Blog

Whether you're looking for a new SUV to take on long family vacations, make trips back and forth to school, or use as a new everyday driver, the Highlander has everything you need. A powerful, fuel-efficient engine is paired with high-end technology for the distinct ability to perform in any way you need it. We're here to help you discover the versatility of the 2020 Toyota Highlander. Intelligent Technology One of our favorites features of the 2020 Toyota Highlander is the intelligent built-in technology. Enjoy options such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the ability to listen to your favorite playlist, send and receive text messages, and even set up your map route. Available Wi-Fi connectivity will enable the kids, with up to five devices, to stay connected and entertained while on any road trip. You also get the ability to add the Dynamic Navigation system for up-to-date data, routes, and even places to stop for fuel or food. The best just got better. Always-Ready Performance The engine in the Highlander is the epitome of power. It's a 3.5-liter V-6 that delivers up to 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. The multi-terrain selection enables you to drive in a variety of road and weather conditions. Choose from Mud and Sand, Rock and Dirt, Snow, and Normal modes. Built-in performance modes — Sport, ECO, and Normal — match your driving situation for improved handling and efficiency. The Highlander is able to haul up to 5,000 pounds, so you can easily pull a trailer, boat, or even an RV. Drive With Confidence With the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 system, you're able to drive down any road with confidence. Features such as the pre-collision system with low-light pedestrian detection, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, and lane departure alert with steering assist are all included. Systems such as lane tracing assist, automatic high beams, and road sign assist help you stay protected while on the road. Impressive Design Both inside and out, the Highlander is full of advanced design features. Enjoy the Smart Key System on the front doors and liftgate, which is accessible with Push Button Start so you can lock, unlock, and use the liftgate functions. An available power panoramic moonroof with sunshade enables you to let the sunshine and fresh air in. The power liftgate with jam protection enables you to easily load the rear cargo area with groceries, sports gear, or work equipment. The interior boasts high-end comfort features to ensure you and your family enjoy every ride. Three-zone automatic climate control enables everyone to enjoy a perfect temperature setting in all weather conditions. Fabric seating is standard, with leather seats available. The XLE comes with heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel for even more comfort. If you want to check out the 2020 Highlander for yourself, come check us out at Smart Toyota. Our knowledgeable sales staff would be more than happy to schedule you for a test drive or find answers to any of your questions.

When Keith Peterson moved from Orlando, Florida to Madison, Wisconsin, he brought along his recently purchased car. That was in September, and everything was fine. Then came the first snowfall of the year. Being from Florida, Peterson didn’t have a lot of experience driving in wintry conditions, but he never expected to feel so utterly out of control. “I slid through intersections, and I fishtailed whenever I hit even the smallest patch of snow,” he says. “No other driver seemed to be having the difficulties I was. Afterward, my friends nicknamed my car “The Silver Sled of Death.” He says a friend recommended that during the next mild day, he should take his car into Smart Motors and let their service department help him with his issue. He did. And he learned quite a bit. Jim Ward, service manager at Smart Motors, pointed out that Peterson was driving on high-performance tires, which are great for warm weather conditions like in Florida or even Wisconsin from May through October. “We see cases like this several times at the beginning of every winter,” says Ward. “Tires can look brand new, so people don’t know what is making them slip-sliding the season away.” Peterson told Ward that he was expecting to move 20 miles south of Madison soon but still work in the city. With this in mind, Ward recommended Peterson go with designated snow tires. “When people need to commute to and from work from a rural area, I almost always say they should go with snow tires,” says Ward. “They can swap out with their regular tire in early November or so. And having two sets of tires puts less wear and tear on both pairs, so you can have them for quite a long while.” Ward says Peterson’s other option would have been to basically ditch the high-performance tires and go with all-season radials. “All-season tires are what I recommend to most drivers,” says Ward. “They’re great for people with short commutes and little reason to veer far from the beaten path,” Ward says all-season tires are also very convenient, as they don’t need to be swapped out with any other set of tires seasonally. “Given that, a driver can simply leave all-season tires on a vehicle year-round, which may cause some issues down the road if the driver isn’t conscious of the wear that occurs annually,” says Ward. Ward says most drivers don’t think about their tires until they have to swerve or brake suddenly, or they have a flat—often with serious consequences. