Blog

Thanks to an abundance of exciting features and updated designs, the 2019 Toyota Highlander is something you can get pumped about. From a new grille design to an impressively spacious interior, this SUV is sure to impress. Here's some of what you can expect when you get behind the wheel of a 2019 Highlander. more A Welcoming Interior This SUV's cabin is loaded with commute and family-friendly features. An available 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system offers full connectivity, an integrated navigation system, and Sirius XM Radio. All of your favorite apps are accessible through Toyota's Entune Multimedia Bundle. Keep up with your phone calls, text messages, and more without taking your hands off of the wheel. Five USB ports are located throughout the cabin so everyone can stay connected. If you plan to take the family on weekend adventures in the 2019 Highlander, be sure to opt for the rear-seat entertainment system. The back-seat passengers can enjoy Blu-ray entertainment on a 9-inch screen with two sets of wireless headphones. Tons of Space Whether you're transporting passengers or cargo, you'll have the space you need. With all of the rear seats folded flat, the 2019 Highlander offers up to 83.7 cubic feet of space for hauling cargo. The second and third-row seats both split to fold so you can have different variations of seating and cargo space. If you want to bring friends and family along for the trip, keep all of the seats folded up for room for eight passengers. Even then, you'll still enjoy 13.8 cubic feet of space behind the third row. Power to Get You Where You Want to Go The base trims come with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that creates 185 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque offering 1,500 pounds of towing capability. For even more kick, choose one of the higher trim levels, which come equipped with a V-6 engine that offers 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque for 5,000 pounds of towing capacity. An available all-wheel-drive system with torque control gives engine power exactly where it's needed for ideal handling and grip in any situation. Safety Features Thanks to a passive safety system, you'll have total peace of mind even in the event of an accident. With a strong steel frame and eight airbags positioned throughout the cabin, everyone will remain well protected. Several active safety features included with Toyota's Safety Sense P package will help you avoid collisions altogether. An automatic cruise control system will keep your Highlander at a safe following distance from other vehicles. A pre-collision warning system and lane departure alerts will also help you practice safer driving. Opt for additional available features like a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross traffic alerts for even more support. Automatic high beams come standard on higher trim levels for clear views at night without endangering other drivers. At Mark Jacobson Toyota, you'll find a great selection of new Toyota vehicles. Get behind the wheel of a 2019 Toyota Highlander and take it for a test drive.

Whether you're visiting Durham, North Carolina, or you're a resident of the area, you'll enjoy some great options for fresh donuts and a hot cup of coffee. All within 15 minutes of Downtown Durham, these four spots all worth a visit or two. You might even find your new favorite breakfast place. more Rise Rise Southern Biscuits and Righteous Chicken have a Downtown Durham and Southpointe location, which are both open every day from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. This is a great spot to enjoy a full breakfast or lunch, or to stop by for a quick donut and coffee. Rise opened in 2012 and has been expanding ever since, thanks to its popularity. Try their Creme Brulee or Maple Bacon donuts or stick with the Classic Glazed; you can't go wrong. Don't miss out on a great cup of coffee while you're there. Rise proudly serves locally roasted coffee from Counter Culture Coffee. If you have room for more, check out their full menu of Southern classics like buttermilk fried chicken and biscuits and gravy. After a meal at Rise, you're sure to leave satisfied. Early Bird Donuts Open from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday and 7 a.m. until noon on Sundays, Early Bird Donuts gives visitors the chance to grab some early morning treats for themselves or to take to the office. Here you'll find donuts made fresh from scratch, hearty biscuits, and breakfast sandwiches. Donut options range from specialty to tried and true. Grab a dozen so you can try different flavors. Some of the local favorites are the Salted Caramel donut and the classic vanilla glazed donut. You can even choose your own donut filling and they'll fill it for you on the spot! Other options include apple fritters and chocolate iced long johns. Enjoy a hot cup of JOE Van Gogh drip coffee with your sweet treat. Carolina Glazed Donuts At Carolina Glazed Donuts on South Miami Boulevard, you can stop in for donuts and other fresh baked goods throughout the day, every day of the week. They open as early as 6 a.m. and don't close until 7:30 p.m. most days, giving you plenty of time to come by and have a treat. Grab some filling options like a bear claw or eclair, or keep it small and simple with a bundle of donut holes. Baker's Dozen Donuts Baker's Dozen Donuts is a family-owned donut shop in the Oak Grove part of Durham. This shop has been serving the community with warm, fresh donuts for many years. Here, you'll find a laid-back and welcoming atmosphere with a huge selection of flavors and types. Try a Cinnamon Crumb Cake donut or an apple-loaded apple fritter for a little crunch. You can stop in any day of the week from 5:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. What better way to start your morning than with a sweet treat from one of these local donut shops and a cup of Joe? Be sure to try them all and discover your favorite! Image via Pixabay

