Both the Chrysler 300 and the Pacifica can make great family vehicles. Their price points and fuel economy are similar. While the Chrysler 300 gets a respectable 19 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, the Pacifica gets an only slightly lower 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. So choosing between the two is a matter of what you're looking for. Luxury or practicality? Space or style? Let's explore. Interior The Chrysler 300 can easily feel like a luxury car. You can customize its spacious interior with 14 different styles, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel has convenient driver controls. The rotary e-shift dial on the center console selects gears electronically and saves space. And if that isn't lavish enough, you can add heated and ventilated leather-trimmed front seats and front console cup holders that keep your beverages hot or cold. Versatility is the Pacifica's hallmark. It's roomy, filled with handy storage spaces and cup holders, and equipped with Stow ‘n Go second- and third-row seats that take it from carpool to cargo in seconds by folding into the floor. Three-zone automatic climate control and a built-in vacuum are also available. more Exterior The sophisticated Chrysler 300 comes in nine different paint colors and wheel designs. Available adaptive exterior lights auto-adjust for prime visibility on curvy or hilly roads by monitoring your speed and steering angle. The Pacifica looks sleek, though it's the tallest and widest vehicle in its segment. This exterior size translates to a nicely spacious interior. Available features include power doors and tailgate that open by pressing the key fob or waving your foot under the door. How's that for hands-free? The Pacifica also has a sunroof with a glass panel over each of its three rows. Cargo The Chrysler 300 has one of the larger trunks in its segment, and the roomy back seat can handle extra cargo. With the back seats folded down, the Chrysler 300 can fit 16 pieces of carry-on luggage, more than its main competitors. But when it comes to cargo, the Pacifica is unparalleled: with seats stowed, the Pacifica can hold 53 pieces of carry-on luggage. Technology The Chrysler 300 comes with an 8.4-inch touch-screen infotainment system. The Pacifica's infotainment system has a 5-inch touch screen, but you can upgrade to the 8.4-inch model. The Pacifica also has an entertainment system with two 10-inch touch screens in the rear seats. Onboard Wi-Fi is available on both vehicles. Safety The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Chrysler 300 four stars and the Pacifica five. The Pacifica also received highest honors from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Chrysler's optional advanced safety package includes automated emergency braking, forward-collision warning, automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control. The Pacifica adds a 360-degree camera and rain-sensing wipers to it safety package. Surprising similarities in price, gas mileage, safety features, and technology make either vehicle a great choice. Image by FotoSleuth is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Monmouth County has a variety of great Asian restaurants serving up some of your favorite dishes. Whether you're craving a classic Chinese meal or traditional Japanese sushi, you'll find some excellent food to savor when you dine at one of these best Asian restaurants in Monmouth County. Spring House Chinese Restaurant Spring House Chinese Restaurant is conveniently located in Ocean Township and offers a nice variety of authentic Chinese cuisine. The restaurant has dine-in, take-out, and delivery options. Chef's specialties at the restaurant include lemon chicken, sesame shrimp, crispy orange beef, and pineapple chicken. Vegetarian dishes include broccoli with bean curd, eggplant with garlic sauce, and mixed vegetables. You'll also find chow mein, lo mein, fried rice, soups, appetizers, and lunch items on the menu. more Ginza Japanese Restaurant Another great Asian restaurant in Ocean Township is Ginza Japanese Restaurant, which is a modern sushi bar with lively tableside hibachi chefs. If you're stopping by for sushi, a few popular rolls include the Lion King, which has shrimp tempura, cream cheese, avocado, and eel, and the Rainbow Roll, which comes with crab, avocado, cucumber, tuna, salmon, red snapper, and avocado. You'll also find a nice selection of entrees, including mango shrimp, pad Thai chicken, grilled filet mignon, and Chilean sea bass. MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos For something a little different, head to MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos in Asbury Park. This casual Korean eatery brings traditional Korean flavors to tacos for a meal that's completely unique. The menu offers meats, fish, or tofu that's seasoned in homemade