Must-Have Necessities In Your Car When You Travel #zoomzoom

What’s good on gas, sporty and red all over?

The 2016 Mazda CX-3 Touring, that’s what!

The Mazda CX-3 Touring is the perfect little companion to take with you on your daily driving expeditions. Whether you’re running errands, picking up little ones from school, going to work or heading out with girlfriends, this is the perfect rental car to fit your needs, especially you have a small family or if it’s just you or your significant other. It comes pre-loaded with all the must-have necessities in your car when you travel! 

Must-Have Necessities In Your Car When You Travel

We spent some time in Dallas this week and having a vehicle great on gas was definitely a plus. The Mazda CX-3 is small but packs a punch. It’s perfect for single or married couples (with 1-2 small children). It can be the perfect first car. And the value you retain from the CX-3 will be the money back in your pocket when you’re ready to upgrade to something bigger.

On the first day of our arrival in Dallas, we headed to In-N-Out. It’s tradition to stop at this fantastic and famous burger joint in whatever city we visit.

We then headed over to Hilton Anatole and checked in for our spa appointment. Food and getting pampered? Yes, please. After the spa treatment, and checking out our hotel, we decided to explore the Downtown Dallas area.

Here are some must-have necessities in your car when you travel

Navigation System:

When you’re in a new city, it is imperative to have a navigation system. Yes, you can easily use your smartphone to guide you where you need to go. However, it’s easier and saves your data and battery plan by using the car’s navigation system. The Mazda’s CX-3 system was easy to navigate (#punintended) and user-friendly.

Whether you are doing a road trip in your own car, or renting a car, having access to a GPS system will save you time and money. Gone are the days where using an old trusty map did the job. Actually, I couldn’t imagine trying to maneuver around the system relying solely on a map. I don’t have the best sense of direction, so I am 100% depending on a GPS system to guide to my destinations. Once I start to know my way around, I tend to use the GPS system less and go by landmarks.

Good Gas Mileage

When traveling in a big city, or even road tripping, it’s important to have a vehicle that’s good on gas. The Mazda CX-3 gets 31 MPG in the city and 35 on the highway. During our Dallas trip, we roamed all over the city, and surrounding areas. We drove down to Waco, Texas to check out Joanna and Chip Gaine’s Magnolia Market (they are from the popular HGTV show Fixer upper). In the city, our little red Mazda took us to The Porch for dinner (ah-mazing farm to table style restaurant), The Perot Museum, The Reunion Tower, and hot other tourist spots. We did not need to fill up for gas the whole time we were in Dallas. That one tank of gas did the job!

Comfort

Being comfortable is a necessity on long road trips. For a short drive, or renting a car for a few days you can go without a lot of comforts. Even though the Mazda CX-3 is on the small side, it still allowed us to feel comfortable during our short drivers. Let’s start with the interior. We all know how important the inside of our vehicle is, especially when it comes to the comfort and included features it boasts. Complete with air conditioning with pollen filter and power windows with drivers one touch up/down feature, the Mazda CX-3 certainly hasn’t skimped on bringing you a new level of luxury. The doors are automatic while the locks are power controlled as well and the heater has rear ducts so even the passengers in the back can remain comfortable in the winter months.

Able to seat 5 passengers, the Mazda CX-3 has cloth-trimmed sports seats and 60/40 split fold-down rear seats so whether you’re carting around just one or a handful of passengers, you’re able to fit yourself, passengers and your essentials in the vehicle with you, no matter where your journey takes you.

Price

A few key things I think about when looking for a rental car is the size of the car, gas mileage, brand and how much it will cost to rent the vehicle. These same tips are applied when I start searching to buy a new vehicle.

Additional Necessities

Having a car with a lot of trunk space is definitely a MUST when you’re traveling on a long road trip. The exterior is as gorgeous as you’d expect from a new model vehicle. It comes with roof mounted shark fin antenna, daytime running lights, clear lens halogen headlights and an auto-off feature for both. If you like a vehicle that is a reflection of your own stylishness then this is the one to look into, whether you’re buying or renting. Additional necessities I love to have in a vehicle when I travel are several car chargers, USB cords, Satellite radio, TV/DVD system, heated seats, etc.

Features of the Mazda CX-3 Touring Engine include but aren’t limited to:

• SKYACTIV-G 2.0L DOHC 16 valve 4 cylinders with VVT
• 146 Horsepower
• 146 lb-ft Torque
• Advanced Direct Injection Fuel System