Blog

Learning to drive is challenging and stressful. That difficulty and stress compounds if you don't have a good driving school to attend. If you or someone in your family needs to attend a driving school, be sure to do your research and find an area driving school that's a great fit for you. Those living in the Rochester, Minnesota, area can take advantage of these three amazing local driving schools. Northgate Driving School The first of several great driving schools in the Rochester, Minnesota, area is the Northgate Driving School. It's known for being one of the longest operating driving schools in the southeast region of the state. You can count on getting a quality driving education that will give you the confidence you need to tackle the most difficult driving challenges. Northgate uses a wide range of teaching methods to help get the information across to all different kinds of learners. Whether you're a visual learner or a book learner, you'll get a driving education that sticks with you at Northgate. more Each class offers 30 hours of instruction over a two-week period. In addition to the classroom sessions, Northgate provides 6 hours of training behind the wheel of a car. Regardless of when you'd like to begin, Northgate Driving School offers a broad selection of class times throughout the year. Each month classes are offered with school-friendly hours. They usually run from 4 pm to 7 pm or 8 am to 11 am. Med City Driving School Another great place to get your driving education is Med City Driving School. Their attention to detail and different learning styles will keep everyone on track for a great driver's ed experience. If your students attend Century High School, John Marshall High School, or Mayo High School, in-room driver's ed classes are offered throughout the year. Behind the wheel driver's education sessions are available for both high school students and adult learners. The rate for students to learn how to drive at Med City Driving School is $350 per student. This cost includes all 30 hours of required classroom time and six hours of behind the wheel driving instruction. Those that need it may split the payment into two half payments made throughout the course. Rage Driving School Despite the name, Rage Driving School is actually a great place to either brush up on your driving skills or take driver's education classes. You'll be able to take a full 36-hour driving course with the required 30 hours of classroom education and six hours of behind the wheel time with an instructor. The school also offers extra hours of practice behind the wheel for those who so desire. Rates are competitive to other driving schools in the area. Discounts are available to those who pay in full prior to the start of the class. If you're looking for a place to bring your kids to learn how to drive or are looking to brush up on driving skills yourself, be sure to try one of these three great area driving schools. One of them is bound to be a great fit for you or your teen.

The RAV4 is one of the best-selling vehicles in the U.S., and for good reason. This SUV boasts a spacious and well-equipped interior, a powerful engine, a smooth on-road ride, as well as respectable off-road capability. All trims also feature the advanced Toyota Safety Sense system that helps keep you and your family safe on the road. The design of the 2020 RAV4 is based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, which means that the SUV boasts a longer and wider stance that'll give you improved handling and a stronger core to provide you a smooth ride. You can choose from six trim levels with the new RAV4: LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, TRD Off-Road, and Limited. A hybrid model is also available. Here is some more information about this capable and modern SUV. more Spacious Interior The TNGA platform, which is the base of the RAV4's design, creates a spacious interior. Both front and rear passengers have ample head- and legroom. When you need more cargo space, you can fold the back seats down to provide you with a cargo area of 69.8 cubic feet. Standard interior features include cloth upholstery, a 60/40 split-reclining rear seat, remote keyless entry, a rear window defogger, and an automatic electric parking brake. The higher trims add many nice-to-haves, such as a power-adjustable driver's seat, dual-zone climate control, a sunroof, a power liftgate, SofTex upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, and wireless smartphone charging. Impressive Performance All RAV4 trims are powered by a robust 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels, except for the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims that come standard with an all-wheel-drive system. This engine boasts a respectable EPA rating of 28 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. You can customize your ride with three distinct drive modes: Sport mode, which will give you sharper acceleration, ECO mode, which maximizes fuel efficiency, and Normal mode, which offers a blend of economy and performance. If you're into off-roading, opt for the TRD Off-Road trim, which boasts advanced off-road features, such as a retuned suspension, a dynamic torque-vectoring AWD system, and increased ground clearance. The standard multi-terrain select system offers four drive modes, namely Mud&Sand, Rock&Dirt, Snow, and Normal. Advanced Technology The RAV4 boasts loads of modern technology. The standard infotainment system comes with a 7-inch display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a USB port, and six speakers. You can upgrade this system with various convenient features, such as an available 8-inch touch screen, navigation, and a premium 11-speaker JBL system. All RAV4 trims offer the impressive Toyota Safety Sense system as standard equipment. This suite consists of pre-collision with pedestrian detection, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, lane tracing assist, and road sign assist. If you're looking for a comfortable and capable SUV that will keep you and your family safe on the road, look no further than the RAV4. To take one for a test drive, drop by Rochester Toyota.

