Toyota RAV4 XSE Hybrid AWD First Drive: Come For AWD, Stay For Comfort

Toyota RAV 4 Hybrid XSE

The RAV4 XSE Hybrid AWD from Toyota is a shockingly efficient SUV for all seasons

"Nobody can complain about the practicality of the Toyota RAV4, especially with hybrid technology and all-wheel drive."

  • Spacious, comfortable interior

  • Attractive style

  • Reliable AWD system

  • Excellent fuel consumption

  • So-so interior technology

  • Not really suitable for offroading

Women buy 54% of cars in the United States and, unlike men, do not decide which car or model to buy based on the model or brand. Women are usually more practical and take care of the interior or the cargo space the most.

That is true in my case. As a journalist and filmmaker, I have to have a second closet in my car and enough space to bring my lighting and camera equipment. And I need space for my two babies – my dog ​​Bruno and my cat Roberta. I really want everything.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid All-Wheel Drive (AWD) meets all of the above requirements at an affordable price. You can keep your vacation budget by understanding your financial needs, your family, and your lifestyle expectations.

As a thrill seeker, I decided to analyze this SUV on a trip where Florida alligators set the rules. Everglades National Park. The muddy park became the perfect place to experiment with the RAV4's all-wheel drive system as I thought about how it could fit into my everyday life.

AWD and off-road performance

The RAV4 Hybrid AWD is the best-selling SUV in America. While most people buy it with a 4-cylinder engine, the hybrid version offers many advantages. Thanks to the combination of a gasoline engine at the front and an electric motor at the rear, it not only delivers better mileage, but also more power than others (219 compared to the 4-cylinder 203).

The petrol engine drives the front wheels, while a 54 hp engine only drives the rear. They work together on an electronic on-demand all-wheel drive system that allows the car to decide how to supply electricity.

Toyota RAV 4 Hybrid XSELara-Carolina Fernandez / Digital Trends

Such an advanced system has practical advantages under tricky conditions. The off-road experience begins by activating the trail mode, which makes the vehicle more aggressive and ready to overcome the obstacles ahead.

Although the RAV4 has no mechanical limited slip differential, it has an electronic lock. A computerized operation in which the rear electric motor is activated to give the wheels more power by turning faster and pushing the vehicle thanks to the traction it generates.

If you only use EV mode with activated trail mode, you can drive through steep gravel hills. With the automatic all-wheel drive, the computer can analyze where the torque is needed. In this case, thanks to the electric motor, up to 80% can drive to the rear wheel.

The Hybrid AWD drivetrain impressed me. In fact, Digital Trends rates the Toyota RAV4 as one of the best hybrid family SUVs available today.

The driving experience

The RAV4 AWD, which is based on a platform shared with the Camry on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), is not designed for extreme off-roading. This is probably not a surprise.

Still, his off-road skills are not pointless. Many RAV4 buyers choose the small SUV from Toyota over a Corolla or Camry because the RAV4 performs excellently under adverse conditions. The all-wheel drive system of the RAV4 is intended to strengthen driver confidence and is successful.

Toyota RAV 4 Hybrid XSELara-Carolina Fernandez / Digital Trends

If you hope to be off the beaten path, make no mistake. The RAV4 Hybrid AWD currently lacks ground clearance, tire capability and suspension for serious crawling.

The RAV4 Hybrid XSE is 8.1 inches above the ground. That's enough to handle most winter storms, but not enough to keep it away from jagged rocks on a path. The RAV4 is clearly best suited for people living in the city, as it no longer has to adapt to certain situations such as flooding or snowfall in the city.

When you're ready to spend a little more money, Toyota offers the Adventure model with a 8.6-inch ground clearance. However, you cannot buy the Adventure model with the hybrid powertrain. It will still have AWD, but it will work differently than the model I drove.

However, among its main competitors, the RAV4 is the one that stands out. The Honda CR-V is a well-known rival 7.1 inches from the ground, while the Chevrolet Equinox and Nissan Rogue are at least 7.9 and 7.4 inches, respectively. The only model that fits the adventure model is the Buick Envision, which is 8.6 inches above the ground. Other competitors like the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage have a ground clearance of 6.4.

Tires are also crucial in off-road conditions. The RAV4 Hybrid XSE has 18-inch all-season bikes that are covered with the Dunlop Grandtrek P20. These tires, like the rest of the RAV4 Hybrid XSE, can process some snow, but are not ideal for conditions with strong weather. In my off-road experience, the RAV4 had difficulties on an inclined gravel road – especially with the rear wheels.

Lara-Carolina Fernandez / Digital Trends

The rear independent suspension ensures better traction. Because of its electric motor in the rear, it supports the car on steep hills. The articulation is not bad, but lockers (an unusual feature) or descent control (which is more common) are missing.

When driving the RAV4 Hybrid XSE on an inclined gravel road, the rear wheels simply pull. In order to get out of this situation, I had to back up and accelerate several times. The RAV4 Hybrid XSE was better on flat roads, and although its distance is minimal, the few inches it can claim compared to a Camry are appreciated.

Design and style

I brought my sister with me to learn more about the comfort and cabin of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE. She is a busy woman and mother who works as an inventory analyst between 9 and 5. It was a feast for the eyes to drive with someone whose priorities are completely different from mine, and in between operations we put the SUV through its paces.

We agreed that the RAV4 also looks sporty in a hybrid look for a small SUV. We found that the RAV4 Hybrid is suitable for a young family like my sister's or for outdoor-loving singles who want a stylish but economical ride.

The RAV4 has really conquered our hearts with its bold front grille, accompanied by LED headlights and fog lights. Our tester also had a black body package with LED taillights, spoilers, double exhaust and a panoramic sunroof to improve the view of the street.

Some of these features, such as the sunroof, are optional, but the LED lights and double exhaust tips are standard. Steel wheels are the only low-cost exterior feature of the basic RAV4 LE, and all hybrid models are upgraded to alloy wheels.

Interior and comfort

Powered by a 2.5 liter 4 cylinder gearbox (CVT). The Toyota RAV4 is a quiet ride. You can speak or hear your favorite songs from the engine without much background noise. However, my sister Isabel has a 4 year old in the house and mentioned that she would prefer the RAV4 hybrid to make more noise.

The RAV4 is a great size for city life as it is not too big. My test model also had a large rear view camera with an overhead and 360 degree panoramic view, which made parallel parking in a narrow street much easier.

Lara-Carolina Fernandez / Digital Trends

Toyota offers one of the best entune infotainment on the market. A multimedia navigation system that provides satellite-based information on traffic, weather, sports results, stocks and many other functions. For $ 1,620, you get an 8-inch touchscreen with buttons and buttons, app integration like Apple CarPlay, and my sister's favorite, Wi-Fi connectivity.

Let's now compare RAV4's infotainment system with its long-standing rival: the Honda CR-V.

Hondalink's system is called Hondalink, but it's still not noticeable. The CR-V has a 7-inch display, only a volume control and no Wi-Fi connection. The appearance of the graphic display falls behind the Toyota Entune system, which has a striking 8-inch touchscreen display.

However, Entune is far from perfect. Android owners will not be enthusiastic about RAV4, as Toyota's infotainment only allows Apple CarPlay. This offers the CR-V an advantage as Hondalink supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The cabin technology of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is not up to date, but the RAV4 does have a full suite of Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 features. This includes braking before a collision with pedestrian detection, lane departure alarm, automatic high beam and radar cruise control. Competitors like the CR-V from Honda and the Escape from Ford are on par with the Toyota system, but options like the Chevy Equinox and the Nissan Rogue retain all of their safety features for step-up models.

Should you buy it

As daughters of a car parts seller, my sister and I agreed on the total price, fuel consumption and the resale potential of the RAV4 XSE. For $ 38,294, you can enjoy the comfortable leather seats, a digital and analog instrument cluster, a wireless Qi charging pad, and USB chargers at the front and back.

The second row offers enough leg and head room for tall adults and has ventilation slots, but no air conditioning. The car also features an electric tailgate and a total loading capacity of 69.8 cubic feet once the rear seats have been folded down. That's at the top of the segment, although the Honda CR-V is slightly better at 75.8 cubic feet.

When comparing fuel consumption between hybrid and gas, the hybrid powertrain is worth the additional $ 1,400. The gas model gives you 25 miles per gallon in the city, 33 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg combined. The hybrid achieves excellent 41 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway and 40 mpg together. You can easily make up for the costs of the hybrid upgrade over a period of five years.