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about nine percent of vehicle crashes are tire-related and could be prevented with proper tire maintenance. “It is so important to check your tires every month for wear,” says Ward. “If the tire tread is worn down to 5/32 of an inch, your vehicle is just not going to cut it on snowy roads.” Drivers can gauge tread depth at their leisure with a quarter. If you put George Washington’s head into one of your tire’s big grooves and the top of his head is flush with the tread, you have about 4/32 inch of tread left. This means you still have some grip remaining for rainy or snowy conditions, but this is also the time when you should start thinking about new tires. If you can see space above Washington’s head, you need to replace your tires as soon as possible. AAA and the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center tested new all-season tires and all-season tires worn to 4/32” in wet conditions. Compared to new ones, the worn tires increased stopping distances an average of 87 feet for a passenger car and 86 feet for a light truck – longer than a semi-trailer truck. “That’s a lot of feet to be sliding pretty much out of control,” says Ward. “And the Farmers’ Almanac is predicting an above-average snowfall for greater Dane County this year, so now is definitely the time to make sure you have the proper tires on your vehicle with enough quality tread to see you through the winter.” Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the midwest's largest hybrid dealer and Wisconsin’s #1 volume Toyota dealer. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume.  For more information visit www.smarttoyota.com Image by fancycrave1 from Pixabay

There is no better time to get out and go for a hike than right now. People who love the outdoors and enjoy exploring new hiking trails can enjoy the hundreds of miles of trails to check out within a short drive from Madison. This Wisconsin city has five different lakes with trails surrounding each of them, and there are over 200 parks with both hiking and walking trails, along with state parks and rec areas. Discover the best places to hike near Madison. The UW Madison Arboretum Trails If you're up for a challenge but don't want to leave the city, head to the UW Madison Arboretum Trails. You can explore the over 17 miles of trails that cover woodlands, savannas, wetlands, and prairies, and wind through the world-renowned ecosystem right on campus. Even though the Arboretum is part of the university, the trail system is open to the public. Explore the trails on your own or take advantage of the guided nature walks that are available. Blue Mound State Park Blue Mound State Park sits just 25 miles west of Madison and well worth the short drive if you want to experience some of Madison's best hiking. The park sits in the southern part of Wisconsin and features over 20 miles of hiking trails, with many that offer one-of-a-kind views. The Indian Marker Tree Trail is an easy, hiking-only trail and takes you on a short walk to a century-old oak tree. A little longer trail is the Flintrock Nature trail. This runs for 1.3 miles and features signs with information about many of the flowers and plants you might see as you walk. The Badger State Trail The Badger State Trail covers 40 miles and runs from Madison all the way to Illinois. With several places along the way to access the trail, it's a nice place for a day hike because you can make it as long or as short as you want. The trail runs through some small towns and has easy access to local restaurants if you want to stop for lunch. Along the way, you'll get to see ravines, hills, and farmland with some nice scenic views too. This trail connects to the Capital City trail, along with Military Ridge, and the Sugar River state trails along with the Madison bikeway system. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail The Ice Age Trail runs for about 1,200 miles and traces the end of the last glacier running from east to west and north to south. The entire trail sits in the state of Wisconsin, with some segments within the Madison area. The Valley View segment covers 1.8 miles, and the Madison segment runs for 32 miles. The trailhead on Ice Age Lane has one place to access the hike with roadside parking available. These are just a few places for hikes in and around Madison. Make sure to pack food and water, have a compass, and make sure someone knows where you'll be going before you head out. Image by Mike Goad from Pixabay

