10 Cars for 10 Very Different Women

2017 Range Rover Evoque with women at Heels and Wheels 2017 ・ Photo by Carrie Kim

As with most goods in the marketplace, the decision to purchase is often made or heavily influenced by the woman of the household. And according to NPR, “When it comes to buying a set of wheels, figures show women play a leading role in 85 percent of auto purchases.” We hear automakers say all the time that they are targeting women in their constant battle to woo potential buyers to their brand, but what does that mean? There are so many kinds of women — with different wants, needs, styles, and budgets —  that it seems too vast a generalization to group them all together. We checked in with ten different influential women at this year's 2017 test drive event, Heels & Wheels, an organization formed to honor women as a force in the automotive purchase decision, to see which cars they identified with most. See what all these women of different ages, life stages and backgrounds had to say about the cars, and what they’d recommend for other women.

1) The Cool Mom: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid

Annette Benedetti, Portland Editor at Red Tricycle, the national website with the simple mission to “help parents have more fun with their kids,” is the epitome of the “cool mom.” In addition to having three children that she loves to road trip with, she’s a photographer, a relay racer, a yoga instructor, and — did we say she’s from the hipster capital, Portland, Oregon? Annette was completely smitten with the Pacifica Hybrid, the only plug-in hybrid minivan on the market. Not only did she like the fact that the hybrid would reduce her environmental footprint, but she also said, “I need a home on wheels.” The Pacifica fits the bill with a large cargo area to load her equipment and luggage, and plenty of room for the kids to be comfortable on long trips. If you’re still of the mindset that minivans can’t be cool, you obviously haven’t checked out the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The hybrid minivan starts at $41,995.

Photo by Carrie Kim

2) Miss Speed Racer: 2017 Jaguar F-TYPE SVR Coupe

Porsche Driving Coach Toni Avery is no stranger to speed. Not only does she teach others how to drive on the track at the Porsche Experience Center in Southern California, but she also writes about cars on her blog, Girls Drive Fast Too. Toni is drawn to the 2017 Jaguar F-TYPE because of its uniqueness (when was the last time you saw one on the road?), and she can’t get enough of the amazing sound of the engine and exhaust feedback.  But what she loves most is its versatility; the F-TYPE can be tame and luxurious for an everyday driver, but it can also “go nuts” when the mood strikes. She thinks the F-TYPE has improved steering and handling and is the true successor to the iconic ‘60s Jaguar E-Type, “the most beautiful car ever made.” The 2017 Jaguar F-TYPE SVR Coupe starts at $121,900.

Photo by Carrie Kim

3) The Beach Babe: 2017 Range Rover Evoque Convertible

She surfs, lives near Malibu, and happens to be a rockin’ blonde — but she knows her stuff when it comes to cars. Amelia Dalgaard, AKA Motorhead Mama, is obsessed with the California car culture and has deemed the 2017 Range Rover Evoque Convertible “The Ultimate SoCal mobile.” She couldn’t stop gushing about the Evoque convertible’s sexiness and versatility - a difficult combination to achieve.  Amelia likes that she can get all the benefits of a droptop with the Evoque convertible, but still have the ride-height of a crossover. “Especially living in L.A., you have to have an SUV or crossover because everyone else does.” So the Evoque convertible adds a new dimension to driving with the top down; not only can you can see all around you when cruising down PCH, you can still see straight ahead — even when stuck in the daily grind on California’s gridlocked freeways. The 2017 Range Rover Evoque starts at $52,000.

Photo by Carrie Kim

4) The Sporty-Chic Chick: 2018 Infiniti QX30

In addition to being the Automotive Editor at Sinclair Broadcast Group in Chicago, IL, marathon runner and fitness superstar Jill Ciminillo's lifestyle is the embodiment of an active lifestyle. She loves the 2018 Infiniti QX30 because “it’s easy to park – and pack.” The petite dimensions of this compact crossover make it maneuverable in the city, and the surround view camera monitor is essential for squeezing in and out of all those tight parking spots and one-way streets. However, it’s still large enough inside to haul bikes and other sports gear in the back. Especially when equipped with all-wheel drive, it’s ready for any adventure. Finally, as sporty as the QX30 is with its 2.0L I4 Turbo engine, it doesn’t skimp on the luxury. Inside, the cabin is chock full of features and premium materials. As Jill claims, it’s “the ultimate urban vehicle.” The 2018 Infiniti QX30 starts at $29,950.

