, and Preston Mazda of Maryland was able to secure the award for a second consecutive year.
Top Mazda vehicles such as the Mazda3 and Mazda6 have earned spots on Edmunds.com 10 Best List for the thirteenth year in a row. The Mazda3, CX-5, and CX-9 all made the 2015 Most Popular list, which was released by Edmunds.com as well. Since we sell such highly-rated, award-winning cars and hold ourselves to a higher standard of customer service, it only made sense that we would maintain our status as a Gold Cup Mazda Dealer for 2015.
What does it mean to be a Gold Cup Dealer? Well, first of all, this award is earned by the Top Mazda Dealers out of the Northeast, Midwest and Gulf Regions. This is the highest honor a dealer can receive from Mazda for their dedication to two areas: 1.) new vehicle sales and 2.) customer satisfaction. That is a large area with many Mazda Dealers, so to make this list is a tremendous honor. Furthermore, we are one of only two Mazda Dealers in Maryland to make this year’s list! This is also our second consecutive year on this prestigious list, so we are very proud of that accomplishment.
Preston Mazda, a member of the Preston Automotive Group, is located at the Preston Autoplex, which houses four other brands and showrooms on a massive 38-acre lot surrounded by cornfields on all sides. We are one mile from Preston, MD, which is a town of about 700 people. So, while we aren’t located in a big city like Baltimore, MD, or Washington, DC, we still sell a similar amount of cars and most of all have outstanding customer service. Whether it’s in our showroom or our many service bays, we will take care of all your automotive needs. We expect nothing less than making the Gold Cup list for a third year in a row in 2016, so we look forward to giving each and every customer the best buying experience possible at our Gold Cup Certified Preston Mazda Dealer!
2015 Ford: The Best Edge Yet?
Nearly a year ago, Ford Motor Company gave the world a sneak peek of the 2015 Ford Edge. As we swing around to February 2015, it seems that people are anxiously awaiting the 2015 Edge’s release which is set for the spring of this year. While all the other 2015 Ford models are basically out already, people have had to wait for even the specs of the Ford Edge. That is, until now.
The 2015 Ford Edge Sport will be getting one of the most exciting SUV engines out there. The Edge will get Ford’s new direct-injected, twin-turbocharged, “Nano” 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. This mouthful is rated at a massive 315 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. This puts it 10hp and 70 lb-ft of torque above last year’s Sport Edition. These numbers may not seem too impressive at first, but for reference, the 2015 F-150 puts out only slightly more with 325hp and 375 lb-ft of torque. That is truly saying something about this amazing SUV.
The 2.7L EcoBoost engine is small while outputting tremendous power; however, if you think that is more power than you need you can get the 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder. It still has 245hp and 275 lb-ft of torque which is more than enough for most people. By deferring to this standard engine you lose two cylinders, thus gaining better fuel economy. While the jump is only a couple miles per gallon, that can make a difference over time.
Preston Automotive Group is ready to receive these sporty SUV’s in the coming months at our various Ford Dealers across the Eastern Shore! As you may or may not know, we have Ford Dealers in Preston, MD, Pittsville, MD, Denton, MD, Georgetown, DE and Lewes, DE. As soon as we get ‘em you’ll know!
As if America didn’t already know the 2015 Ford F-150 was an amazing truck, Car and Driver confirmed it. In a recent comparison test by Car and Driver Magazine, the 2015 F-150, 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2015 Ram 1500 and 2014 Toyota Tundra all went head-to-head and the 2015 Ford F-150 was the victor! This comparison test was very extensive and took a ton of factors into account. They really put these cars through the ringer and it’s all to show you, the consumer, which is the best full-size truck of 2015. There were some startling statistics and numbers you have to see to believe, so let’s get right into it!