If you're in search of a comfortable off-road vehicle, the 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser is sure to meet your needs. With its exceptional handling and luxurious design, it's going to check all your boxes. Read on to see how the Land Cruiser will help you explore the outdoors. Outstanding Off-Road Capability With a 5.7-liter V-8 engine, the 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser is good for 401 pound-feet of torque and 381 horsepower. Its eight-speed automatic transmission enables it to grip well off-road. You can check your surroundings easily with the Multi-Terrain Monitor, seeing the front, rear, and side views. The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System assists with ideal traction. Multi-Terrain Select helps with challenging surfaces, while Crawl Control with Off-Road Turn Assist gives you a tighter turning radius. In addition to its off-road capability, the Land Cruiser has an impressive 8,200-pound towing capacity. With all that muscle, its LED lighting and chrome grille may come as a surprise. Not only is it powerful and perfect for off-roading, but it's sleek and holds the road great too. Since the Land Cruiser is built with exploring in mind, it comes standard with a moonroof. Ultra-Comfortable and Luxurious Interior The 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser smoothness carries over to the interior as well, and you're sure to find it stylish. It has a heated, leather-trimmed steering wheel and includes heated seats, even in the second row. The four-zone automatic climate control extends to the two second-row passengers, with a total of 28 vents. The vehicle seats up to eight, with the third row able to be folded away. The Land Cruiser is truly built for exploring with a center console cooler box. Safe and Reliable Ten airbags and side-impact door beams help keep you safe if you're ever in an accident. The Star Safety System further protects with its Multi-Terrain 4-Wheel Anti-lock Brake System, Brake Assist, Brake-Force Distribution, Smart Stop Technology, Active Traction Control, and Vehicle Stability Control. You're further protected by the Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. Toyota makes your safety a priority with Toyota Safety Sense P. You'll have Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, and Automatic High Beams. Sleek Infotainment System With the Premium JBL Audio with Integrated Navigation, you'll find a 9-inch touch screen that can be paired to your smartphone. It has SiriusXM compatibility and a USB port. The 14-speaker JBL Synthesis audio system includes an 8-inch subwoofer and a 605-watt amplifier. A 4.2-inch Multi-Information Display is customizable so you can see the information you want, such as mpg, turn-by-turn directions, individual tire pressure, inclinometer, and more, including text messages when paired to your smartphone. You can entertain rear-seat passengers with the available DVD entertainment system and two 11.6-inch screens. Ready for a test drive? Come by Smart Toyota and see our selection so you can get exploring! Be sure to check out and ask us about the plentiful features. If off-roading is your hobby, the 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser is made for you.

Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison features over 16 acres of outdoor gardens along with an indoor tropical paradise. It is home to the only Thai Pavilion in the continental U.S. and is a winner of the national Garden of Excellence Award. Guests can stroll through the gardens or take the accessible tram that travels from garden to garden either on the weekends or daily, depending on the season. Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful sites at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison. The Rose Garden Make sure to take your time exploring the Rose Garden at Olbrich. This is one of the most popular gardens. It covers 2 acres and features a wide variety of roses of all colors and sizes on display. It also has ornamental trees, spring blooms, and annuals to see while you wander through. The Prairie-style design of the Rose Garden features simple geometric designs made from natural materials. The most prominent feature in the Rose Garden is the Rose Garden Tower. It is a two-story tower offering visitors who climb up spectacular views of the garden and more. Thai Pavilion and Garden The Thai Pavilion and Garden is unlike any garden you will see in the continental United States. The sala, or pavilion, is a traditional Thai structure, but the one you'll see at Olbrich