The Week - USA (2021-02-26)

Consumer

Car and Driver

“It takes guts to design a $65,000 vehicle

that evokes a $180,000 Bentley.” The fi rst

SUV from Hyundai’s luxury division is not

some fake Rolex, though: The “lavish and

striking” Genesis GV80 “impresses with a

level of build and material quality that puts

some traditional luxury brands to shame.”

In fact, “this could be the vehicle that makes

Genesis a real player in the luxury sphere,”

especially because the price “makes even

experts like us do a double take.”

Edmunds.com

Two engines are available, but go for the

3.5-liter, 375-hp twin-turbo V-6. “You’ll ap-

preciate the extra power.” Upper trims also

include an electronic suspension system

that anticipates bumps, creating an “impres-

sively smooth” ride. The beautiful interior

“takes an all-inclusive spa-day approach,”

complete with mood lighting, seat mas-

sage, active noise cancellation, plus nature

sounds on tap. Fuel economy is subpar at

23 mpg, though, and the optional third row

is “pretty small.”

Jalopnik.com

Still, “Genesis nailed the luxury SUV on its

fi rst attempt, in both style and substance.”

The GV80’s “gorgeous” art-deco design

language is “completely different from any

other product on the market.” And despite

costing thousands less than the competi-

tion, “this is a car that does everything it can

to make you forget you’re driving.”

28 LEISURE

Tip of the week...
How to get through a power outage

Best websites...

For ordering houseplants

And for those who have

everything...

Fighting words are so

passé. The slogans

that everyone wants

to wear on their chest

these days “just want

to lower the tempera-

ture.” Consider Stella

McCartney’s ‘Smile’

Sweater, which keeps

selling out even at the price of a round-trip

fl ight to Paris’ Fashion Week. But it’s not just

a high-end trend. Many hot-selling T-shirts

and hoodies display such sincere and uncon-

troversial messages as “Leave Only Good

Vibes,” “Today Is a Good Day,” and even

“Don’t Litter.” No irony is intended. These

garments “mean what they say, but they

don’t yell.” They’re a response to a world in

turmoil, a way of “covering our screaming

hearts” with soft pleas for comity.

$1,295, net-a-porter.com

Source: NYMag.com

QEat fresh food first. A refrigerator will keep
food at a safe temperature for four hours,
a freezer for 24 to 48. Take no chances with
spoiled food, but if you have a gas stove (and
matches to light the burners), you can cook
normally at first.
QUnplug other appliances. The eventual
return of power can create surges and
damage appliances. Let your lights indicate
when power has been restored.
QConserve phone power. Use your smart-
phone sparingly to keep the battery charged.
Write down any numbers you might regret
you can’t retrieve if the battery runs down.
QBe cautious with generators. A running
generator should be kept 20 feet from the
house. Trapped carbon monoxide kills quickly.
QBundle up. In a winter outage, conserve
any warmth you can by closing curtains and
blocking drafts. Layer up on clothing and
blankets until you can safely relocate.
Sources: ConsumerReports.com and CNN.com

QTheSill.com, a New York City retailer,

“caters to the urban houseplant gardener

who has little time to care for plants.” Look

here for low-maintenance greenery.

QAnniesAnnuals.com is a cheerful website

that’s “full of really fascinating plants.” Most

of the plants are for outdoor gardens, but

Annie’s sells succulents too.

QMonrovia.com sells shrubs, grasses, and

perennials out of its nurseries in California,

Connecticut, Georgia, and Oregon, and can

ship to your local garden center. “They pack-

age their plants amazingly.”

QAndysOrchids.com, of Encinitas, Calif., is a

great source for orchids, included mounted

orchids and miniatures.

QNSETropicals.com specializes in rare tropi-

cal plants, all grown in Florida. Two recom-

mended species, because they aren’t “super

fussy,” are Philodendron bipennifolium and

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma.

Source: The Washington Post

The 2021 Genesis GV80: What the critics say

Korean luxury, from $48,900

MSR Evo

Snowshoes

“The MSR Evo is a

classic.” Novice snow-

shoers can’t go wrong

with these “reliable,

well-priced, versatile,

and easy to use” boot

extenders. Though the

plastic decking is loud

on crusty snow, “the

Evo is a great option for

many scenarios.”

$140, rei.com

Source:

OutdoorGearLab.com

Backcountry Access

Trac ker 3

It’s been a deadly

season for avalanches.

If you’re a recreational

backcountry skier and

need a user-friendly

beacon with all the basic

features, this perennial

best-seller is “a really

nice choice.” It can

transmit a signal for

250 hours.

$350, backcountryaccess.com

Source:

SwitchbackTravel.com

Eskimo QuickFish 2i

Ice Shelter

Ice fi shing becomes

“much more appeal-

ing” when you don’t

sit out in the cold. This

pop-up tent provides

great shelter from the

weather and makes it

easier to see the fi sh

below you.

$200, geteskimo.com

Source: Outdoor Life

Kahtoola

Microspikes

These robust stainless-

steel spikes “provide

excellent traction for

deep snow and thick ice,”

making them perfect

for winter hiking. Once

wrapped around a boot

or shoe, “they don’t slide

around,” and the heat-

treated spikes “will easily

last multiple winters.”

$70, rei.com

Source:

OutdoorGearLab.com

Winnerwell Fastfold

Titanium Stove

There’ll be “no more

stuffi ng feet into frozen

boots” if you bring

this foldaway 4-lb

woodburning stove

on your next winter

adventure. It’ll cook

a meal or warm your

tent. A rollup chimney

is included.

$499, winnerwell.us

Source: Outside

The best of...winter adventure