Toyota has redesigned all of its 2020 SUVs so that you can find the model and trim that suits your needs. These are just a few of the 2020 Toyota SUVs, a brief review of their standard features, and a very short summary of the possibilities they offer. Overall Features Take a look at each of the new models and select accessories such as rear-seat entertainment systems, a rearview camera, Roadside Assist, and available touch-screen navigation. Safety always comes first. Many Toyotas, including those listed here, come standard with Pre-Collision Detection, Pedestrian Detection, multiple air bags, automatic high beams, and other Toyota Safe Sense Features. Will you stay on the highways or set off on a grand adventure? With all of the cargo space and passenger room, there are endless possibilities. more 2020 Land Cruiser This is one of Toyota's original SUV models. Its 5.7-liter V-8 engine and 8-speed transmission provide outstanding driving performance. Up to eight passengers can ride comfortably on the heated and ventilated leather-trimmed seats. You'll navigate confidently with the multi-display audio system, which comes with Bluetooth and wireless capacity. Toyota is now offering a limited Heritage Edition, which holds up to five passengers. The Heritage Edition offers several additional features as standard equipment, including a Yakima MegaWarrior Roof Rack. 2020 Toyota RAV4 The RAV4 is Toyota's compact SUV, so you get the feel of a Toyota Camry sedan along with the interior room of an SUV. It remains Toyota's fastest SUV. Accordingly, Toyota gave it a sleek, sporty look. It has six speakers and is up-to-date with the latest technology, so you can talk to Alexa, stream music, or input your favorite music. Because it comes in both hybrid and non-hybrid models, there are a total of 10 styles from which to choose. 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Models Beginning with the 2020 model year, Toyota increased its Hybrid Battery Warranty from 8 years or 100,000 miles to 10 years from the date of first use or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. Select from the Toyota RAV4 XLE Hybrid, XSE Hybrid, and Limited Hybrid. All of these models are powered by an Electronic-AWD 2.5-liter 4-Cylinder Hybrid engine. 2020 Toyota 4Runner The 4Runner is Toyota's tough SUV. It's one of the last of its kind. Do you want to go somewhere? The 4Runner will take you there. Is your destination out-of-the-way or hard to reach? No problem. Take up to eight people with you and pack lots of gear or tow up to 5,000 pounds. The 4Runner's 4x4 4.0-liter V-6 5-Speed engine is built to get you there. The Optitron Instrumentation lets you see everything, even when there's hardly any light, and the eight-inch high-resolution touch-screen display makes it all so easy. There are eight models from which to choose: SRS, SRS Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, Venture Special Edition, Limited, Nightshade Edition, TRD Pro. You've only read about a few of the 2020 Toyota SUVs and what they can offer, but there is so much more. Come on down to Rochester Toyota for a test drive to see which SUV fits you best.