Photo by Carrie Kim

5) The Sophisticated Jetsetter: 2017 Aston Martin DB11

Jaclyn Trop, prolific automotive journalist, and a regular contributor to Forbes, flew into the Heels & Wheels event from Los Angeles, left for South Beach, FL directly after, and was in Barcelona, Spain by the next week. She travels the world to test drive every car under the sun, usually in a cocktail dress. However, out of all the exotic cars she’s driven, she says nothing matches the meticulously crafted, stunningly detailed 2017 Aston Martin DB11. While many men lust after the DB11 for its 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine, Jaclyn loves the intricate design details and appreciates the care taken in what requires over 300 hours to build. The 2017 DB11 is anything but pedestrian, just like her. And if you’re in the market to truly treat yourself, you can pick up a 2017 Aston Martin DB11 starting at $211,995 (Passport and First Class airfare not included).

Photo by Carrie Kim

6) The Practical Suburbanite: 2017 Mazda CX-5

Fadra Nally, of the lifestyle and automotive blog, allthingsfadra.com, loves a fast car or a fancy luxury vehicle but prefers to remain with the comforts and conveniences of a practical compact crossover that pairs nicely with her suburban lifestyle outside of Baltimore, MD. Not that identifying with the 2017 Mazda CX-5 is “settling,” this crossover looks great, remains affordable and is even fun to drive. It shouldn’t surprise you that a Mazda CX-5 is what sits in her driveway full-time. She loves the power liftgate, heated steering wheel, and newly added rear air vents that come on the latest model, though. The CX-5 Grand Touring starts at $30,695.

Photo by Carrie Kim

7) The Blinging Beauty: 2017 Lexus GX460

There is nothing wrong with taking pride in your ride, and Dawn Gibson-Thigpen of the fashion and lifestyle blog, simplysassystyle.com says, “Your vehicle is your most expensive accessory.” Dawn’s style is bold, and so is the 2017 Lexus GX460; it’s got a massive chrome grille, a premium sound system and seating for seven. It has all of the luxuries you could imagine in a vehicle, plus off-road capabilities, making this SUV much more than a simple piece of bling. Dawn loves the way the Lexus GX “glides” on the road, and she found it much easier to drive than she’d expected for such a large vehicle. The Lexus GX series starts at $51,680.

Photo by Dawn Gibson-Thigpen

8) The Eco-Conscious Exotic: 2018 Lexus LC 500 Hybrid

Brandy Schaffels, Executive Director of the Motor Press Guild, appreciates that the 2018 Lexus LC 500 hybrid can accentuate her sexiness and hold true to her eco-friendly ethics all at the same time. Lexus’ latest hybrid offering is fun, without the guilt. It has a combined fuel economy average of 30 mpg despite its battery pairing with a V6 engine. Brandy loved that the car would impress her kids and maintain her “cool mom” status, and also save her a little extra cash at the pump. She'll certainly need to save money, the Lexus LC 500h starts at $92,000.

Photo by Carrie Kim

9) The Free Spirit: 2017 Kia Niro

Alice Chase, a lifestyle blogger and mom of four, is a big fan of another undercover hybrid, the new 2017 Kia Niro. The Kia Niro is an adorable compact crossover than can achieve a shocking fuel economy average of 50 mpg. "Going green" is important to Alice and her family, and knowing they are staying green while on the go isn't just a preference for her, it's a necessity. Alice likes the smaller stature of the Niro now that two of her children have left the nest, and with good fuel economy and a comfortable ride, she’s free to go wherever her spirit takes her. The Kia Niro Touring starts at $29,650.

Photo by Carrie Kim

10) The Quirky Cityslicker: 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack

In a sea of crossovers and luxury sedans, a wagon is always the odd woman out. That’s ok with me though, I’m the managing editor here at Autobytel, and I enjoy standing out on the road. Aside from the bold “Tornado Red” paint, I love that the 2017 VW Golf Alltrack can accommodate my spontaneous IKEA runs as easily as it could transport my family and me on our annual summer road trips.

The design appeals to my modern sensibilities and with Apple CarPlay I can stay connected, wherever the Alltrack takes me. I love the functionality an SUV has to offer, but with lots of city driving, I don’t want the huge footprint of such a large car. The Volkswagen Golf Alltrack wagon starts at $26,950.

Photo by Carrie Kim