Brought to you by Nissan Australia.
I’m the daughter of a car salesman, so cars were a thing for my family. I thought it was normal for families to be super into cars. To know, at the ripe old age of 7, how many cylinders each car has and to hang out at drag race meets. Or to wave your dad off as he went to the Summer Nats for a weekend.
Oh dear. Yes, my family were really into cars. Dad would take apart motors and put them back together, for FUN. FUN!
I won’t lie, cars still kinda excite me. I’ve driven beautiful cars as a nanny, and I’m the person who goes in and negotiates when we buy cars ourselves. So, I think I’ve made my point. I like THE cars. And now you’re looking at me all weird, aren’t you? You didn’t know this about me.
Nissan recently reached out and asked if I’d like to try out one of their cars for six months and give it the family test. If you’re a parent, you know the deal, we live in our cars most days; in and out for school runs, grocery shopping, to the park, to the beach {taking half the sand home with us} and everywhere else we need to go. They arranged a Nissan X-TRAIL for me in red. On the day I went to pick it up, I expected a boxy looking car, instead I was greeted with this…
*insert wolf whistle here*
I asked on my Facebook page what I should call her. I once owned a red car called Randy so that was out. There were suggestions of Rhonda, Sheryl, Cherry, and lots of Ruby. But one name just seemed to fit {it was also one of the names I wanted to call Luella} and that name was Roxie. So meet Roxie.
Over the next six months I’ll be testing her out and giving her the family test. And yes that means that she’s probably going to lose that new car smell. Thanks kidlets.
She’s beautiful {obviously, just look at her} but she’s also a bit fancy. She’s got a camera that shoots up into the sky {I don’t know how, it just does} and then gives you a whole birds-eye-view of your car. So if you’re reversing into a smallish spot, you can see everything. Below you can see my garage {the left hand side is the birds-eye-camera-view}.
She’s also got a sunroof, heaters in the seats {so good for early morning school runs}, keyless engine start-up, leather seats, blind spot warning lights, bluetooth so you can connect your phone {I love that} and it also connects to Facebook and has Google {I know! I haven’t tested both those features yet, but I will}.
It also has a bit of a fancy boot where you can arrange the space into 18 different ways {I’m not sure if that number is correct, but it does a lot!}. It’s good for separating the pram from the groceries. That stuff matters!
But you want to know my favourite feature? The drink-holders. In winter you can WARM your drink, and in summer to can COOL it down. Yes, I know. MIND BLOWN.
I’m sure I’ll discover other things as I get better acquainted with my new friend Roxie.
I have a few things planned for the next few months, but I’d love to get away for a weekend somewhere. I’m hoping you can help me decide. I’m leaving it in your hands. Should we head to the beach, the bush or the city?
Get out of here! Drink warmer/cooler? That is so Jetsons of Roxie.
I think you definitely have to go bush if you really want to test the limits of a car. You’ll be at the beach anyway, and city driving is a bit meh. But take Roxie into the hills and she’ll really get a workout 😉
I think Bush is going to win! I’m scared!
I had a rav named Black Betty – when I sold it the new owner kept her name. And drink warmers and coolers – how rad!
My Randy car was a Rav4!
Is go exploring! Start in the city/town visit the bush and finish at the beach! That way you get the next of everything and Roxie is put to the test across the board.
I haven’t really named my cars before but maybe I should start?
I’m not into cars as much as you but I don’t mind going to the V8’s and car shows too, they are actually awesome days out with the family.
Have fun hanging out with Roxie.
Well we live near the beach, so it’s starting there anyway… now we just need to pass through a City to get to the bush Maybe! x
I also name my cars. I just got a new silver sports car and named her Astrid, because she has a bit of style and attitude. Your new car looks and sounds sweet! Can’t wait to hear more about it!
That sounds so fancy Esther. Go Astrid! x
We have Nissan XTrail STL in Black. Just bought it recently after we became new parents. It is an amazing beast, gives great mileage.( our previous commodore used to guzzle everything down, brrr)
Could you suggest/ demonstrate what all ways ( 18 ways???) to use the car boot to fit stuff with the pram? We Hav city jogger elite pram so it’s a lil wide.
Oh gosh, now I’m really being put to the test. Next time I’m at the dealership I’m going to ask him to do it and I’ll video or photograph it. I’ll put Terence {Nissan dude} to the test instead!
