Unique Vehicles from Mainstream Manufacturers

If you want to stand out, here are a few vehicles you’ll want to see

There are many choices for you to consider when you’re looking for a new vehicle, but if you want to stand out from the crowd, that number shrinks dramatically. While most vehicles follow a cookie cutter mold, and fit in with the crowd, there are still a handful of vehicles that do things their own way. Here are a few to consider.

smart fortwo – Engineered with Mercedes-Benz, the smart fortwo is a small car with excellent gas mileage and a small carbon footprint. Starting at an MSRP of $13,270 for the aptly named “fortwo,” you’re sure to turn plenty of heads, and field even more questions. The fortwo is 85 percent recyclable and can achieve as much as 38 mpg highway. Unique colors and plenty of features make this model as fun as it is practical. And even though it’s minute, that doesn’t mean it’s not safe. As a matter of fact, the fortwo comes standard with eight airbags, electronic stability program and a patented tridion safety cell that’s modeled after a racecar roll cage, keeping you as safe as possible.

Ford Flex – If hauling people is a priority, but you’re just not ready to go the minivan route, the Ford Flex is a great choice. Part SUV, part station wagon and part spaceship, the seven-passenger Flex starts at an MSRP of $29,100 and is available in three trim levels, SE, SEL and Limited. There are two engines to choose from, one of them being a turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that gets up to 365 hp and 350 lb/ft of torque, while still managing up to 23 mpg highway. There is an excellent 155.8 cubic feet of passenger volume and up to 83.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity, too. In addition to its bold design, standout features include available ambient lighting, a refrigerated console that can hold up to seven 12-ounce cans or four half-liter bottles around 40 degrees, a 12-speaker Sony audio system and power liftgate. Edmunds added that, “The 2015 Ford Flex offers a combination of space, versatility, features and solid driving dynamics that makes it a top choice among larger crossovers.”

Cadillac ELR – If you’re looking for a luxury car that won’t blend in, the ELR may be what you’re looking for. The ELR is labeled an extended range electric vehicle, which means you get the best of both a gas powered and an electric powered vehicle. With a 37-mile range of electric driving, the ELR can go over an additional 300 miles with its gas-powered engine. And we’re not talking about some wimpy engine either, with total system output of 162 hp and a thunderous 295 lb/ft of torque, the ELR can shoot to 60 mph in a tick over 7 1/2 seconds.

“Cadillac’s new 2014 ELR looks astonishing,” according to Car and Driver magazine. “Low, chiseled, aggressive, provocative, and uncompromised by any concession to practicality, it seems to have been time-warped out of some Gene Roddenberry–spec, 23rd-century future onto today’s roads.”

There are some other interesting models to check out including the Nissan Juke, Audi TT, Subaru XC Crosstrek and the Toyota FJ Cruiser. Whatever you choose, be sure to stop by to see the financing options we can offer you.