If you're looking for an efficient SUV that delivers plenty of impressive style, check out the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. This outstanding SUV offers numerous exciting updates this year. Learn more about some of the coolest updates to the RAV4 Hybrid so you can see why you should get behind the wheel of one today. Eye-Catching Good Looks The second you take a look at the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, you'll notice the SUV is showcasing some brand-new good looks. The vehicle has a spirited design with bold angles and smooth lines designed to catch eyes. For extra style, the SUV comes standard with multi-LED headlights with black bezels, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, rear privacy glass, low-profile black roof rails, and dual chrome exhaust tips. You'll also appreciate the convenience of the standard power-adjustable side mirrors. more Outstanding Power Underneath those rugged good looks, the RAV4 Hybrid offers an engine that delivers impressive power and performance. The SUV comes standard with a 2.5-liter hybrid engine that works with an electric motor to offer a combined 219 horsepower and 149 pound-feet of torque. Plus, since your adventures might take you through all types of weather, the RAV4 Hybrid is also available with an electronic all-wheel drive system that uses a dedicated electric drive motor to automatically give power to the rear wheels to instantly improve your traction. Great Technology If you're searching for a new Toyota that gives you some of the latest technology features, you'll love what you find inside the new RAV4 Hybrid. The infotainment system comes standard with a 7-inch touch screen display, USB media port, six speakers, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling, music streaming, and voice recognition. If you're interested in even more outstanding features, upgrade to the available audio multimedia system to enjoy an 8-inch touch screen display and four USB charge ports. Spacious Interior The inside of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid isn't just spacious, it's also stylish. When you're ready to load up all of your friends and family for your next day of fun, this SUV offers seating for up to five people. If you need to transport a large object, the standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat folds flat to reveal an incredible 69.8 cubic feet of cargo space. The RAV4 has an available panoramic glass roof that brings a new dimension to your driving experience. Plus, you'll enjoy standard features that include dual-zone automatic climate control and remote keyless entry. Great Safety Features You'll experience plenty of peace of mind on the road when you're behind the wheel of the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid. The SUV comes standard with a rearview camera and Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, road sign assist, lane tracing assist, lane departure alert with steering assist, full-speed dynamic cruise control, and automatic high-beams. Now that you know more about the coolest updates you'll find in the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, it's easy to see why this SUV offers everything you need and more.   Image via Toyota

When the temperatures drop and the snow starts to fall, Rochester, Minnesota, comes alive with a variety of exciting outdoor activities to enjoy, including sledding. When you're ready to sail down a snow-covered slope, grab your favorite sled and check out these notable hills for the best sledding spots near Rochester. Judd Park Judd Park is one of the two parks in Rochester that have a designated sledding hill. When snow covers the ground, the large hill in this park becomes a popular destination for anyone looking to enjoy a few hours of sledding. The park doesn't have any type of tow rope, so you'll have to walk up the hill on your own. However, your effort will be completely worth it when you fly down the smooth hill to the open and level field below. more Schmidt Park Schmidt Park is the other park in Rochester that has a designated sledding hill. Like Judd Park, Schmidt Park doesn't have a tow rope. Even so, it's a great place to get outside, enjoy some fresh air, and burn off some energy. The slope at this sledding hill isn't as steep as the one at Judd Park. Additionally, the park has a large open area between the bottom of the hill and the nearest road, which makes this hill a fantastic option for young sledders. Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch Situated about 17 miles south of Rochester, Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch is a camp that offers snow tubing for all ages. When you arrive at the camp, you'll pay for a two-hour tubing session that allows a maximum of 80 people per session. The cost of the session includes a snow tube rental. Additionally, the camp has a chalet that provides cups, spoons, and hot water. All you need to do is bring the cocoa and snacks. Cedar Valley Resort If you want to combine your sledding fun with plenty of other exciting activities, head approximately 43 miles southeast of Rochester to Cedar Valley Resort. The resort has a tubing hill and provides free snow tubes for its guests to use. Other amenities you can enjoy at the resort include snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals, as well as trails, bonfires, and horse-drawn sleigh rides. Frontenac State Park If you travel about 47 miles north of Rochester to Frontenac State Park, you'll find a protected area of land that offers stunning views of the Mississippi River and some excellent hills for sledding. If you get tired of sledding, you can choose one of the park's other fun winter activities to enjoy. The park maintains 7.1 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails. You can also rent snowshoes at the park to explore the 3 miles of snowshoe trails. When you need to warm up, stop by one of the two wood-heated trail shelters available in the winter. Are you ready to get outside and enjoy winter in Rochester? We know you'll have a blast speeding down these top sledding hills in the area.   Image via Pixabay