The Toyota RAV4 is a practical car, family-oriented and suitable for anyone who needs a lot of space in a medium-sized vehicle. It's not the most exciting choice, but I can hardly fault the practicality of the RAV4.

Editor's recommendations




Celebrities Reveal Their Favorite Eminence Organic Skin Care Products

If your job puts you in the public eye, investing in the best skin care products becomes number one priority. Who wants to fight breakouts and skin care disasters while the world is watching? That is why actors and TV personalities attach great importance to keeping their skin in top shape with the best products. Curious to know which one Eminence Organics Products make it into celebrity skin care routines? Read on to find out which stars choose our natural, organic and biodynamic™ products and the favorites they swear by.

Oscar and Golden globe winner actress Laura Dern, whose oeuvre includes iconic films such as Jurassic Park on the recent work in Marriage Story, swears by her favorites from Eminence Organics (and actress Diane Ladd too!) Laura recently invited Vogue's camera team to her bathroom to show the skin care brands she chooses because she “ take care of our health and wellbeing, ”including Eminence Organics. She loves to start her beauty ritual with our probiotic mask for clear skin. She says the skin feels so good, and also notes, "It literally feels like it's just cleaning my skin." Watch the video below for your complete skincare:

Freida Pinto

The beautiful Freida Pinto The breakout hit Slumdog Millionaire blinded us for the first time, a role she deserved BAFTA and MTV Movie Award Nominations. Interviewed by The New Yorker magazine, the actress and activist, described our facial recovery oil as a product that keeps her skin flawless. Freida explains: “This Eminence oil is incredible. I do makeup all the time, take makeup off and rub my skin to do this. Facial Recovery Oil is ideal for rebalancing my skin and keeping it clear and hydrated. "

Eminence Organics Facial Recovery Oil

Alexa Demie

Buzzy HBO series Euphoria has captured the ultimate fear of teenagers and the actress Alexa Demie was an outstanding representative of the ensemble. While Alexa shares her skin care and makeup tutorial with Vogue, she admits, "I'm obsessed with eminence." She applies our moisturizing stone fruit mist and firming bamboo liquid before her make-up routine and continues: "It's all organic and made from vegetables, flowers and phytonutrients. It's just all natural." Alexa returns to the Stone Crop Hydrating Mist to complete her look and add a refreshing splash to her makeup. Watch her skin care and makeup routine below:

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Olivia Culpo

former Miss universe and internet celebrity Olivia Culpo she demonstrates Skin care routine for Harper & # 39; s Bazaar & # 39; s The popular Go To Bed With Me series includes our Neroli Age Corrective Hydrating Mist. The beauty influencer uses the mist to seal her night mask. She breathes in the tropical scent and says: “It just feels so moisturizing and delicious. Love it! "Check out her bedtime routine below:

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Tamron Hall

Emmy-nominated radio journalist Tamron Hall admits that she is a masking fanatic: "I have been masking every day since I was 27." One of your favorite products? Our Probiotic mask with clear skin. With her typical sense of humor, she says: "I am in love with Eminence's probiotic mask (Clear Skin). Sometimes I walk the dog with a mask and sunglasses and scare my neighbors."

Matthew Morrison

Broadway actor and glee star Matthew Morrison loves Eminence Organics for more than one reason. He doesn't just believe that our products work (especially ours) Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer) he admires our commitment to using ingredients that are good for you. He admits: "It is nice to know that there are companies like Eminence that are proud to use all natural ingredients. And you can feel the difference. I have just started using their products and I am absolutely thrilled. I can't live without my coconut moisturizer !! "- –

Freddie Highmore

We were very happy about the hit show, The Good Doctor chose Eminence Organics products for their makeup trailer. star Freddie Highmore invited our team members to the set and let us know his appreciation that his skin looks strong and healthy!

Michelle Harrison

actress Michelle Harrisonwho plays the main role? The flash says: "Eminence changed my skin. I have problems with dry and dehydrated skin and after a few days my whole face shone. I work in the film for many hours and my face is constantly exposed to different products. I think it's great that my skin is organic first and not full of toxins. One of my favorite products is the Triple C + E Firming Oil. A beautiful serum that makes my skin feel like baby skin. I started using Eminence 10 years ago and cannot tell you how much I love this amazing product. "

Rachel Skarsten

Batwoman archenemy Rachel Skarsten He manages to look both vicious and radiant CW Superhero series. The source of their luminosity? She says: “I am in love with Eminence Organics products, especially the Stone Crop Oxygenating Fizzofoliant. My skin glows after use and it is such a refreshing wake up in the morning followed by a splash of Stone Crop Hydrating Mist. I can't live without it! "

Romany Malco

We love to see actor Romany Malco's Instagram stories about his skin care routine from Eminence Organics. Known for Weeds and a million little things, Romany calls our Stone Crop Whip Moisturizer "some of the most dreadful things I've ever put on my face." He also shows a wonderful mixology by mixing this moisturizer with our facial recovery oil to get a really moisturizing and regenerating combination.

Instagram story of Romany Malco

Stephanie Szostak

Another A million little things star, Stephanie Szostaksays Byrdie of her skin care products, including our Bright Skin line. Stephanie targets her melasma and turns to our peeling peels to even out her skin tone. She says: “I really love the Eminence Bright Skin Liquorice Root Peeling Peeling.

Christina Chang

How Dr. Audrey Lim on The good doctor, actress Christina Chang still looks fresh and saves lives. She reveals her secret on Instagram, which shows a bottle of our rose hip Triple C + E Firming Oil. She simply says in her post: "Love."

Adam DiMarco

Known for The order and the magicians, actors Adam DiMarco says: "I was introduced to the Eminence Organics Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer on the set and it was the best product for my skin!" My skin not only feels smooth and stays clear, the compliments haven't stopped since I started it. "

Learn more about it Famous favorite skin care products and discover them all at an Eminence Organics partner spa. Which celebrity decisions do you desire? Let us know in the comments below or on social media.

Train the Foundation of Success: Willpower

So many of our behaviors are the standard of an incorrect environment setting. An alarm, a pre-made sports bag and a drawer full of healthy snacks can do a lot. Assume your environment is spot on and your plan is flawless. You still have to show up and run.

People throw away all of their processed food and fill the house with fruits, vegetables, and fish, just to go to the Dairy Queen four days a week after dinner. People stow their work clothes in a locker in the gym and then start the ridiculous habit of going to the gym every morning to change without doing any training beforehand.

Even if everything in your life leads you to the right movements, you still have to do it. This is where willpower comes into play.

It doesn't matter who you are, you don't always want to exercise and eat well. Most of the time, even the most experienced and consistent fitness professionals with a sense of fear are at their pre-planned training block. It is human nature.

When we have the choice between the comfort that gobbles up our lives today and the effort, every fiber of our being pulls us to remain in sedentary comfort. We are programmed to use and save energy.

Our body never expected a world with plenty of energy (food) and we were able to survive while we were barely moving. There are more and more snacks, another Netflix show and a new YouTube video "next".

Therefore, it takes a stupid amount of willpower to break the standard patterns of our comfortable life and add the necessary inconveniences. And that's exactly what fitness goals usually boil down to – interrupting the pattern of seated comfort.

Once you start everything will be easier. You may even find that we are energized and want to do more. Starting is the hard part. Finding the current determination to ignore every impulse or instinct and to feel uncomfortable – this is now the basis for every healthy lifestyle.

You may be thinking, but what about those days when I'm full of energy and excitement to move? Can't I just restore these conditions with good pre-workout and good music? Nope. You are the aberration. No matter how good your planning is, you will often find that you don't want to stick it out.

Jocko Willink, former Navy Seal, says in his book “Discipline equals freedom”: “Motivation is moody. It comes and goes. It is unreliable and if you count on the motivation to achieve your goals, you will likely miss out. So … don't count on motivation. Rely on discipline. “And that means willpower.

You set your goal or set this personal rule when you think about what's best for you. In this emotionless, distant state, it is easy to see which course will be the most fulfilling in the long run. The moment you have to step up and act, however, it is much more difficult.

You won't always want to follow through. If you have the willpower to assert yourself, you will feel better all day, If you make concessions and break your own rules, you have created a dangerous precedent that will make it more likely for you to find the easy way out in the future.