The 2019 Toyota Camry is a high-performance midsize car that offers a lot of features and accessories that earned it high marks with the U.S. News and World Report. Check out some of the features that make the Camry one of the top contenders among its class. more Performance The 2019 Camry offers a couple of different engine options for its different trim levels. The L, LE, and SE trim levels use a 2.5-liter, dual overhead cam, 16-valve, inline four-cylinder engine capable of 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The XSE and XLE trims have a 3.5-liter, dual overhead cam, 24-valve, V-6 engine that generates 301 horsepower with 267 pound-feet of torque. Both engines come with a hybrid option for increased output and added fuel economy. The Camry is a front-wheel-drive vehicle that has an eight-speed automatic transmission that is electronically controlled with a sequential shift mode. The suspension uses an independent MacPherson strut configuration in the front, and a multilink setup in the rear gives it excellent control through tight turns as well as a smooth ride over bumpy roads. As far as gas mileage goes, the Camry rates high in its class and is rated at 22-29 miles per gallon in the city and 32-41 miles on the highway depending on the engine and driving style. Exterior There is a sporty elegance to the Camry's look that comes from an elongated front end and low profile design. The Camry comes in 10 different colors ranging from vibrant reds and blues to matte earth tones. There are a lot of different accessories and accents for the exterior, including LED lights, a sporty grille design, heated mirrors, a power sunroof, High Solar Energy-Absorbing (HSEA) glass, and dual exhaust with chrome tips. Interior The interior of the Camry is quite spacious and passengers will have no problem stretching out their legs or avoid hitting their head on the ceiling. Even the backseat is roomy and can comfortably fit three adult passengers. The seats are leather-trimmed fabric on the lower trims with an upgradable option to full leather on the upper trims. Air conditioning comes standard on the Camry and can be upgraded to dual-zone climate control for the front driver and passenger seats. The Camry uses Toyota's Entune infotainment system that features a full-color touch screen that varies between 6 and 8 inches depending on the trim. There are a number of entertainment apps available through the Entune system, such as Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, Android Auto, and Pandora. There is also navigational software available through SiriusXM Traffic that utilizes GPS to track the car's current location as well as plan trips. Security functions can also be accessed through the infotainment system as well as checking up on the Camry's various systems. With its combination of power, performance, and comfort, the Camry is a great choice for anyone looking for their next midsize car. For more information on what the different trim levels have to offer, check out the models that are currently available at Mark Jacobson Toyota.

Take a look at our guide to jump-starting your Toyota and if you have any questions about the process, contact Mark Jacobson Toyota!