The first thing we noticed when we were looking over the numbers is the fact that the 2015 Ford F-150 was the only V6 going up against three V8 engines. That is a very important detail to keep in mind through this whole test. Along those same lines, the F-150 also had the fastest 0-30, 0-60 and 0-100 times even though it technically had the smallest engine of the four. With a 3.5L V6 EcoBoost Engine, the 2015 Ford F-150 was able to reach 30 mph in 1.7 seconds, 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, and 100 in 16.4 seconds. These times are pretty outstanding for any truck let alone a full-size beast. For instance, the Silverado 1500 can’t even reach 100 mph – it topped out at 99. To give you another reference point, the fastest 2015 Ford Mustang will hit 0-60 in 4.4 seconds, so a difference on 1.2 seconds versus one of the best American sports car on the market isn’t too shabby. The 2015 Ford F-150 was even able to brake in the shortest amount of time going from 70-0 in a mere 179 feet. The next closest competitor braked in 186 feet; and while 7 feet doesn’t seem like a big difference, it could very well be the difference between a wreck or not if there is a vehicle 180 feet in front of you. The F-150 also had the lowest curb weight after losing an estimated 700 pounds by receiving a Military Grade Aluminum Body. Finally, its max towing capacity came in at an insane 11,500 pounds. That blew away the competition with the next closest at 9500 pounds – a 2000 pound difference! We can jam all these numbers down your throat but just take a look at the charts below and you’ll see! 
If you look at the Final Scores you will see that the Ford F-150 got a total score of 196/240. In second place was the Chevy Silverado with a score of 193. Third was the Ram 1500 with 177, and finally limping to the finish line with a score of 164 was the Toyota Tundra.
Super Bowl Commercial Recap
The day after the Super Bowl is for talking about the big game at work, recanting the crucial plays, and maybe best of all discussing everyone’s favorite Super Bowl Commercials. This year there were some pretty powerful spots; including two from Nissan, one controversial ad from Nationwide Insurance, a PSA by coalition No More, and several others. Serious was the name of the game, and we were right in line with our three spots on NBC – WRDE.
Our spots were based around thanking our valued customers of the Delmarva area and beyond. Our message even got picked up by those at Edmunds.com, who wrote an article about us and what we were trying to accomplish. Our commercials spots also got great reception with people liking, sharing, and commenting on them via Facebook during and after the game. Some of the top comments included things like, “THAT is a GREAT commercial – thank you!” and “What an awesome local commercial from Preston Frogz!” We were even able to use pictures and video of local people in the ads. Whether it was military or EMS personnel or members of the community at our various events, we got to connect our message back to them. You can view all three of our spots below or on our Preston Frogz YouTube page.
Thanks for supporting us Delmarva!
2015 Preston Automotive Group Super Bowl Commercials
It’s that time of year again for the big game – Super Bowl XLIX. As you know this game will be played between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks on Sunday February 1, 2015. We know there will certainly be a ton of viewers glued to their televisions on Sunday night. Last year 167 Million people watched the big game, making it the most watched television broadcast in U.S. history, overtaking the Super Bowl from two years prior by approximately 200,000 viewers. Bottom line, this year’s game is projected to set a new record and advertisers have certainly taken notice.
Historically, people watch the broadcast for the Super Bowl Commercials as much as the actual game sometimes. The commercials have been getting funnier and more creative each and every year. This year Preston Automotive Group will have three Super Bowl Commercials featured on NBC – WRDE. We were inspired this year by the service men and women in our communities. From Firefighters to Police Officers, EMS to Military Personnel, we wanted to form our message around you; thanking you for everything you do for us. We created Preston Cares in order to convey this message to you.
Preston Cares is our way of saying thank you to our local community. It is because of you that we are still in business. “Our customers give so much to us that we are happy to give back to the community,” says Dave Wilson, Preston Automotive Group President, “We were excited to produce these special Super Bowl Commercials to thank all of you on Delmarva and beyond.” Not only do we love our customers, we love our local communities and try to be involved as much as possible. Preston Cares supports the local communities that each of our dealerships live in. From Little League Baseball teams to Supporting the Fight Against Breast Cancer, we truly believe that together we can do more.