You can justify at any time that skipping a day or spoiling yourself once does no harm. A decision doesn't have a bad impact, but to be healthy you have to consider every event as a general pattern. Overcoming temptations and sticking to the plan is a constant thing.

Whether your goal is to eat better or do more exercise, willpower is critical to your success. Where's the plan for that?

Willpower 101

Willpower is real and it's a superpower. Study by study and book by book have shown that people with greater willpower are healthier, happier, more successful and in better relationships. Above all, willpower determines the quality of your life – and it can be trained.

Scientists tracked down 59 of the subjects from the famous Stanford Marshmallow Test and used functional resonance imaging to monitor their brain activity when tempted.

They found that the brain patterns of subjects with little self-control and subjects with high self-control were different. The inexperienced mind has far greater difficulties in overcoming impulses, You need to train willpower. Without them, your health goals are unlikely to be successful.

Willpower is like a muscle in every way. It grows when it's trained. It tires when in use. Your chest and triceps could be trained to improve from a maximum bench press of 245 pounds to a maximum weight of 400 pounds over time. You could work from three reps at 225 pounds to 15 reps.

The same principles apply to training willpower. Through consistent training, you can build the ability to absorb much more willpower that requires tasks, and build up to a point where previously challenging tasks require almost no willpower.

Even if your willpower grows, you can't take in too much volume every day and expect good results, Just like a two-hour struggle of sprints, snatches, and heavy squats would fry the central nervous system even with the best conditioned athletes, you can't expect extreme willpower every day.

In addition, every willpower consumes the same reserve. It doesn't matter whether you use it to resist hunger attacks, censor yourself when speaking, keep eye contact, not checking your phone, studying, or exercising.

Self-control habits allow you to automate behaviors that cost a lot of willpower to most people. This means that expensive willpower tasks can become free or far cheaper. If you usually speak well, you don't have to censor how you speak to people. If you usually make eye contact, the focus will no longer increase when you speak to your boss.

If you have a habit of studying every day after class, this is part of the routine. You don't have to find out when and how you will learn. They follow the pattern and no willpower is used to make decisions.

The more good habits you have, the easier it is to do positive tasks without using a lot of willpower. In this way, some people have put themselves in a position where they seem to always be able to do everything at a high level.

Decisions can also put a lot of strain on your willpower. When you decide what to wear, what to eat, or what to do, your willpower reserves are exhausted, so environmental design and planning can go a long way. If all the steps to get you to the gym or to the right foods are in place for you, your willpower will not be put into the effort to get there.

If you are serious about a goal at all, first shape your life so that the least possible willpower is required to bring us to your desired goal. Avoid fluff when dressing and eating so that you save willpower every day and, if possible, do your most will-dependent tasks early in the day to ensure sufficient enthusiasm.

But here, too, the reality remains that at a certain point in time you only have to do the difficult thing if your emotions rebel against it. How do you train the ability to overcome this impulse? Slow and steady.

Willpower training made easy

As your willpower grows, it's about strengthening your muscle strength to make yourself an experience you'd rather avoid. You know that training will make you happier in the long run, but the moment your emotions shout "No!" Like a toddler is told it is time to leave the birthday party.

You want to build the ability to do the difficult consistently, even if you don't want to. In training, Constance always surpasses the occasional outbreak of great efforts. You will see the best results of daily willpower training, So take a cold shower every day.

The cold shower is the perfect willpower training technique because you will never want it and always have time. You always have three minutes to shower. At the moment, you are probably waiting three minutes a day for your shower to warm up. It is not known where or when. Business and convenience are not available excuses.

After a three-minute cold shower, you will feel much better. In addition to the cascade of physiological effects, you have self-confidence and a sense of achievement that only arises from challenges. You only have to commit to it for a very short amount of time so you can feel better all day – just like when you exercise.

But training is of course about progress. Biting too much, biting too early is a recipe to stop, Start with 30 seconds. You can take a minute next week. Keep crawling in 30-second increments until you take a three-minute cold shower every day. You train the ability to do the difficult.

This is the root of every health goal. If you can take a cold shower, you can start exercising. If you can take a cold shower, you can bypass the smell of free donuts that blow from the staff lounge.

You may be tempted to stop taking a cold shower every day because you just don't want to, This temptation is the point. You have to face the reality that you have to take control of your health repeatedly to take control of your health. Your mind will rationalize all sorts of reasons for not doing what you planned. Emotions take control of your conscious thinking. Act anyway. This is your mantra. You cannot rely on motivation. Follow the plan. Action. This is the willpower exercise.

Commit is more important than trying

"Do it or not. There's no attempt."

– Yoda

Everyone can take a cold shower every day. You just have to make the decision to commit properly. You can't say, "I'll try." Why would you frame it as an "attempt"? No skills or opportunities are required. Don't try.

You either commit to it or you don't. I thought about providing other willpower training protocols, but this complexity only promotes inconsistencies. There is nothing to think about.

Taking a cold shower is difficult, I am only a few minutes away from mine and even after doing this for over a year the prospect makes me flinch. Acting keeps my willpower muscles in shape so I can better control my actions when it's difficult. I know that growing willpower increases the ability to act the way I want to act and who I want to be, so I will continue this practice.

There are some helpful mechanisms you can use to make this or another willpower attempt more successful:

1. The first and most important thing is to start with a "no matter what" clause

I borrowed the terminology of the "no matter what" clause from music star Mike Posner, who recently migrated from the Atlantic to the Pacific. I've always used a similar version of it, telling myself that 99% is a sissy.

In any case, the point remains: there is no scope. Once you have decided to do this, this must be the end of the conversation. For this reason, I recommend that people who start changing their lifestyle always start small. You have to create a habit, an identity, to persevere.

When approaching life in this way, you need to think carefully before committing yourself, as you are doing everything you are committed to. Promise conservatively. You can always add later. If you find that you have taken over too much, you must keep your word (even if it is just a promise to yourself) until you reach your next planning period. I suggest a weekly planning session where you think about the week and allow yourself to adjust the plan by adding or subtracting it as needed.

2. Be prepared for curve balls

But let's say the unthinkable happens. You wake up late, rush to work, miss dinner, spend the evening in the freezing cold season and watch your daughter's soccer game, come home and decide that I just don't take a cold shower … or exercise … or resist the urge To eat biscuits until you are sick. You broke your promise. We are all human, after all. What now? The next day you are on the right track again.

So often people get stuck on arbitrary goals and when they fall off, they just give up. They describe themselves as failure and return to life without the goals. We have to commit ourselves, but a lack is not the reason to throw everything down the drain.

Sure, you have committed yourself with heart and soul and it is a shame to fail, but what is past is past. If the impossible happens and you break your promise to yourself, you must immediately commit again. There is water under the bridge. Back to ace kicker mode.

3. Make your commitment bigger than yourself

We are social beings. If you take a 10-year exercise break, I'm willing to bet that your behavior in your social group was normal. You would have behaved differently if you had just left the Marine Boot Camp. If you find social levers that will lead you to your goals, you will be more successful.

Social pressure often works against our goals. In most places you go, people could put pressure on you not to take a cold shower every day. They say things like, "Why would you do that? It's just stupid." As if training the willpower, the main determinant of success, was nonsensical. So you have to intentionally create positive social pressure. You can find like-minded friends and engage each other, or even try more creative tactics.

My partner Justin Lind and I created the Pillar Experience Calendar – a structure to consistently take into account the most transformative experiences of self-development. Every month we have a topic with a lesson and accompanying challenges that are discussed and supported by an online group.

Last month our group committed to an extended fast. Many of them only consumed water with Justin and me for 48 hours. Others reduced themselves to 24 hours or treated themselves to coffee. We all found immense strength in mastering the challenges together and discussing them over time,

Separate your life from making the right decisions

Organize your life so that you make the right decisions and distance yourself from those you want to avoid. Take on the difficult tasks early in the day. Commit yourself to cold showers daily and take the time to build an accountability system.

You could make willpower far more complicated, but that would only offer opportunities for failure. Too much thinking just distracts you from what you have to do.

It is best to make your plan simple and the measures clear, Then just act, because this will increase the willpower muscle. And this muscle is far more important than anyone else when it comes to long-term fitness and health.