Korean marinades, tossed with a homemade Korean dressing, topped with fresh produce, and served on a fresh flour tortilla. Before you leave, don't forget to order the Korean doughnut for dessert. Its cinnamon and sugar filling with a powdered sugar topping makes the perfect ending to your meal. Bamboo Leaf When you're in the mood for Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, you can't beat the meals offered at Bamboo Leaf in Bradley Beach. Whether you stop by for lunch or dinner, you'll find a menu that includes a good selection of snacks and entrees. You can choose a curry, classic noodle, classic stir fry, or fried rice dish, and then select whether you would like your meal made with vegetable, chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, or a combination. Other specialties at the restaurant include roasted duck, curry sea scallops, barbecue chicken, ribs, and basil seafood. Taka Located in Asbury Park, Taka is a contemporary Japanese restaurant that serves a variety of innovative dishes. If you're in the mood for sushi, you'll find nigiri, sashimi, and vegetarian options. You can also go for one of the specialty rolls, such as the Firecracker Roll with tuna, spicy mayonnaise, habanero, sriracha, and togarashi. If you'd rather have an entree, the chicken teriyaki, salmon, tuna, and 12-ounce New York boneless strip steak are all popular options. No matter what type of Asian cuisine you're in the mood for, you're sure to find an excellent meal when you head to one of these top restaurant around Monmouth County. Image by Meg Stewart, used under CC BY-SA 2.0
Jeep released an all-new version of its popular off-roading vehicle, the Wrangler, for 2018. This model is called the JL, while the outgoing model is called the JK. Outdoor enthusiasts love the new and improved features on the JL Wrangler, designed to handle just about any type of terrain. Increased Size One of the biggest changes comes to the size of the new Wrangler. This model is taller, wider, and longer. If you choose the two-door model, the wheelbase is an inch longer and the length is 3.5 inches longer. With the four-door model, the increases are 2.5 inches in the wheelbase and 3.5 inches in length. It's also slightly heavier, but most drivers won't notice that change when they're behind the wheel. Other exterior differences include A-pillars that are now fixed to a header bar, available with 33-inch tires, rugged steel skid plates, and stronger axle tubes. more Improved Fuel Economy Although fuel efficiency isn't usually the top priority for buyers in this segment, it's still nice to save a few bucks at the pump. The 2018 Wrangler JL is available with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which returns an estimated 24 mpg combined. Although the standard engine remains unchanged, you can take advantage of improved fuel economy by upgrading to the turbocharged engine. The base engine is a capable 3.6-liter V-6, which pumps out 260 pound-feet of torque and 285 horsepower. Stylish Trim Levels In the past, the four-door Jeep Wrangler was known as the Unlimited model. Jeep has ditched this name, simply referring to the JL Wranglers as two-door and four-door. The two-door comes in three trim levels, while the four-door has a fourth trim level available. It's easy to find the model that works with your lifestyle and has the features you want. The base trim level is the Sport, which comes with a full-size spare tire, tow hooks, skid plates, a fold-down windshield, and removable metal doors. The Sport S trim tacks on automatic headlights, air conditioning, heated side mirrors, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. If you want the Sahara trim, you'll have to go with a four-door Wrangler. This trim level boasts 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, painted exterior trim and body panels, and LED fog lights. The top Rubicon trim is designed for serious off-roading with special tires, a heavy-duty front axle, electronic front and rear locking differentials, rock rails, and an electronically disconnecting front roll bar. Upscale Tech Features Jeep also added some new tech features to the JL model. Even the base trim comes equipped with a 5-inch touchscreen and the Uconnect infotainment system, Bluetooth connectivity, an eight-speaker audio system, and a USB port. Available features on the higher trim levels include a 115-volt outlet, extra USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, satellite radio, a larger 7-inch or 8.4-inch touch screen, a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system, and an upgraded version of Uconnect. Test drive the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL at Sea View Jeep to experience these features for yourself. If you prefer to explore uncharted territory and take your vehicle off-roading, it's tough to beat what the Wrangler has to offer.
