Tests and Features

Unlike their full-size counterparts, midsize pickups are selling for huge bucks and it’s hard to predict when manufacturers will start offering substantial discounts. For that to happen, demand will need to weaken, but there’s a whole lot of people going crazy for these versatile machines right about now. Heated or …

Victoria, B.C.— Hyundai Canada this week invited a few members of the automotive media from coast to coast to test drive the second generation of the battery-powered Kona . The small crossover from South Korea quickly earned praise from Canadians when it launched in 2017 (as a 2018 model). Quirky …

There’s a big shift in the auto industry right now. Brands renowned for their reliability and performance, such as Honda and Toyota, are slow to deliver serious products and are making serious mistakes in the process, while brands that have been disdained for decades, such as Hyundai and Kia, are …

The larger-than-life Land Rover Defender 130 is a pretty unique specimen that inspires curiosity and admiration. My adventure-ready tester finished in a matte black vinyl wrap caught the attention of many passersby every time it was parked in my driveway, and some of them even did a walkaround to get …

Aside from a few hiccups with battery recalls and other minor snags, Chevrolet did well with its small Bolt EV electric car. Affordable, efficient and supported by an extensive dealer network, it has been a sensible electric vehicle choice for a while now. Alas, as utility vehicles are more profitable …

Hyundai may just have found the next great thing in winter tire technology. Together with sister company Kia , it has developed tire-integrated “snow chains” that provide extra grip and promise to make winter driving safer. Essentially, shape memory alloy modules are located inside the wheel and tire. When the …

There are now just four contenders in what we call the small, urban-oriented crossover segment—the Kia Soul , Chevrolet Trax , Hyundai Venue and Nissan Kicks . The first one is even losing its zero-emission variant, which won’t return for 2024. That’s too bad, because the Soul EV offered up …

Sedona, Arizona— The new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is the third vehicle wearing the Japanese brand’s off-road label following the Outback and Forester . Those two have enjoyed a fair amount of success so far, so it made perfect sense to give the same treatment to the best-selling Subaru of …

The Ram 1500 is the second best-selling truck in Canada and due for major changes for the 2025 model year, including fresh styling, a new Tungsten luxury model and revised powertrain options. The current generation dates back to 2019 and there’s not really anything new for 2024. The Ram 1500 …

The Ford F-150 Lightning was the first full-size electric pickup to hit the Canadian market, but competition is about to heat up with models like the Rivian R1T, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Ram 1500 REV and of course the Tesla Cybertruck ready to take over. We still don’t …