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch Review: The Best Mac in Years

MacBook Pro 16 inch (2019)

"Apple's MacBook Pro 16 is a much-needed return to the glory days of the MacBook."

  • The best keyboard on a Mac

  • Excellent performance for content creation

  • The 16 inch screen is beautiful

  • Incredible speakers

  • Touch bar is still not useful

  • Size can be unwieldy

This review was updated on January 24, 2020, with new competitors and rumors about an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Complain. Emergency Repair Program. An infinite flood of online criticism. That's the last three years of the MacBook Pro, in short.

The PR nightmare had just started when I requested a Mac as a work laptop. The MacBook Pro was my standard choice at home and, despite its small size and long battery life, took care of music production and games. My 2015 MacBook Pro never let me down.

However, my experience with the MacBook Pro 2016 was very different. On my desk next to the stack of excellent Windows laptops, I found the keyboard frustrating. The design looked dated. Even his performance felt limited.

Mac fans, including myself, want Apple to bring the MacBook Pro back to its former glory. The MacBook Pro 16 offers the first glimmer of hope in years. Is this the laptop I've been waiting for?

The Mac Apology Tour

The new 16-inch MacBook Pro is not revolutionary. It wasn't presented at a glittering press event. It is not a leap forward in design and certainly not innovative. It is a patch.

At its core, the design of the MacBook Pro is retained. The unibody aluminum case is still a strength, and Apple didn't dare to touch it this time. The same applies to the Thunderbolt 3 port selection and the massive Force Touch trackpad.

However, once you've got the space gray behind you, small changes show the desire to please fans.

Even the thin frames around the new 16-inch screen show that Apple is hearing criticism. The chunky boundaries of other MacBooks have been looking dated for years. However, shrinking the bezels would have meant a smaller footprint, a smaller touchpad, and less space in the case for components.

Instead, Apple added an additional 0.6-inch display, which results in a resolution of 3,072 x 1,920. The massive screen provides a more complete view of your work, ideal for multitasking or working in a complex application like Adobe Premiere. It's not quite the 17-inch laptops it used to be, but it's close.

This is the best Mac keyboard ever released.

While the new display looks great, the keyboard is the most drastic change. Apple tried to corner itself in an attempt to modernize the keyboard. The company calls the new inputs a “magic keyboard” that matches the still popular iMac accessories. Its full millimeter of travel feels like an ocean compared to the previous design. The physical escape key and the inverted T arrow keys return.

This is the best Mac keyboard ever released. It's a step further than the 2015 model, with its larger keycaps and faster mechanism, and it's head and tail above the MacBook Pro 15's butterfly switch keyboard.

The touch bar remains and still feels useless. I accidentally mute my music and wonder why it's not more useful. On the other hand, it usually stayed out of my way. I will endure the touch bar as long as the keyboard sniffs.

When every millimeter counts

The new MacBook Pro offers more than a fixed keyboard. In fact, an additional thickness of 0.03 inches in the case has allowed Apple to add Significant quality improvements such as larger battery cells and a newly designed thermal system.

The larger battery is an important upgrade. Larger laptops with high-resolution screens often have battery life issues, as does the 15-inch MacBook Pro. The larger battery cells of the MacBook Pro 16 Increase total watts of juice from 83.6 to 100, the largest battery you can clog in a FAA approved laptop.

However, larger batteries do not always mean more time away from a socket. In the case of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, powering the extra pixels seems to steal the extra juice that the MacBook Pro 16 contains. The new model couldn't drive me through a whole working day.

Under my standard workload, which includes dozens of tabs, streaming music in Spotify and Slack, the 16-inch MacBook Pro lasted about five and a half hours. In other words, this 16% larger battery doesn't produce a 16% longer battery life.

If you sit under bright office lights all day, be careful. I kept the screen brightness constant above 75%, which explains why the overall performance dropped. It's not as long as I want, but it matches Windows options like the Dell XPS 15 with 4K display.

A video editor's best friend

Inflating the case doesn't mean better battery life, but it does contribute to performance. The ultra-thin design of the 15-inch MacBook Pro performed reasonably well in 2016. However, the first Core i9 processors were announced in 2018 and suddenly introduced new functions for laptops. Content creation. Video editing. Creative work. It has always been possible, but now it is much easier.

Apple threw them into the 15-inch MacBook Pro. The result was severe throttling. It was so bad that the Core i7 in a MacBook Pro 15 could often keep up with the Core i9. unless you have operated the Core i9 in a freezer.

The updated 2019 MacBook Pro 15 with a newer Core i9 that added two more cores to the mix improved the situation. Laptops like the Dell XPS 15 still handled the chip better.

With the 16-inch MacBook Pro, Apple returned to the drawing board to redesign the thermals for this new class of high-end processors. Thinner fan blades, larger heat sinks, additional ventilation slots. It's a complete makeover.

The difference is amazing. Although the 16-inch MacBook Pro uses the same processor with the same 32 GB of RAM, it leaves its predecessor in the dust in every benchmark and real-life test I've done.

I rendered a two-minute 4K clip in just 4 minutes and 41 seconds in Premiere Pro in ProRes 422. The same clip on the 15-inch MacBook Pro? It took twice as long. The MacBook Pro 16 is now as fast as the Dell XPS 15 as it should always be. I shudder when I think about how quickly this clip could be rendered in Mac-optimized software like Final Cut Pro.

The fantastic performance offers more than just increased airflow.

These fantastic results offer more than just increased airflow. The latest software optimizations from Adobe play a major role, as does the new onboard graphics.

As with all newer MacBook Pros, the 16-inch model uses a custom card from AMD. However, the Radeon Pro 5300M and 5500M are not an average update compared to last year's graphics. These are based on AMD's next generation Zen 2 7nm graphics architecture and help make the MacBook Pro 16 a powerful video editing device.

Who is it for again?

The sparkle of a new MacBook Pro can seduce you in a number of ways, even if it's not meant for you. IIf you don't have to run intensive applications in your everyday life, you can hardly use an 8-core (or even 6-core) laptop.

For example, the new graphics indicate better gaming performance. The MacBook Pro 16 does not meet these expectations.

The MacBook Pro 16 is fast, but not a gaming laptop.

Games like Fortnite and Rocket League are smoother than before and run consistently at frame rates of around 60 FPS in medium settings. You always have to pay attention to the graphics settings, especially due to the unusual resolutions that the 16-inch Pro can display natively.

Civilization VI had this problem because it refused to run in full screen mode and only achieved 53 FPS at medium settings. The Dell XPS 15 with its Nvidia GTX 1650 is always a better choice for gaming. It offers a more conventional resolution and enough power to improve the settings a bit. It can reach 50 FPS in Epic settings in Fortnite and 82 FPS in Civilization VI in Medium.

You can also consider it for simple everyday tasks, but again it is more powerful than you need. Unlike Dell or Microsoft, Apple doesn't offer a larger MacBook Pro without a six- or eight-core processor, discrete graphics and 16 GB of RAM.

The sheer size of the 16-inch MacBook Pro is also cause for concern. With a footprint of 14.09 x 9.68 inches, it's not a laptop you want to take on a plane, and it will take up most of the table at your local cafe.

However, there is a case for someone who wants to spend a high-end media experience on their laptop. Apple has tuned the speakers well and claims an additional half octave of bass. These are by far the best speakers you can find on a laptop, and you can feel it in the rumble of an explosion in The Mandalorian or in the kick drum in a song.

This display is also beautiful, although this is to be expected. It is bright, the colors are accurate and the contrast is high. The best displays from Dell and HP can keep up with the MacBook Pro 16, but this huge screen offers an impressive movie experience. However, the 16:10 aspect ratio means that you will always see mailboxes.

Our opinion

For the first time in years, I can breathe a sigh of relief and recommend a MacBook Pro. It does what Apple needed it to do and resolves all the complaints I've had against the MacBook Pro. That lifts it back to the top row of premium laptops.

Are there alternatives?

If you're not using your laptop for content creation or other tough tasks, you probably don't need a laptop that is that big or powerful. Choosing a 13-inch laptop like the Dell XPS 13, HP Specter x360 or Surface Laptop 3 will save you hundreds of dollars. If you have to choose a Mac, the 13-inch MacBook Pro should get an update in the first half of 2020.