So, when you see our Super Bowl Commercials this year be sure to remember that you, our valued customers, are of key importance to Preston Automotive Group’s success. Thank you again!
Good or Bad? We Break Down the CVT
There’s a certain negative connotation that has followed around the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) for as long as they’ve been in existence; but why? Gearheads seem to cringe before you can even finish the acronym CV… but whatever started this perception? We take a look at how the CVT works, what its benefits are, and why people judge it so harshly.
First of all CVT is a type of transmission that doesn’t actually have gears in the sense that we would think of gears. A CVT’s “gears” are “Continuously Variable” meaning that they don’t have teeth like traditional gears – they are always changing. In laymen’s terms there are two cones that are held together with a rubber or woven metal belt. Those belts will start out at the tips of both cones while the car is at or near zero RPMs, and as the RPMs increase, the belts will simultaneously move outward to the thickest parts of the cones. Think of it as a 21-speed bicycle with a gear boxes on the front and back, but now replace the gears with fat-ish cones and you suddenly would be able to hit “gears” such as twelve-and-a-half or ten-and-three-quarters. This creates for seamless shifting (in most vehicles) and less wear and tear on mechanical parts that you would have in a regular manual or automatic transmission.
Can you spot where the CVT “cones” are located in this expanded picture?
There are several benefits to a CVT and we’ve even named some, but the main thing that seems to draw consumers in is the fuel savings that accompanies these debated transmissions. It’s one thing that everyone can pretty much agree upon. The way it does this is keep the revolutions per minute down while under light acceleration and thus maximize fuel economy by constantly shifting “gears” rather than raising RPMs. It’s a benefit that can actually be seen at the pump. Another benefit would be the ease of maintenance because instead of multiple gears to potentially replace, essentially all you have to worry about is the belt (mostly woven metal chain now-a-days) and the two cones. Benefits to a CVT also include the ability to maximize acceleration by holding an engine at peak output.
Now, there are doubters out there (and plenty of them), but with recent advancements CVTs are becoming more mainstream. Even still, people still have a negative perception of these transmissions. For instance, because of the way a CVT holds constant engine speed, often-times drivers complain that a poorly calibrated CVT can feel like applying the throttle on a motorboat. It’s been described as “droning” or “lagging,” but more and more people are coming around and these innovations are being put into more cars every year.
It’s difficult to give you an idea just how many cars have CVTs in them without just listing them, but it should get the point across that this is the way the world is turning. For example, just about every Nissan has a CVT and most have had them since the mid-2000s (although they’ve seen much improvement since then). A handful of Ford vehicles are on the list as well including the Fusion and Escape Hybrids. There are plenty other manufacturers utilizing the power of the CVT such as Audi, Lexus, Subaru, Honda and Toyota. While there are more, this should give you plenty of an idea about how popular they are becoming sooner rather than later.
Like them or not, it seems as if CVTs are here to stay. So, the question becomes, when will all the “haters” come around and change their attitudes on these fuel saving transmissions? There will always be the regular manual and automatic transmissions for those hardcore gearheads and people who actually need them, but the CVTs are here for those who want a seamless transmission that saves them money at the pump!
Ward’s 10 Best Engines of 2015
Ward’s Auto is a website all about providing information about the global auto industry to consumers, so they can make more informed purchases. Every year, Ward’s most anticipated award is its 10 Best Engines list. They don’t rank them from 1-10, but rather give out the same award to all of the top 10. These don’t have to be the biggest engines either; and this year they are saying this list is “by far the most diverse and technically advanced pool of honorees in 21 years.” Ward’s 10 Best Engines competition pits the latest engines available in the U.S. market against the returning winners. Four engines returned from last year and one of them is a Ford!
