If you are after great quality sound while riding your next Kia SUV, then you might want to look a little harder at this exciting feature that Kia Motors America plans to bring in 2010 - the HD radio technology. Joining the host of automakers which are already offering this technology like Mercedes, BMW, and Volvo, Kia also wishes to enhance its customer experience and move the brand forward with this new digital radio system.

But what really makes the HD radio technology a feature to look forward to? Here is a list of its advantages for your perusal:

• It offers higher quality AM and FM radio broadcasts
• It uses advanced technology to display digital information like song title, artist information, and traffic and weather updates
• It sends both analog and digital signals to the HD receiver
• It offers both AM and FM frequencies
• It enables AM station to sound as good as an FM station today

So, what do you think? Are these interesting enough for you? If yes, then watch out for the select Kia SUVs to offer HD radio technology!

Image from: blog.sounddomain.com

SUVs nowadays offer more exciting features than before. If you are already contented with the vehicle’s A/C system to keep you comfortable while riding, wait until you’ve experienced the ventilated or A/C front seats which are included in various 2009 SUVs.

So, what are these 2009 SUVs with ventilated front seats? Before I enumerate them, let me just say that not all of these SUVs offer the said feature as standard equipment. You may only see this feature as standard equipment on more expensive trim levels like the Infiniti FX50, Mercedes-Benz G550, and the top-of-the-line LTZ trim of the Chevrolet Traverse.

Here are the 2009 SUVs with ventilated front seats:

• 2009 BMW X5
• 2009 BMW X6
• 2009 Buick Enclave
• 2009 Cadillac Escalade
• 2009 Chevrolet Suburban 1500
• 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe
• 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
• 2009 Ford Expedition
• 2009 GMC Acadia
• 2009 GMC Yukon
• 2009 Infiniti FX35, FX50
• 2009 Land Rover Range Rover
• 2009 Lexus LX 570
• 2009 Lincoln MKX
• 2009 Lincoln Navigator
• 2009 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
• 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
• 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
• 2009 Volvo XC90

Image courtesy of: www.lexus.com

SUV rides are supposed to be fun instead of frightening for your children. But how could it be fun if their safety is not guaranteed due to one reason: you had difficulty setting up the child safety car seat? Indeed, it can be difficult. But there is a great solution to that - the child safety LATCH system.

LATCH, acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, is some kind of a universal standard for mounting a child seat into the vehicle. It has been found out that although child seats alone may enhance safety, a good 80% of these are installed incorrectly which actually defeats the purpose why they are even there. And so, with this LATCH system, installing the child safety seat becomes easier since it eliminates the use of the SUV’s seat belt system.

But how do you install this LATCH system correctly? Here are some LATCH installation quick tips to guide you:

Consult your owner’s manuals to identify the correct attachments to use and the location of the anchors. Make sure the LATCH attachment straps are loose.

Start with the carseat sideways on the vehicle seat. A front-facing seat with its back toward you, or a rear-facing seat with the front toward you. Attach the farthest attachment to the far anchor, put the seat into position, then attach the nearest attachment to the near anchor.

Push-in type connectors and rigid LATCH seats should give a positive “click” when attached correctly.

Connectors with a hook must be carefully inserted over the anchor, then pressed down before pulling back and tightening. Alternately, you may insert the hook sideways and rotate it downward before pressing it onto the bar.

Verify again that you are using the correct anchors for rear-/forward-facing use, that the anchors are in the correct orientation, and that the anchors are firmly attached to the bar and not the upholstery.

Press the carseat firmly down into the vehicle seat while tightening the straps. If your carseat has two straps, press down on each side while you pull the strap(s) tight.

For forward-facing seats, attach the top tether to the appropriate anchor and tighten the strap

It may be difficult to remove the LATCH connectors from a tight installation. Loosen the straps by pressing the seat into the cushion, then tilting the adjuster to loosen the straps. With hook type connectors, you must depress the tongue, push the hook over the bar then rotate 90 degrees before pulling the hook free.

Rigid LATCH seats are easier. Usually they only require extending the rigid attachments, locating the anchors then pushing the carseat firmly into the back of the vehicle seat. A push or squeeze of a button is all that is needed to release the seat.

Info credit: www.car-safety.org

With the LATCH system correctly installed, now you can start setting up your child safety seat. In no time, your children will find it more fun and safer riding your SUV.

Backing up is something quite dangerous. One has to be extra careful when doing so because backing up accident can happen anytime and to anyone. It could either involve small children playing directly behind the vehicle or objects that are undetected by the driver. But if you want to have that 2009 Toyota RAV4, backing up won’t be a problem to you. Why? Because Toyota offers the Gentex Mirror-Based Backup Camera Display on the 2009 Toyota RAV4. Now, no more guesswork when backing up that SUV. Simply look at the display and there you’ll see the bright, high resolution color image of the view directly behind your vehicle.

So, how does this Gentex Rear Camera Display (RCD) works? Basically, the display mirror has a part which is made up of liquid crystal display or LCD. From there. you could actually see what is in the view of the video in your vehicle’s rear. When you shift the vehicle into “reverse”, the LCD automatically lights up. And once you shift the vehicle into another gear, the display in the mirror disappears and you get your ordinary rearview mirror.

Backing up is really made safer with this Gentex Mirror-Based Backup Camera Display. And for sure, this will help reduce the risk of backup accidents for the 2009 Toyota RAV4. If you want it standard in your vehicle, you can go for the RAV4X which will be launched in Europe early on 2009. But if you want the stand-alone option, you can look at the Sport and Limited RAV4 trim levels available in North America.