However, the best real alternative to the 16-inch MacBook Pro is the Dell XPS 15. When configured with similar specifications, the XPS 15 is over a thousand dollars cheaper than the 16-inch MacBook Pro. That's a lot of savings with performance, an OLED 4K screen, and better port selection.

Another option for content creators is the Asus ZenBook Duo Pro. In addition to the unique second screen of this laptop, the Duo Pro has an OLED 4K screen and fantastic Core i9 performance. It is still one of the most powerful implementations of this chip for video editors and content creators.

How long it will take?

Reliability has become a problem for Apple. The new keyboard is unlikely to have many of the same problems as before, and the laptop is no longer part of the emergency repair program. Given how well these laptops are built and fully loaded, they should last for at least five years.

The MacBook Pro offers 90 days of technical support and a standard one-year warranty. Of course, you can extend coverage with AppleCare + and in-store repair to up to three years.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you've been waiting for a powerful MacBook you can rely on, this is the one.

Editor's recommendations




The Best Professional Skin Care Starts With Education

As beauticians and spa professionals, we know that our customers come to us to feel comfortable in their skin. You want strong, healthy skin and it is our job to help people show their best face – in the truest sense of the word. Although we know that we have the right product to do the job (of course, our organic, results-oriented professional skin care line), we also need the right expertise to use it. This is where Eminence Organics' award-winning education comes into play.

Here you will find all the ways in which Eminence Organics ensures our security Partner spas are the skin care experts their customers need:

opening training

When we partner with a spa, we invest in it. This means that each of our new partners will receive three in-spa training within the first three months after opening their Eminence Organics account. All team members are welcome, from beauticians Spa managers at the reception and massage therapists. Increasing the frequency of initial training helps improve understanding and retention of basic information. This way you feel safe and competent when it comes to serving your customers. We can also help you develop your spa menu, customize treatment protocols, and market your space.

Quarterly training

We know that training at the beginning is not enough! Our team is here to continue the support. Our industry is constantly evolving and further training is essential: whether you encounter a new trend, add more employees or change it for seasonal changes, we are there for you. We'll also keep you updated on our quarterly product launches to keep things up to date and encourage employee engagement.

Our training specialists and sales staff are professionals from Eminence Organics, but also experts for their region and their market. Our team will work with you to develop solutions for your educational and business needs. This means that training is never one size. How Allyson FriesiansThe director of customer training explains: “Our on-site training can be adapted to the requirements of this spa. If we look at the skin care needs for a spa, it will be different whether it's winter or spring. in Florida or in a mountainous region. We help focus solutions based on seasons, geography and demography. "

Perhaps most importantly, regular training enables your local Eminence Organics team to get to know you and your company. You can identify areas of opportunity, be it in retail, massage techniques or difficult skin conditions, and provide tailored support to help you achieve your goals.

Eminence Organics regional training

Regional training

We love the relationships we have built between our local teams and our partner spas, but we also know how important diversity is in education. Sean Kang, PhD from the Department of Education at Dartmouth College, explains that learning in different environments and contexts helps us better understand and store information. The Eminence Organics training also covered you here. Our regional training courses give our partner spas the opportunity to learn from our international trainers who are both very experienced and very entertaining (if we say so ourselves). These all-day events allow a deeper insight into regionally relevant topics, product knowledge, skin care trends or retail and massage techniques. It's also a great way to network and learn from other partner spas near you!

training resources

In order to cover all of our basics and take a variety of learning styles into account, our partner spas have additional resources available around the clock. Think of worksheets, videos, flash cards, professionally-targeted blog posts and much more. Partners can get information and use a special professional area on our website or contact your sales representative's team.

E3 certification

Our E3 certification was developed to provide beauticians with the product knowledge, skills and techniques to safely perform Eminence Organics treatments and recommend home care. The program includes:

  • The history of the eminence

  • What makes our brand unique in the professional skin care industry

  • How to identify and treat your customers' skin conditions

  • How to explain in detail and by ingredients, how and why your recommendations work.

As soon as you have worked through the modules and passed an exam (lo and behold!), You will receive an E3 signature and a certificate – so that you are recognized by customers and employers alike for the exceptional eminence beautician that you are!

Eminence Organics Favorite for Product Education Award

So who do we trust to measure the success of the Eminence Organics education program? Spa professionals, of course: the people who see the results of their training are reflected in the results of their customers. Beauticians, spa owners and managers chose Eminence Organics Preferred product education at American Spas' Professional & # 39; s Choice Awards for more than 10 years in a row!

Even if you are not yet a partner spa, you can still experience Eminence Organics training at schools and trade fairs:

schools

Eminence Organics works with over 20 aesthetic schools across North America. We also offer brand presentations and demonstrations for non-partner schools because we believe that education promotes the industry as a whole.

Eminence Organics booth

Trade Shows

We are difficult to miss Industrial fairs (see: the huge explosives hanging over our booth). Here we offer half-hour training and practical demonstrations directly at our stand. At many of these events, we also run master classes led by our talented international trainers or company presidents and master trainers Boldijarre Koronczay, These are intensive, targeted training courses on specific skin conditions with technology demonstrations and a training certificate.

Customer care & product service

Last but not least, we offer full-time support from our home office. Our customer service team is available after purchase and our product service team can assist you with the use, use, and other questions of the product. contact us under info@eminenceorganics.com, call 1-888-747-6342 or use the live chat on our website.

Our primary goal: To develop our partner spas into self-confident, trustworthy experts who stand out from the noise with our natural, organic and Biodynamic® skin care and achieve real results – a welcome relief for everyone who has to struggle with their skin.

Are you interested in working with us? Fill out ours The partner application form and a representative from your region will contact you.

Why work with us

5 Weight Loss Principles That Say It All

Weight loss is very important for boxers if they want to successfully make weight for an upcoming fight,

While this is usually more important for boxers outside of the super heavyweight (amateur) and heavyweight (professional) divisions, Anthony Joshua's recent success against Andy Ruiz has been largely attributed to his ability to keep moving around the ring, which he almost certainly benefited from had lost a significant amount of body weight six months earlier since their first fight.

For every boxer who needs to lose weight, there are two simple rules to follow:

Rule 1: You must have a calorie deficit.

This is when you consume fewer calories than you burn every day. The easiest way to check if you are in deficit is to log your food intake with a food tracker (such as My Fitness Pal) so you can see how much you are consuming compared to what you need to eat depending on your height, gender, age and level of activity.

Rule 2 You must have a calorie deficit over a longer period of time.

Most people have problems not being able to stick to a calorie deficit.

A typical approach that many boxers use is to simply keep their food consumption to a minimum. Although this is an effective way to be in a calorie deficit, the energy level will remain extremely low and you will not be able to exercise and recover properly.

It is critical that the weight loss plan is sustainable and easy to follow. With that said, here are my five principles of boxing weight loss diet.

Principle 1: Make the plan comfortable

A very easy way to do this is to allow 10-15% of your calories from whatever you want.

Remember, as long as you have a calorie deficit, you can actually eat anything you want and still lose weight. Another trick is to make your food tasty with herbs, spices, spices, etc.

Principle 2: Get the protein in

You need to be sure to eat 1.8-2 g of protein per kg of body weight.

Protein not only helps you to recover properly from an intense workout, it is also an excellent way to satisfy your hunger.

Protein is found in meat, poultry, fish and dairy products. Protein supplements are a good idea if you don't eat enough protein from other foods.

Principle 3: focus on vegetables and fruits

In order for this principle to work, you need to eat at least five different types of fruit and vegetables a day.

Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of nutrients. The more nutritious your diet is, the more energy you have – and the better your hunger and appetite are controlled.

Principle 4: sleep, sleep, sleep

Your body needs to rest and recover, so it is very important that you have more than 7 hours of sleep every night.

A clear connection between sleep deprivation and increased hunger has been established. If your goal is weight loss, this is counterproductive to your goals. If you get enough sleep, you can also maintain a good level of energy.

Principle 5: Use re-feed days

A re-feed day is when you have an additional 500 kcal per day. Ideally, these calories come from carbohydrates (500 kcal = 125 g carbohydrates). You can have up to two feeding days per week.

Refill days can help keep your hunger and energy at bay.

Apply these five principles and I guarantee that it will be much easier for you to stick to your eating plan and gain weight without the drama of hunger and low energy.

Summer Health Care, Beauty, Skin and Hair Care Tips

Hello everybody.