As the only Ford Engine to make the list, this 1.0-liter EcoBoost 3-cylinder beauty has a big job to do representing the biggest American Motor Company all by itself. This is in fact the third year in a row this engine has made it onto Ward’s list of powertrain excellence. This tiny but capable engine belongs to one car and one car only: the Ford Fiesta. This car can’t compete with others on this list when it comes to horsepower and speed, but it does take the cake on top fuel economy. 
This extraordinarily small engine only has three cylinders but packs a punch on fuel economy by getting an EPA estimated 31 mpg city and 43 mpg highway, with 36 mpg combined! That is truly unmatched in a strictly gasoline fueled vehicle. This engine is optional on the 2015 Ford Fiesta SE Sedan or Hatchback models only and Preston Ford has two of these tiny monsters at the moment which you can see by clicking on the above link.
Another Preston Automotive Group brand, Hyundai, had one of their Crossovers make it onto Ward’s 10 Best Engine list. This vehicle runs completely on a fuel cell battery and creates zero emissions. It’s only available in Southern California at the moment, and the vehicle we’re talking about is the 2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell! This is Hyundai’s first-ever hydrogen-powered vehicle. 
It runs on a 100 kW (max) fuel cell electric motor and is consistent with most gasoline powered vehicles in terms of the amount of miles that can be traveled on one charge. It gets an estimated 265 miles per charge, which is comparative to what other similar crossovers achieve in miles per tank of gasoline. It also is years ahead of other Electric Vehicles (EVs) in terms of time it takes to charge. The Tucson Fuel Cell will completely charge up from nothing in less than 10 minutes, whereas the next closest EV takes over three hours! The only problem for us is that this revolutionary crossover will be stuck in Southern California until the country’s fueling infrastructure expands to fit the up-and-coming demand.
Preston Automotive Group loves when the brands we sell get recognized on a national level. We believe we sell truly exceptional vehicles and all of these awards keep proving us right! The full list of Ward’s 10 Best Engines of 2015 can be found by clicking the link or scrolling down. Enjoy!
127-kW Electric Motor (BMW i3 electric vehicle)
6.2L OHV V-8 (Chevrolet Corvette Stingray)
6.2L Supercharged OHV V-8 (Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat)
1.0L Turbocharged DOHC 3-cyl. (Ford Fiesta)
100-kW Fuel Cell (Hyundai Tucson FCV)
1.5L Turbocharged DOHC 3-cyl. (Mini Cooper)
3.0L Turbodiesel DOHC V-6 (Ram 1500 EcoDiesel)
2.0L Turbocharged DOHC H-4 (Subaru WRX)
1.8L Turbocharged DOHC 4-cyl. (Volkswagen Golf)
2.0L Turbocharged DOHC 4-cyl. (Volvo S60)
Every year, Edmunds.com, one of the most popular websites for vehicle research, puts out a list of the most searched for vehicles and dubs it the Most Popular list. 2015’s Most Popular list is already out as their count actually took place between January 1, 2014 and October 31, 2014. There are some new faces and old favorites, but Preston Automotive Group is especially excited because we have a record 15 out of the 66 total cars on this year’s list! Meaning that between all of our brands – Ford, Hyundai, Mazda and Nissan (excluding Lincoln) – we sell nearly a quarter of the Most Popular vehicles on the market. We are even going up against luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, Audi and others. So, for our top four brands to have 15 vehicles on the list means that we sell some of the most popular cars in the country.
As you may have guessed, Ford Motor Company had the most with eight. The obvious ones would be the F-150, Mustang, and Explorer. These three have been on the Most Popular list for many years. The other Ford’s that made it were the Expedition, Fiesta, Shelby GT500, Transit and Transit Connect. There were 22 different vehicle classes that were included in the list and Ford owned the Van class – occupying 2 out of 3 spots. 