Beach all the way! Xx
Bush. you have been to Beaches and Cities many times from what I have seeen….
We have. You’re most definitely right. x
Maybe a bit far but we love our town Dubbo, you could drive around Western Plains Targona Zoo in style 🙂
I would LOVE to do that. I have no idea how far it is though, but I’ll check. x
I grew up in a household where Bathurst weekend was a practiced holiday! Thanks to my Dad I am a raving V8 Supercars fan. FORD ALL THE WAY! Except in 4WDs – then I hand the baton to my other half and he’s chosen Nissan for our family.
Awww. Yay for your other half. We were anti-Ford in our family. Then my brother did the evil thing of daring to CHANGE SIDES. Insane.
Roxie is a cutie! Love that view from above! Amazing. And yes. It is definitely OK to name your car. I have a Trax called Trix…lol!
I think you need to head bush! You live by the beach (don’t you?) and came from the city (didn’t you?) Bush is definitely next on the plan.
Can’t wait to read all about it.
You’re right. I think the old bush is winning.
That camera view from above is very cool. Still blows my mind!
This car is seriously good. We’ve been test-driving a lot of late and it’s got lots of tickety ticks on our buying list.
I’ve fallen in love. It’s weird getting in our other car now, because the X-TRAIL drives so much lighter and smoother. She’s a goody.
Drink warmers and coolers? Get out of town! Oh, wait, that’s what you’re planning to do. *lol* I reckon maybe city… you live near the beach and I can’t recommend the bush, there’s only so many trees I can be near before I start hyperventilating. But the city… you can go park in those tiny, impossible spaces like a champ because you have reverse cam and birds eye cam and who knows what else?
Oh, and we haven’t named our new car (well, dual cab ute!) but we did name the little crane attached to the tray Lofty after the crane from Bob The Builder. The joys of kids!
No I don’t but I’m not really a car person but it’s sounds fab,and those cup holders,love a good cup holder in a car!
The cup holders are fancy. I forgot to write that it has seat warmers too. F-a-n-c-y.
Holy cup holder! Heats and warms… dont tell my husband or we will be heading to Nissan haha. You’re so lucky, enjoy her!
Secret is safe with me.
Drive to Perth and visit me 🙂 The Nullabor would be an excellent challenge for Roxie, no? 😉
Ha ha ha… that would be quite the test for the car, and our tolerance!
Roxie looks lovely. How’s she do with the carseats and space in the back seats? My test is usually whether you could fit in an adult with the two car seats and they could still breathe/talk during the trip and walk afterwards.
You were freaking me out a bit with that whole bird’s eye view camera so I had to go look it up. Apparently it’s a composite of the views from the front and rear cameras and the little cameras in your wing mirrors. The system stitches the views together to create the bird’s eye view, which is why it’s a bit fuzzier looking than the single camera views. Geez, I’m glad someone on the internet thought to explain that otherwise it would’ve been bugging me for days.
Carseats fit perfectly and an adult could fit in the middle. Like most cars you wouldn’t have room to dance and chillax, but there’d be room to sit.
I’m so glad you looked up how the 360 view thing worked. I couldn’t figure it out and it was driving me crazy. Didn’t think to Google it!
Love the name Roxie! We are a car naming family from way back! We’ve had Stevie Festiva, Tezza Terios, Graham Grandis, Sammy Sirion, Harris the Yaris and now Peter Prado! Now – the real test – do the cup holders actually hold a cup? We get sooooo cranky when our cup holders can’t even hold any ordinary bottle of water!! Oh, and a getaway absolutely has to be out bush!!
Beach bashing – you must go beach bashing 😉 x
oooh I love that boot thing… that is way cool!!!
And I totally reckon beach, can’t beat a beach holiday!
Wow that is a nice set of wheels. I was a bit of petrolhead as a young girl and dated mechanics, panel beaters and all those types and even a person who restored hot rods! I hear you. A car that can chill wine – I’m SOLD!
Bush. Definitely bush.
Roxie really rocks and all the mentioned features are great to know. and for your trip try Bush and this gonna be a great test for Roxie too. Bird view… blue-tooth….warm and cold coffee…. great looks….more then sufficient boot… and many more to discover yet.. Go on..!!!