Winter is over and now it's time for a terrible summer. In a country like India, the heat dominates 9 out of 12 months and the summer months, i.e. H. May and June are worst. It is certain that your skin, hair and health will be under the worst stress if you do not care properly. This is the time to take special care of our health and follow the various tips on health, beauty, skin and hair care. The sun is relentless at this time of year and various skin and hair problems arise due to the excessive heat. You have to follow the different steps and make a routine to take good care of yourself. We have detailed the various remedies for prickly heat (Skin, hair and health tips) to you….


Summer skin care tips

  1. A broad spectrum SPF is your best friend all day. Don't get out at all without SPF 40 or higher. This would prevent the skin from being damaged and keep the tan and dark spots away. Apply the sunscreen 15 minutes before sunlight. Apply the sunscreen every 3 hours for better protection as it often melts in the heat.
  2. Drink water and lots of it. Water in the solution for all skin care problems and miraculously improves the texture of your skin. Make sure you drink at least 9-10 liters of water every day.
  3. Stick to CTM for basic skin care. Never hit the bed without properly cleaning and moisturizing it, as the skin sweats in summer and the pores can be clogged with dirt, dust and dirt. They can break out hard if CTM is not followed.
  4. Use a facial spray in your pocket when traveling. The skin is slightly irritated and red in summer and looks dull and greasy. Use a simple rose water mist or other facial mist that suits your skin to soothe the heat.
  5. For simple homemade toner, use ice cubes and rub the skin to tighten the pores and remove redness from the skin.
  6. Summer is a nightmare for oily skin. Use homemade packs like fuller's earth with lemon or rose water to control oil secretion. Do not use the face detergent too often to wash off the oil. You can also use quenching cloth from time to time to check the oiliness.
  7. Always try to use a gel-based cleanser that contains salicylic acid, citric acid, and glycolic acid to reduce dead skin cells that clog pores and cause breakouts.
  8. For the summer tan, apply tomato juice or a mixture of lemon juice and honey every other day. This would reduce the tan and improve the skin.
  9. Try not to experiment with too many new skin care products as summer heat can cause severe reactions.
  10. Try not to bleach your face during the day and step directly into the sun. This also applies to threading the face.

Summer hair care tips

  1. Sweat and dust in summer exacerbate hair problems such as dandruff, split ends, frizziness and increased hair loss. Therefore, you should wash your hair if necessary. However, if you have dry hair, do not wash it more than twice a week.
  2. If you like blow drying, straightening, or curling hair with hot styling tools, try reducing it in the summer. The heat and moisture still dry out the hair and these styling tools do more damage.
  3. Try a sulfate-free shampoo. This is better for hair anyway, since the sulfates tend to dry out the hair.
  4. Do not skip the conditioner at all. Always use a chemical-free hair conditioner and maintain the hair length. This leaves the hair less frizzy and easy to handle.
  5. Summers are hard and merciless on the hair and scalp. It causes sunburn and dryness, so you need to protect your scalp. It also tends to damage the roots of the hair and cause baldness. Try a headscarf, hat, or hat while going out in the sun.
  6. If you have colored hair, long exposure to the sun's rays can damage chemically treated hair and fade your valuable hair color. Therefore, use a scarf or try to cover your head when getting out.
  7. Groom the hair once or twice a month with a mixture of oils such as coconut, olives, almonds, etc. to rejuvenate and revitalize the hair. Massage your scalp with your fingertips to increase blood flow and deeply care for the roots.
  8. If you go swimming, wet your hair before entering the pool. This way, it absorbs less chlorine.
  9. Summer can cause a fungal infection on the scalp of the hair, causing dandruff or itching. Use tea tree oil or neem oil to treat the fungal infection on the scalp.
  10. If your hair tends to split ends, try shortening the ends regularly. This keeps the split ends away and regularly uses a moisturizing serum on the ends of the hair to prevent further split ends, which are generally caused by dryness.

Summer health tips

  1. Drink lots and lots of water. This is the key to surviving the summer. If you want our skin to glow, hair healthy and body calm, drink 8-9 liters of water every day. This prevents the body from giving off heat efficiently and keeps the body cool.
  2. The urge to drink caffeinated or carbonated drinks is excessive, but don't choose them. This also applies to alcoholic beverages and sugary beverages. All of these drinks contain higher amounts of preservatives, colors and sugar and are naturally acidic. They cause dehydration and do more harm than good. Try drinking honey, instead of coffee, organic tulsi, or green tea, to fortify yourself.
  3. We tend to drink cold water straight from the fridge, but they don't really help cool you down in the summer. This narrows the blood vessels in the skin and reduces heat loss. This does not help the body. So drink water at normal temperature.
  4. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and even if you are on a diet – never skip breakfast or eat less. You would need the maximum energy in the morning and could get sick if breakfast is consumed properly.
  5. In the summer, try opting for less strenuous activities like hard workouts. Try doing yoga that helps your body and mind at the same time.
  6. Try to eat small meals throughout the day. This helps digestion and doesn't make you feel too full. Also try eating light, nutritious, and fat-free meals. Neither eat nor starve in summer.
  7. Include plenty of healthy vegetables and fruits in your diet. This will help the body cope with the summer heat. Reduce the intake of dried fruit and replace it with fresh fruit. Also drink lots of fresh fruit juice (not the packaged ones) and lemon water.
  8. There are certain drinks that help to replenish the body better and also have a cooling effect on the body. Drinks such as coconut oil, buttermilk, lemon water and Tulsi seeds in the drinks help to replenish the fluids lost in sweat.

Summer beauty tips

  1. Always use a primer before applying makeup. This will control the oil, moisturize the skin, smooth the pores and make you look natural. Primer also helps make-up last longer.
  2. Avoid heavier or full-surface foundations. Instead, opt for BB / CC creams that feel light on the skin and are less likely to melt. It also makes the pores breathable and makes you look fresh. If you overlay too many products, this will not work in the summer and you therefore follow the guidelines – less is more.
  3. Summer is not meant for these dark and vampy lip colors. So try to use subtle and bright colors like coral, pink and orange. This will make you look pretty and lively.
  4. For eye make-up with waterproof kohl and mascara. You don't want to smudge your makeup with dirt, oil and sweat before the end of the day.
  5. If you want your eye shadow to last a long time, use a good foundation or a cream colored eye shadow. This makes the eye make-up water and wrinkle-free all day long.
  6. Use the bronzer sparingly. The skin already looks red and tanned and if you use too much bronzer you will only look artificial.
  7. Apply sunscreen not only to the face, but also to exposed body parts such as hands, legs, neck, etc.

While summer is here, we have planned some fun outdoor activities. Click here

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2020 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e Review: This Classic Hybrid Is Now A Winter Warrior

2020 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e front three quarters

"The Toyota Prius 2020 is a reliable hybrid, but the competition is catching up."

  • Great gasoline performance

  • Practical packaging

  • Surprisingly, have fun driving

  • Well-coordinated drive train

  • Inconspicuous technology

  • Fussy brake pedal

  • No Android car

The Toyota Prius is the Levi jeans for hybrid cars. Since its introduction in 1997, the Prius has contributed a lot to the spread of hybrids and is often the standard choice. But the Prius is far from the only hybrid that's on sale today.

The competition now offers Prius alternatives to maximize fuel economy. More conventional cars are also available with hybrid drives, including popular Toyota models like RAV4, Corolla, and Camry. Is the car that puts hybrids on the map is still the best choice?

To find out, we spent a week with a 2020 Toyota Prius. While the Prius of the current generation has been around since model year 2016, Toyota has made some significant changes since then, including upgrades to the infotainment system and the addition of additional driver assistance functions.

2020 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-eStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

Our test car also had the optional all-wheel drive system (called Toyota AWD-e) that was added for the 2019 model year. While a front-wheel drive Prius L Eco is available from $ 25,280, our fully loaded all-wheel drive XLE test car had a sticker price of $ 31,005.

design

The largely unchanged exterior of the Prius since model year 2016 is unusual to say the least. The sinister face, bulbous profile, and bizarre taillights may look like they were accidentally designed, but they're actually the result of a number of conflicting priorities.

Prius second and third generation models had an egg-shaped hatchback shape that was distinctive, aerodynamic, and well suited for interior packaging. But it was also cool. Toyota tried to spice things up a bit for this generation. The Prius is still a hatchback, but looks more like a sedan. In order to make the car appear slimmer, the designers lowered the front end. Unusually shaped headlights and taillights highlight the Prius.