Mazda and Nissan both sent three cars onto the 2015 Most Popular list. Mazda, as the topic of our previous post, had the Mazda3, CX-5 and CX-9 on the list. The Mazda3 seems to be a perennial on the Most Popular list, but the CX-5 and 9 are relative newcomers. As for Nissan, they made the list with the 2015 Altima, Frontier and Pathfinder. One in each major category – car, truck and SUV.
Our fourth brand, Hyundai, made a little history by having its first vehicle on the Most Popular list for Edmund’s. According to the influential automotive website, the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe was indeed one of the three most popular Midsize Crossover SUV’s of the year. Preston nearly cleaned up by having 2/3 of the SUV’s in this category.
The only Preston Automotive Group brand who missed out on this list was Lincoln. Now, that’s no slight to them, but they have tons of completion in the luxury categories like previously stated. Although it is a bit surprising that more people weren’t searching for the full-size Lincoln Navigator or their new Lincoln MKC.
Nonetheless, we are so proud to be able to offer these Most Popular vehicles to our valued customers all across Delmarva and the entire country. Be sure to check out these and other vehicles on our website at www.prestonmotor.com.
Mazda Has Three Cars on 2015 Most Popular List
There aren’t too many brands that got three of their vehicles put on Edmund’s Most Popular list of 2015. Mazda was one of those few brands as they had the Mazda3, Mazda CX-5, and CX-9 make the cut. Now, Edmund’s list was broken down by automobile class and the top three from each class were awarded the honor of Most Popular. And the data for this list was collect from Jan 1, 2014, through Oct 31, 2014. Basically, the most searched for vehicles within that timeframe made the list.
So, like previously stated, the Mazda3 made the list and is one of the representatives of the compact car class. The Mazda3 has been proven tops in its class year in and year out. If you’re looking for a compact car then you are probably thinking in terms fuel economy, reliability, and value, and you will get that with just about every compact car. However, with the Mazda3 you’ll get all that plus some extra personality and spunk. With the 3s’ larger 2.5-liter engine (compared to most compact’s 2.0L engines) it can accelerate quicker – going 0-60 in 8.3 seconds, which is faster than the class average. The 2015 Mazda3 also received an “A” rating from Edmunds for its overall distinctive design, drivability, and value.
The next Mazda to make the Most Popular list is the 2015 CX-5. This compact crossover was one of the three most popular in its class. The CX-5 is a joy to drive and is very stylish. It’s for people who don’t need a larger SUV but still need something bigger than a sedan. Something nice about the 2015 Mazda CX-5 is that the top two trim levels have upgraded to keyless entry and ignition. And with two engine options, much like the Mazda3, there are certain things to think about. The 2.0L is extremely fuel efficient; however, you may want the 2.5 if you will be travelling on the highway or with a car full of people. Mazda USA is actually creating competition for itself with the compact crossover CX-3 set to come out in 2016, so be on the lookout for that as yet another option in this class.
Finally, Mazda’s third vehicle to make Edmund’s 2015 Most Popular list is the CX-9. This Mazda hails from the Large Crossover SUV class and joins the GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse as the three most popular in their class. The 2015 CX-9 is like a sports car with an SUV’s body, and Mazda does that on purpose, taking their “Zoom Zoom” mantra to the next level in each of their vehicles. This sporty SUV packs a 3.7L V6 engine under the hood and has three rows of easy access seating that can fit 7 full size adults and their gear comfortably. Also, with the second and third row seats folded down, the 2015 Mazda CX-9 offers up a formidable 101 cubic feet of cargo space.
You can see why people were searching for these three Mazda’s as they are fantastic choices for many different types of people and situations. That being said, Preston Automotive Group is extremely proud to offer these vehicles at their Preston Mazda Dealer of Maryland. We encourage you to check out these vehicles and any others on our website at www.prestonmazda.com, or by clicking any of the links above. You can also call us at 877-873-3591 and one of our sales consultants will get you the best deal possible!
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