Once you go satellite radio, you don’t go back. Case in point — SiriusXM, with dozens of stations catering to everything from hip-hop and R&B to Howard Stern and most importantly, no commercials, is tough to beat. Automotive manufacturers recognize this, and thus, brands such as Ford offer the necessary hardware built-in to modern vehicles, bundling a six-month all-access trial for new purchases, and up to a five-year subscription on navigation-equipped models. Keep reading to learn more.
Ford Edge
Ford introduced the current generation Edge in 2015, improving upon the outgoing crossover in almost every way by boasting a windswept body, hexagonal slatted grille, connected rear taillights, and dual exhaust tips. At launch, it was the first platform to feature a standard turbocharged EcoBoost engine, giving people a choice between a 2.0-liter four-cylinder powertrain or 2.7-liter V6.
Inside, Ford’s latest SYNC 3 infotainment system accepts swipe and pinch-to-zoom commands similar to a smartphone. The technology also allows access to SiriusXM via a couple taps of the eight-inch LCD glass touchscreen. Flipping through the 150-plus stations is as easy as pressing the tuning buttons surrounding the central volume knob.
Mazda CX-9
Recently, Mazda has been trending towards becoming a company filling the gap between mainstream and luxury products. The vehicle that kicked off the move was the flagship CX-9, totally redesigned less than three years ago. The result? A gorgeous full-size SUV wearing slim headlamps, containing automatic LED lighting, and curvaceous KODO “Soul of Motion” styling. It also packs a SKYACTIV-G 2.5T motor making up to 250 horsepower (when 93 octane is filled) and 310 lb-ft of torque under the hood.
The refinements continue in the cabin with optional Nappa leather upholstery complemented by genuine natural rosewood and aluminum trim. Customers choosing the Premium Package gain a BOSE 12-speaker stereo and SiriusXM compatibility.
Lexus IS 350
Have you ever loaded up the factory GPS in a car before and felt like it wasn’t giving the best directions to your destination? Whether because of out-dated maps or poor data, the Lexus IS 350 sports sedan —undergoing a mid-cycle refresh in 2016 — doesn’t suffer from this problem thanks to available integrated SiriusXM NavTraffic. This function shows current live traffic flow conditions, in real time, and dynamic route guidance on an enlarged 10.3-inch multimedia display, to get drivers to their destination in the most efficient and quickest manner possible.
Other enhancements on the facelifted third-gen vehicle include an even bolder version of the signature wide-mouth spindle grille, big front air intakes on either side, fresh bright machine finished alloy wheel designs and two different exterior paint colors (Deep Blue Mica and Graphite Black Glass Flake). The newest addition to the lineup is a rear-wheel drive 200t, powered by a force-fed 2.0-liter four-cylinder mill mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