is more ornate than most salas you would see in Thailand. The garden that surrounds the pavilion is lush and tropical with hearty plants that can withstand the Wisconsin climate. Some of the ornamental grasses reach up to 12 feet tall, and you'll also see many bamboo plants that are essential for this tropical garden. You'll also find glazed water jars and clipped tree art known as mai dat throughout the gardens that represent a traditional horticulture feature in gardens throughout Thailand. The Sunken Garden The Sunken Garden is another unique garden at Olbrich. It is a traditional formal English-style garden surrounded by shrub hedges and limestone terraces. All of these elements give guests in the Sunken Garden the feeling that they're in an outdoor room. An 80-foot long reflecting pool is a key feature in this garden, while the border features mixed flowering bulbs in a variety of colors and shrubs that bloom starting in the spring and offer their beautiful colors until late in the autumn. Tours Olbrich offers a variety of different tour experiences, from adult-only tours to self-guided visits for groups and guided garden strolls. The adult group tours give visitors an inside look at the outdoor gardens and require a reservation. The guided garden strolls are more relaxed and available for drop-ins only. The volunteer-led tour provides a casual overview of the gardens, and if you prefer to explore the gardens on your own, you are always welcome to wander through the gardens at your own pace. Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a must-see for anyone who lives in or visits Madison. Make sure to stop by the gift shop after your visit, and also check the schedule for any special events. Image by Mike Goad from Pixabay

Modern vehicles should approach safety in a modern way. Toyota has developed some of the most innovative driver-assist technologies to keep you and your passengers safer on the road. Here are a few of those technologies that are a part of the Toyota Safety Sense suite: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection This is arguably one of the most important technologies in the Toyota Safety Sense Suite. It not only helps you stay more aware of oncoming obstacles, but helps you avoid collisions, keeping you, your passengers, and people outside your vehicle safer. The pre-collision system with pedestrian detection uses a camera and sensors to constantly scan the road ahead for obstacles, vehicles, and pedestrians. If the system detects one, it will alert you via audio and visual cues. If the system detects an imminent collision and you haven't applied your brakes, it will apply the brakes for you. If you do apply the brakes, the Brake Assist system kicks in to give you a little more stopping power. Lane Departure Alert and Lane Assist It's nearly impossible to avoid every possible distraction when you're driving. When you're distracted, your chances of leaving your lane increases, and so does the potential for a dangerous situation. That's where the Lane Departure Alert system comes in. The Lane Departure Alert system engages after you're traveling at 32 miles per hour or higher. Once it's engaged, sensors scan the road around you to find street lines to recognize your position in the lane. If you start to veer out of your lane without a turn signal, this system will use audio and visual warnings until you return to your lane or use your turn signal. Coupled with the Lane Assist feature, this technology is even more helpful. If your Toyota is equipped with Lane Assist, your vehicle will make small steering adjustments to keep you in your current lane if you start to leave the lane without a turn signal. Automatic High Beams To help improve your vision and driving safety at night, many new Toyota models come standard with automatic high beams. This system also makes the road safer for other vehicles around you at night. When activated at speeds of 25 mph and above, the Automatic High Beam system will switch back to low beams if it detects on an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle ahead of you. This helps ensure that you have the best view at night without taking away other drivers' ability to see the road. Road Sign Assist One of the newest features in the Toyota Safety Sense family is the Road Sign Assist technology. This feature uses a smart camera to scan the road for speed limit signs and other important road signs. When it finds one, it displays it on a display in the cabin for your reference. These technologies don't take power away from the driver; rather, they simply make better, more aware drivers out of all of us. If you're curious as to how these technologies work in real-life situations, you can take a tour of a Toyota equipped with them at Smart Toyota in Madison, Wisconsin. Proudly serving drivers throughout Middleton, Sun Prairie, and beyond.