Durham, North Carolina, is a diverse community with cultural roots that make it a great place to eat all kinds of different food. Check out these great restaurants offering diverse fare and amazing ambiance. more Vin Rouge This French bistro takes customers on a virtual trip to southern France the minute they step through the door. They are one of Durham's most critically acclaimed restaurants receiving awards as well as having a guaranteed seat on best of lists from the local and national press. Inside, guests will find an elegant dining room replete with crystal glassware, fine china, and chandeliers, which combine with other elements to create the perfect ambiance for that special occasion. They offer service for intimate dinners for two, large group dinners, and will even host private parties. Guests have the choice of either dining indoors or out in their beautifully decorated courtyard garden. The menu can be best described as provincially French. Executive Chef Matt Kelly is constantly wowing guests with signature dishes as well as the standard fare of French cooking. Vin Rouge is open Thursday through Sunday for dinner service in addition to a brunch service on Sunday. Reservations can be made through their website or by giving them a call at 919-416-0466. Harvest 18 This American-style restaurant first opened its doors in 2014, and since that time has been offering chef-driven meals with over 80 percent of their ingredients locally sourced. They bill themselves as a unique neighborhood eatery and guests will feel at home with a relaxed atmosphere that betrays the 3,000 square feet of dining space. A full, oak decorated bar sits off to the side offering guests the opportunity to sip on a drink while waiting for their table or to enjoy a nightcap before catching a ride home. The bar includes a craft beer list from local breweries Fullsteam and Lonerider, along with a large list of wines and spirits. Harvest 18 accommodates guests every day of the week from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. For more information and to make reservations, they can be reached at 919-316-1818. The Refectory Cafe Priding itself on being the first green restaurant established in the Durham area, The Refectory Cafe offers healthy, locally sourced cuisine that caters to vegans, vegetarians, omnivores, and anyone else who likes to have a delicious meal that won't double their cholesterol count. In service of this goal, The Refectory has won an impressive 23 different culinary and environmental awards since they opened their doors in 2005. The Refectory has breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch menus offering a diverse number of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Some of the highlights of their expansive offerings include fresh garden salads, saffron seafood risotto, farm fresh quiche, and mouthwatering burgers. The Refectory Cafe is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., as well as having limited weekend hours. For more information, give them a call at 919-908-6798. As you can see, there are some great choices in restaurants to choose from in Durham that offer all sorts of food. The next time you're heading out for dinner, give one of these establishments a shot. Image via Pixabay

The 2019 Tacoma delivers some of the best off-roading chops in the compact truck segment. Add in the high payload capacity and a class-leading 4.5 out of five predicted reliability rating from J.D. Power, and the Tacoma tops our pick for one of the best values on the lot. Is the 2019 Toyota Tacoma right for you? Yes, it is. Let's discover why. more Built for Adventure If you plan to take your Tacoma on a trek in the wilderness, make sure you check out the TDR Off-Road trim. It provides a slew of adventuring gear such as skid plates, all-terrain tires mounted on alloy wheels, plus up to 9.4 inches of ground clearance. For the new model year, the Tacoma TRD Pro trim gets treated with even more backcountry features such as crawl control — thanks to the Tacoma's multi-terrain select system, active traction control, and an electronic locking rear differential. This truck is built to tackle the toughest terrain with an adventure-tuned suspension and Bilstein shock absorbers. Towing and Hauling Capabilities When it comes to towing toys and hauling payload, the 2019 Tacoma has you covered. It can carry a class-leading 1,620 pounds and pull a boat or trailer up to 6,800 pounds. Opt for the available 3.5-liter V6 under the hood of your new Tacoma if you plan to do a ton of towing. It produces 278 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. That's enough to get the job done with ease. Depending on which cab you pick, either the four passenger Access or the double cab that seats five, the Tacoma provides a 5- or 6-foot-1-inch bed. Toyota offers a variety of equipment available at each trim level including a locking, removable tailgate and tie-down cleats, while the inner bed wall is lined with a plastic composite to protect the finish. Nimble Handling The Tacoma touts a firm suspension and a smooth ride on or off the pavement. It's the ideal pick for weekend warriors that need a commuting vehicle during the week, and a rock crawling beast Friday through Sunday. Its responsive drivetrain stays composed on winding roads and delivers plenty of traction at highway speeds. Advanced Tech Interface The Tacoma comes standard with Toyota's intuitive Entune technology. This infotainment system features a 6.1- or optional 7-inch touch screen, Siri Eyes Free, three USB ports, and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. Get Scout GPS Link, wireless device charging, and a JBL sound system with both HD and satellite radio. The Tacoma is the only compact truck on the lot to offer a built-in GoPro mount. Use this system with your camera and record all your on- and off-road adventures. Toyota also outfitted every new Tacoma with its suite of active safety tech standard. It includes all the bells and whistles like forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and available rear cross-traffic alert. If you're on the lookout for a small truck with exceptional off-road abilities, the 2019 Tacoma is a great choice. Head over to Mark Jacobson Toyota for a test drive today. Image via Mark Jacobson Toyota