Toyota achieved low drag without affecting the interior.

However, the Prius doesn't look elegant or futuristic, and that's because other factors had to be considered. The designers still had to make the Prius as aerodynamic as possible to maximize fuel consumption. They also had to pack the bulky hybrid powertrain while offering a reasonable amount of passenger and cargo space. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think the Toyota design team has been pulled in too many different directions.

However, the design fulfills its functional goals. At 0.24, the Prius claims one of the lowest drag coefficients of any production car. That means it can slide through the air like a fish in the water and thus improve mileage.

2020 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-eStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

Toyota has achieved this without compromising the interior. The Prius has a comparable interior as other special hybrids such as Honda Insight, Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro. The Toyota even offers more cargo space than the Kia with a high roof. Behind the steering wheel, I appreciated the Prius' low beltline, which allows for a higher side glass. This improves the view to the outside and gives the cabin an open, airy feeling.

technology

Although Toyota is a leader in hybrid drives, Japan's largest automaker lags behind in other forms of automotive engineering.

At first glance, the interior looks futuristic and different. But once you get behind the wheel, you only get cheap plastic and an overwhelming infotainment system.

As with the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, Toyota placed the status indicator for the speedometer and hybrid system in the center of the dashboard for no apparent reason. Beneath these displays is a 7.0-inch touchscreen that controls most vehicle functions. The Prime's 11.6-inch screen isn't available on the standard Prius, but that's fine as we didn't see the point of the larger screen while driving the Prime. Toyota can hardly get the 7.0-inch screen to work.

As soon as you get behind the wheel, you only get cheap plastic and an overwhelming infotainment system.

While many Toyota vehicles will receive both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the 2020 model year, the Prius is only available with CarPlay. Android users get stuck with Toyota's own user interface, which looks dated and reacts slowly. The setup is more complicated than the reduced interfaces in the Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro and chunkier than the more complex interface in the Honda Insight. The screen is washed out in the sunlight.

Our test car had a head-up display (part of a $ 800 technology package). The display only shows the current speed, but was easy to read without distracting.

Gas mileage

The infotainment system may be a flop, but Toyota has done it where it matters: under the hood. The Prius not only achieves good mileage, but also offers a comfortable driving experience that does not scare hybrid drivers the first time. The availability of all-wheel drive is an important bonus for car buyers in snowy regions.

The Prius uses a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that is connected to Toyota's well-known Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Typically, an electric motor helps the gasoline engine power the front wheels, but four-wheel drive models add a second motor in the rear. It sends power to the rear wheels without a physical connection to the front wheels.

Toyota has been using a similar setup for its hybrid crossovers for years. With the Prius, all-wheel drive is only used when the on-board computer determines that additional traction is required and only up to 60 km / h. We have not noticed a big difference to previous experiences with Priuses with front-wheel drive (Prii?), Which is not surprising since the all-wheel drive rarely drives normally.

The Prius offers a normal driving experience that doesn't frighten hybrid drivers the first time.

With our without four-wheel drive, the Prius has an output of 121 hp (Toyota does not specify any torque). While hybrid buyers are probably not looking for bragging rights, it's worth noting that the Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro both have 139 horsepower, while the Honda Insight has 151 horsepower. The acceleration felt reasonable and we were impressed with the seamless transition between gasoline and electrical energy.

2020 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e badgeStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

The Prius is based on the same TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform as many other Toyota models, including the Camry and Corolla. TNGA really pays off for the Prius and gives it a feeling of solidity that is normally not found in mass market hybrids.

Toyota also hit the chassis tuning. This car feels really nimble and fun, although numb steering and tires with low rolling resistance prevent it from being really sporty. The ride quality is good, although the suspension can cause unsettling bumps from the cab over broken roads. The brake pedal was also difficult to modulate, as the brakes only bite after the pedal has covered about three quarters of the way to the ground.

Gasoline Champion

The main reason to buy a hybrid is fuel consumption, and this is where the Prius lives up to the hype. Most front-wheel drive Prius models have a total output of 52 mpg (54 mpg city, 50 mpg highway), but the L Eco model together creates 56 mpg (58 mpg city, 53 mpg highway). These are impressive numbers. However, the competition is catching up.

The Hyundai Ioniq is rated at 58 mpg combined (57 mpg city, 59 mpg highway) in efficiency-oriented blue form and 55 mpg combined (55 mpg city, 54 mpg motorway) in other forms. The Honda Insight also comes close to the Prius, combined with 52 mpg (55 mpg city, 49 mpg highway). Even the Corolla Hybrid from Toyota has a total output of 52 mpg (53 mpg city, 52 mpg highway).

Four-wheel drive is associated with a petrol mile penalty. Our test car was rated at 50 mpg combined (52 mpg city, 48 mpg highway). We had an average of 44.5 mpg (according to the car's on-board computer) over most freeway journeys. Four-wheel drive typically reduces fuel efficiency because the additional hardware adds weight and energy is required to drive both sets of wheels.

Nevertheless, this is currently the best scenario for snow-capped fuel misers. The Prius is the only hybrid car in its price range with all-wheel drive. The only alternative is a larger, less aerodynamic Toyota RAV4 or Ford Escape – with much lower fuel consumption.

safety

The 2020 Prius comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), a bundle of driver aids that includes autonomous emergency braking, a lane departure warning, a lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control.

We found the lane departure warning system a little too sensitive. It beeped when we even approached lane markings like a nervous backseat driver. Conversely, the high beam came on only slowly after being immersed in oncoming cars.

Adaptive cruise control worked well, but because Toyota used the control stick of a more basic cruise control system, it was unnecessarily difficult to adjust. The Honda Insight offers a similar level of standard driver assistance technology, and Toyota doesn't have an equivalent to Honda's clever LaneWatch camera system.

The Prius is a top safety pick from the Insurance Institute for Road Safety (IIHS). Due to the "average" score for his headlights and the passenger crash test with small overlaps at the front, he missed the highest rating for Top Safety Pick + plus, but received the best possible score in all other categories. The Prius also received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

2020 Toyota Prius AWD-e digital displayStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

Toyota offers a three-year basic warranty of 36,000 miles and a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles for the powertrain. The battery and the components of the hybrid system are guaranteed for eight years and 100,000 miles.

Hyundai and Kia offer longer basic and powertrain warranties, but can't exceed Toyota's battery warranty. Both the Prius and Toyota generally have a reputation for reliability. Priuses have weathered hundreds of thousands of miles of exhausting taxi service in cities around the world, so this hybrid seems to be a pretty good choice when it comes to long-term reliability.

How DT would configure this car

My test car was a fully loaded XLE model, but if I were to spend my own money, I would choose the basic L Eco equipment. This version offers the best mileage of all Prius equipment variants and is also equipped with Apple CarPlay and the TSS-P package with driver aids. The XLE gets leather seats and is available with a head-up display, but I wasn't impressed enough with the execution of these subtleties to pay extra for it.

The L Eco isn't available with all-wheel drive, but the importance of this feature really depends on where you live. When brutal winters are the norm, all-wheel drive is a must. If you live somewhere with mild winters, it is better to drive with the more economical L Eco front-wheel drive.

A good choice, but not the best

The 2020 Toyota Prius is a good car. It is comfortable, practical and keeps the promise of excellent mileage. However, this is no longer the default selection.

With so many other hybrids on the market, the Prius compromises don't have to be accepted. The Honda Insight, Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro are all better to drive and not strange to be strange. The Toyota Corolla Hybrid delivers almost the same mileage as the Prius, but in a more conventional package.

Should you get one?

No – at least this is not our first or even second recommendation. The Prius is a trustworthy and reliable choice that is sure to be reliable. However, try the alternatives first.

Editor's recommendations




Spa Etiquette: Common Spa Questions Answered

If you only visit a spa a few times a year – or even if you go to the spa frequently – you are likely to have some unanswered questions about "spa etiquette". With our roots in Hungarian bathing culture, we at Eminence Organics are proud to be experts in spa environments. Regardless of whether you visit a Boston Day Spa or the famous Budapest Baths, we want to make sure that your next appointment is stress free. Here are the questions (and answers) about spa etiquette that you were too afraid of:

mature woman receives neck massage

Spa Etiquette 101: Prepare for your spa day

Should You Shave Before A Spa Treatment?