Madison, Wisconsin, is keeping with a long heritage of beer history with the many craft breweries that call the city home. There are many breweries in town to explore, but if you're looking for somewhere to start, you can't go wrong with these staples: Ale Asylum No list of Madison craft breweries would be complete with a nod to Ale Asylum. The funky-fresh interior, complete with leather couches and pinball machines, lends itself very well to enhance your enjoyment of the top-notch brews that Ale Asylum creates. For starters, get a glass of their Ambergeddon amber ale, the accessible Hopalicious American pale ale, or the Ballistic IPA. Ale Asylum's taproom has an impressive variety to choose from, so you're sure to find something to satisfy your palate at this local-favorite brewery. Working Draft Beer Company Working Draft Beer Company's minimalist and hip style offers a great experience for those exploring Madison's brewery scene. Working Draft prides itself in its sense of community, and you'll find local artists' works, live acoustic music, and poetry readings in the taproom. You'll also find a great selection of brews, from the Pulp Culture hazy IPA to the European Vacay Munich Dunkel. This brewery takes itself just seriously enough that beer pros will stay interested and newcomers to the craft beer world will feel welcome. Karben4 The strange-yet-tasty Karben4 Brewing is a great place to spend an hour or two with friends. In addition to delicious craft brews, their taproom also offers great artisan-inspired food to pair with your favorite beer. As far as beer varietals go, Karben4 has the usual suspects and then some: IPAs, chocolate oatmeal stouts, imperial red ales, English-style ales, pale ales, and more. Once you've found your favorite Karben4 brew, be sure to take a six-pack of it home. ALT Brew ALT Brew has all your gluten-free beer needs covered with their creations. None of their beers are made with gluten, which means that everyone can have a great time at this brewery. ALT Brew doesn't need gluten to make some of Madison's most interesting Kolsch, blondes, farmhouse ales, porters, IPAs, and more. Be sure to come back to ALT Brew every season to try their four special releases throughout the year. Funk Factory Geuzeria Funk Factory Geuzeria is one of the most highly rated breweries in Madison, and for good reason. The beers this brewery produces are some of the most interesting and experimental in Madison. You'll find quite a few barrel-aged beers at this brewery, some mixed with wine grapes and berries. If you're a fan of lambics, Funk Factory is where you need to be. You'll also find a great selection of wild ales and farmhouse ales to choose from at this one-of-a-kind brewery. From the most hop-infused brewery critic to the casual craft beer drinker just looking for their next favorite, these Madison breweries are sure to satisfy. Explore what each has to offer and then expand your tour of the Madison brewery world to find your next go-to haunt. Image by Tibor Janosi Mozes from Pixabay

The 2020 Toyota Avalon seeks to revitalize the large sedan class. Through impressive power levels, style, and lists of exciting features, the new Avalon is the pinnacle all other sedans should aspire to. Here's a look at what the 2020 Avalon has to offer you: Unparalleled Style The first thing you may notice about the 2020 Toyota Avalon is its surprisingly sharp style. Its exterior appearance does a fantastic job of updating the traditional sedan style and bringing it to the modern era. From its blacked-out front fascia full of sharp, modernist angles to the available chrome-tipped quadruple exhaust in the rear, the Avalon doesn't shy away from making a statement on the road. As you move up through the Avalon's list of trims — the XLE, Limited, XSE, TRD, and Touring — you'll get more access to more exterior features. The Touring's sequential turn signals are Vegas-inspired eye-catchers. The sporty TRD's 19-inch allow wheels and red-painted brake calipers give the Avalon a racer's atmosphere. Whichever trim you choose, you can expect a sedan dripping in expertly engineering style. Smart Tech To bring the sedan into the 2020s, Toyota has given each model access to top-notch tech. Every Avalon comes standard with a center-stack-mounted touch screen that turns your sedan into another smart device at your disposal. Connect your phone to your Avalon's screen to play your favorite podcasts and albums, access navigation, have your text messages read aloud to you, and more, using only your voice to command it. The Avalon experience continues even when you're out of the vehicle. You can connect a compatible smartwatch to your Toyota to locate your Avalon, lock its doors, and start its engine to ready the cabin on a cold winter morning. Move over, James Bond. Thrilling Power Other sedans often make you work your way through trim levels to access powerful engines. That isn't so with the 2020 Avalon. Every gasoline-exclusive 2020 Avalon punches out 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. There is also a hybridized Avalon available that produces a city-ready combined 215 horsepower through a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor combo. What changes as you move through the trims is the Avalon's access to performance-enhancing upgrades. For the most able-bodied sedan, opt for the all-new Avalon TRD trim, which gives you enhanced brakes, a sport-tuned suspension, paddle shifters, and more. Interior Allure Luxury-minded sedan drivers will do well with the Avalon Touring. A quick scan around the cabin reveals real wood inlays, unique two-tone stitching on leather-trimmed upholstery with microsuede inserts, and aluminum accents. The cockpit's elegantly chiseled design completes the Avalon's premium atmosphere and puts everything you need to make the most of your travels within ergonomic reach. In short, the Avalon's personality was designed with one thing in mind — to impress you and anyone you invite into your sedan. Come experience the 2020 Toyota Avalon firsthand at Smart Toyota in Madison, Wisconsin. Once you see and feel what the Avalon has to offer, it's difficult to settle for anything less.

With so many people worried about being in public, it's a wonder that more people haven't picked up hiking. If you're looking for a great hiking trail in the Madison, Wisconsin, area, here are a few you should check out. Picnic Point Marsh Loop Trail The 2-mile Picnic Point Marsh Loop Trail is an easy hike right in Madison's Shorewood Hills. This trail is flanked nearly completely by Lake Mendota, offering great lakeside views to one side and forest on the other. Its location makes it one of the more popular hikes in the city, but if you avoid peak times, it can be a great escape. Since it's a loop trail with only an 88-foot elevation gain, this is a great trail for beginners and families. Devil's Lake Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail On the other side of the hiking difficulty spectrum, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail will make you work for your progress. The entire trail is 1,200 miles long, but if you're looking for a good section hike near Madison, check out the Devil's Lake Segment. This part of the greater trail is 13 miles long, beginning near the intersection of County Highway DL and 113 and ending at the southern border of Parfrey's Glen State Natural Area. With an elevation gain of nearly 2,000 feet, you'll want to bring out the hiking boots for this trek. UW-Madison Arboretum Trails If you have an ecological and zoological interest in hiking, head to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum. Over 17 miles of trails in this protected area will take you through a wildly interesting display of Wisconsin's many ecosystems and terrains, from prairies and wetlands to savannas and woodlands. The trails are made up of fairly easy-going footpaths and boardwalks that allow visitors to immerse themselves in Wisconsin's natural environments. Holy Wisdom Monastery Trails That's right; the Holy Wisdom Monastery near the northwest shore of Lake Mendota is a worthy hiking destination. The monastery has a focus on natural preservation, which has left visitors with about 4 miles of trails to walk. These nature trails are great for the leisurely hiker looking for a bit of serenity away from the city. Lake Monona Loop Also known as the Capital City Trail, Lake Monona Loop is 13.8 miles long and right in Madison's backyard. As its name suggest, the trail loops around Lake Monona in downtown Madison, offering great cityscape and waterfront views. If you're looking for a paved path to get in a good trail run, the Lake Monona Loop is a great option. With the lake to one side and beautiful residences on the other, this loop is the perfect city-bound trail. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or you just want to get out of the house for a little while, each of these Madison-area hikes is well worth the visit. Cross each off your hiking bucket list to start experiencing everything Wisconsin's natural beauty has to offer. Image by Yinan Chen from Pixabay

Oh, the horror! On a brutally steamy summer day, you leave the cool confines of your workplace and make the long, sweltering walk across a shoe-meltingly hot parking lot. You open your car door and the blast of heat that emanates forth nearly knocks you out. You pause for a moment and contemplate just how toasty your seat is, not to mention your steering wheel. With a bit of trepidation, you take the plunge and inch into the vehicle. Hot! Hot! Hot! No worries, though. You know your air conditioner will kick in in no time. You crack your window to allow the heat an escape route and wait. And wait. You hold your hand near the air vent questioningly as sweat starts to form on your brow. Why isn’t there cool air flowing? You turn some knobs and flick some switches, and still nothing. The slowly awakening horror is suddenly upon you. THE A/C IS BROKEN!!! Is this an unavoidable cosmic joke, or could you have taken some preventative measures to help assure this didn’t happen? Jim Ward, Service Manager at Smart Motors in Madison, says there are many steps one can take to avoid such a sticky situation. “Wisconsinites know how important it is to winterize their vehicles, but often they neglect to ‘summerize’ them, too,” Ward says. “While some things can easily be done by the owner, there are also somewhere a service professional comes in handy.” Ward says it is wise to have a service technician thoroughly inspect your vehicle’s HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) system at least once a year. Often you can request this service in conjunction with another service such as an oil change. Typical A/C service consists of the following steps: A visual inspection of hoses, lines, seals, and other components for leaks as well as inspect ing the drive belt for cracks or damage. A check of pressures to test operation, refrigerant charge, and