This is a very common question and the answer depends on the type of treatment you are receiving. For example, it is recommended that men shave day and night before getting skin care. For women, shaving before certain wellness offers can cause irritation. It is always advisable to inquire at the spa reception about what kind of preparation is expected at home before you show up for your appointment.

How far in advance can I cancel my spa service?

Most spas have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you need to cancel, please notify your spa in advance, otherwise you may be charged a fee.

Is it OK to request a male or female massage therapist?

If you prefer a male or female therapist – just ask! This is a common request that can be made when booking your original appointment.

How early should I get to my appointment?

The rule of punctuality may seem simple, but arriving on time creates the conditions for a relaxing spa experience. If you arrive at least 15 minutes earlier, you can sit back and relax while sipping a cup of herbal tea, filling out the necessary documents, and putting on a spa bathrobe if necessary. Many spas also offer their guests the use of their sauna and other free amenities. If you arrive early for your appointment, you can take advantage of these unusual spa benefits.

Is it OK to use my cell phone in the spa?

No! There's nothing better than hearing a cell phone ring when you try a rejuvenating spa treatment. Consider your own spa experience and that of other guests by turning off your phone. Remember that you are there to relax and unwind just like the others around you.

in the spa

Will i be naked during treatment?

This is probably the most common question that spa visitors fear but don't ask. Your therapist will make you feel comfortable and give you instructions on what to expect when you undress. If you need to take off your clothes for treatment, your therapist will leave the room so you can do it privately. As a rule, most treatments require you to be draped, and most spas offer a robe in the locker room. You can often wear underwear during a massage, but for most body and massage treatments, you may also need to completely undress. If you are not sure what to expect, just ask!

Is it rude to speak during my spa treatment?

Your therapist's role is to create the most enjoyable experience possible. Therefore, it is important to speak up if you have any questions or concerns. Before starting treatment, tell the spa staff whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffering from allergies or illnesses. It is also important to tell your therapist if you feel uncomfortable at any time during your spa service. Let your therapist know whether it is the massage pressure, the room temperature or a quieter time with less chatting. You pay for a service and your beautician will be happy to meet your needs.

Should I leave a tip?

In most cases, the tip is at your discretion, but is not mandatory. When tipping your therapist, a 15-20% tip payment is standard in North America and is always appreciated, especially if you get exceptional service.

Szechenyi baths in Budapest, Hungary

Spa etiquette 201: visit to the Budapest thermal baths

Thermal baths and mineral springs have been part of everyday life in Budapest for centuries (and for good reason!). A trip to the thermal baths is a must if you are ever in this magnificent Hungarian city to treat a variety of physical ailments simply by soaking your body.

There are numerous thermal baths in Budapest, so you are sure to find one that offers just the right ambience for your needs. Indoor and outdoor thermal pools have their own amenities to make the experience even more beneficial. Visit an indoor thermal pool and you'll likely see massage rooms, steam rooms, and even plunge pools with ice-cold water! Alternatively, outdoor thermal pools offer water features such as swimming pools, whirlpools and fountains.

These famous spas are open all year round and are the perfect stop on any itinerary. Spa etiquette is definitely important when you visit one of the thermal baths in Budapest.

Ready to visit a thermal bath in Budapest? Here are some of the most common questions related to spa etiquette:

Should I wear a swimsuit?

The dress code at the thermal baths in Budapest is not particularly strict, but you are expected to cover up while using the pool, visiting public areas, and between massages. Appropriate swimwear is required, including swimsuits for women and swim shorts for men.

What other important things should I bring with me?

You will definitely want to bring some important things with you! One of the most important things to pack is water-friendly shoes or sandals because the floors in the thermal baths are wet and slippery. A towel is another must, but if you forget one, most locations offer towel rentals. Be prepared for long queues though, as visitors usually rent towels.

Are you planning a visit to a thermal bath with a pool? Most locations require a swimming cap to keep the facilities clean and hygienic.

Are the baths family-friendly?

It depends on the age. Visitors from the age of 14 can bathe in thermal baths. For younger visitors (14 to 18 years old), it is recommended to limit soaking to 20 minutes each to avoid overheating.

Due to the heat coming from mineral springs and pools, it is not advisable to take children under the age of 14 to thermal baths as the cardiovascular system is not sufficiently developed to withstand the temperatures. However, you are welcome to use other water facilities such as swimming pools.

Depending on which spa you visit, it is a good idea to check the spa website as the guidelines vary between facilities. Some thermal baths also offer "family days" (the whole family is invited to visit!), While other days may be reserved for adults only.

Are the baths for swimming or sitting?

Most visitors use thermal baths to sit and soak. If you prefer to swim, outdoor destinations often offer swimming pools that can move better. For the most part, thermal baths offer the opportunity to relax, be calm and enjoy the benefits of mineral-rich water. Therefore, always pay attention to the ambience and the basic European spa etiquette.

What do I wear for my massage?

In Hungary, it is common to completely take off spa treatments, including facials and massages. Since it is common to undress completely, your therapist will likely encourage you to do the same. However, you can always wear what makes you feel most comfortable, regardless of whether you put on underwear or not.

Therapists can handle guests' preferences wonderfully if you prefer not to work with the standard undressing that is common in Hungary.

Is it customary to tip in Hungary?

Tipping is not required, but just like in North America, Tipping is always an appreciated and tactful practice. It is also an opportunity to thank your therapist for a job well done. So you should definitely tip!

Whether you are in a Budapest bath or a local spa, knowing the right etiquette is the first step to feeling good and enjoying the entire spa experience. Find out how you can pamper yourself with a soothing bath or an invigorating massage and book a visit to the closest Eminence Organics partner spa through our Spa locator. What is your spa treatment? Let us know in the comments below or on social media.

A Comprehensive Guide to Unilateral Training for Injury-Free Training and Performance

Getting strong is pretty easy: move heavy weight in the classic compound lifts– deadlifts, squats, bench press and military press. If you can put large numbers in these elevators, congratulations, you are strong.

But the story doesn't end here. The story really begins with the complementary work that will hopefully enable you to continue to gain weight in the long term in a healthy and sustainable way. After all, it is difficult to get strong if you are constantly dealing with injuries after injuries. We believe that one-sided training (one-armed, one-legged, etc.) has an extremely positive impact on health, stability, coordination and the balance of the joints.

There should be periods in a cyclical, periodized, and progressive program year when the focus is definitely on the classic compound lifts, where these one-sided movements are purely complementary, and periods during the year when they can get a bit into the year more in the spotlight.

For example, if you are sometimes a powerlifter (or exercise like a powerlifter) throughout the year, it can be very valuable to move away from the classic barbell lifts and introduce barbell or kettlebell variations to fix weaknesses and at the same time provide some recovery to enable heavy compound lifting.

Below are some examples of variations on single arm, single leg, and barbell exercises to promote an injury-free hard workout. Let the rep range determine the load,

The one-armed dumbbell bench press

Do 3 sets of 10 to 20 per arm with a 60 second pause.

The one-arm dumbbell shoulder press

Do 3 sets of 15 to 20 per arm with a 60 second pause.

One arm breakaway rows

Do 3 sets of 10-15 per arm with a 30-60 second pause.

One-arm row of dumbbells

Do 3 sets of 10 to 20 per arm with a 30 to 60 second pause.

Lift the dumbbell to the side

Perform 3 sets of 10-20 with a 30-60 second pause.

Clean and press the one-armed kettlebell

Do 3 sets of 10-15 per arm with 30 seconds rest.

One-armed overhead walking lungs

Perform 3 sets of 15 m with a kettlebell or dumbbell (each arm) for a 30-60 second break.

Single leg step ups

Complete 3 sets of 15-20.

Double front rack step ups

Perform 3 sets of 10-15 with two light kettlebells.

Single leg RDLs

Do 3 sets of 10-15 with a light / medium weight kettlebell.

Keep it simple

Keep things simple, The last couple of repetitions should be hard and you should leave 2-3 in the tank. You can make these supplements progressive by increasing the load (weight), the volume (number of sets), the rest period (reduction of the rest period from week to week) or by changing all three variables.

Remember to add new exercise variations every 4 to 12 weeks or whenever you feel that progress has stalled. This means that you cannot add more weight without affecting the technique.