outlet temperatures. If the system is found to be low on refrigerant, a leak test is performed to find the source of the leak. Keep in mind that if your vehicle is leaking refrigerant, it is damaging the ozone layer. A/C service should also include a check of the compressor’s drive belt and tension. These measures should be enough to get you comfortably through the heat, but Ward says his team is trained to offer additional measures that will help your car stave off the heat of the street. Additional procedures that either the vehicle owner or service technician can perform are: Check the level and strength of the coolant. A low coolant level may allow your engine to overheat. Make sure the coolant reservoir is filled to the proper level. Wait until the engine has cooled to check the level inside the radiator. If low, add a 50/50 mixture of the specified coolant and water. Make sure the cooling fan works. The electric cooling fan should come on when the air conditioner is turn ed on to MAX. No fan may mean a defective fan motor, relay, or electrical problem. Battery evaluation. Batteries are lasting longer than they used to but the key with a battery evaluation is in the testing which gives both the available cold-cranking amps vs. what the battery is rated for and the second is a batt ery health check which indicates potential battery life and can often predict a battery failure before there are symptoms. Hot weather is actually harder on batteries than cold weather because it increases the rate of evaporation of the liqui d electrolyte inside the battery. Change the oil. Replacing old dirty oil with fresh oil can increase the lubrication protection for your engine. Check or replace the windshield wipers. Natural rubber wiper blades have a limited life of a year or less. Sun exposure, extreme heat, and cold all age the rubber and cause it to become hard and brittle. Check t ires. Check the tire for wear, uneven wear, age cracks, or damage. Check the i nflation pressure in all the ti r e s, including the spare. Underinflated tires make the tires run hot and increase the risk of a blowout. Lastly, Ward says there are a few steps that vehicle owners can do themselves to stay cool: Wax the body. Your vehicle’s body should be waxed or sprayed with some type of protectant to help shield the paint from the ultraviolet rays from the sun, and summer smog in urban areas. Keep your cool. Buy a sunshade for the windshield to reflect light so the interior doesn't get so hot if the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight. Also, close the sunroof sunshade, and leave the windows cracked so hot air can escape. This can lighten the cooling load on the air conditioner when the vehicle is first started, and prevent you from getting a hot seat or burning yourself on hot interior surfaces. Protect yourself. Wear a hat and sunscreen, and carry a bottle of water in the car in case you get stuck for a long period of time in traffic or have a break-down on a hot day. Ward says these precautions should be enough to keep you and your vehicle cool. Of course, bad things happen at the absolute worst time, but taking some simple preventative measures should drastically lower the risk of them happening to you. About Smart Motors Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the midwest's largest hybrid dealer and Wisconsin’s #1 volume Toyota dealer. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume.  For more information visit www.smartmotors.com. Image by Oskars Zvejs from Pixabay

If you love to read or you're looking for a unique gift for a friend or family member, you should visit some bookstores to browse and find interesting material from your favorite authors. Here are some of the best places where you can find your next summer read in Madison, Wisconsin. The Book Deal At The Book Deal, you can find more than 20,000 used books in over 60 genres. It's a great place to find a new book, CD, DVD, graphic novel, or vinyl record at a bargain price. You can turn in your old books for store credit, and they'll come to your home or office and pick up large collections for free. Teachers and other educators get 10% off everything in the store, and you'll get a free book when you sign up for their rewards program. For every book The Book Deal sells, they give one away to a local student. It's their goal to encourage reading and increase literacy by making books affordable for everyone. They're open for appointments Thursday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., and you can shop for books online. Mystery to Me Mystery to Me specializes in mystery novels, but they sell other books as well. If you like mysteries, this store is a great place to visit a book club. The Bilingual Book Club meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at 6 p.m., and it reads and discusses books in English and Spanish in alternating months. The Mystery to Me Book Club happens on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m., and it covers mystery books. Mystery to Me also hosts many events with writers and journalists. You can meet some great writers and learn more about writing so that you can start creating your own book. This bookstore is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m on weekdays. It closes at 5 p.m. on Saturday and at 4 p.m. on Sunday. A Room of One's Own This fun book store offers reading material about everything from antiques to technology to psychology. They also have children's books, graphic novels, textbooks, and study aids for college students, toys, gifts, e-books, and audiobooks. A Room of One's Own donates books to many local organizations that help students, and many book clubs use their convenient, free community room for their meetings. You can place orders online and then pick up your books any day between noon and 4 p.m. 20th Century Books At 20th Century Books, you can find new and used comic books, science fiction, mystery, fantasy, and more. You can also buy their books online. This book store is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and it opens at noon on Sunday. Reading a great book is a fun way for you to learn new things and use your imagination to explore new worlds. No matter which genre you prefer, you can find a fascinating read at one of these excellent stores. Image by Foundry Co from Pixabay

The 2020 Toyota C-HR compact crossover SUV is ideal for commuting, and its unique look makes it easy to spot in parking lots. It has a variety of appealing features to make trips more fun for drivers and passengers, and you can choose LE, XLE, or Limited trim levels. Keep reading to learn more about this attractive, affordable vehicle's coolest characteristics. A Sporty Style The 2020 C-HR has a sporty, agile look and LED headlights that curve around the sides of the hood. The thin upper grille has a chrome Toyota emblem in the center, and the lower grille is large and angular. There's also a rear spoiler, aerodynamic underbody panels, 17-inch wheels, a rear windshield wiper, and heated power side mirrors. C-HR stands for Coupe High-Rider, and the subtle rear door handles next to the roof make it look like a coupe. You can add puddle lights, power-folding side mirrors, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, 18-inch wheels, and fog lights. You can also choose a black or white roof with many body colors. The optional adaptive front lighting system points the headlights where you need them to improve visibility when you travel on hills or around turns. A Luxurious Interior The interior is comfortable, and it comes with plenty of impressive features. You'll get dual-zone automatic climate control, navigation, an 8-inch touch screen, voice recognition, a 12-volt power outlet, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a cargo cover, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Other standard features include keyless entry, SiriusXM satellite radio, folding rear seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 4.2-inch driver information display. You can select push-button start, an eight-way power driver's seat, and heated leather front seats. With the XLE, a black interior with blue accents that wrap around the dashboard and the doors is available. Outstanding Performance This SUV's 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine offers 144 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque. It comes with front-wheel drive, power steering, and an independent suspension for a smooth, maneuverable ride. The continuously variable automatic transmission has Normal, Sport, and ECO driving modes, and the C-HR gets 27 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Excellent Safety The 2020 Toyota C-HR's safety and driver assistance features will make driving less stressful and help you protect your passengers. This SUV comes with lane departure warning, a rearview camera, lane-keeping assistance, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, hill start assistance, automatic emergency braking, and advanced front airbags that activate with different levels of force depending on the severity of an accident. Stability control, traction control, a security system with an engine immobilizer, and free maintenance and roadside assistance for two years or 25,000 miles are standard as well. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is optional. To learn more about the C-HR and take it for a test drive, visit Smart Toyota. We have an extensive inventory, and we're happy to answer all of your questions. Come see us Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.