Test Drives

Automotive manufacturer marketing teams are funny things. So often neglecting some of the most interesting vehicles in their own lineup (see: the Saturn Sky) in favour of more staid, regular performers, they toil away convincing you to buy a vehicle that you're probably already well aware of, while relative unknowns …

In North America, “bigger is better” is a way of living. People buy the biggest house they can get, plus the biggest boat, the biggest truck and the biggest dog without thinking twice about it. Big companies, for their part, have understood this mentality, which explains why we see so …

It starts with a jolt; the result of a simple twist of the wrist. Six litre’s worth of exploding petroleum product echoes down the exhaust with a hearty burbling bass line as the massive momentum of the V8’s rotating assembly carries itself through the motor mounts, carrying up into the …

Ford’s new F-150 promises a new level of convenience with a tailgate mounted step. The 2009 Dodge Ram has storage boxes in the bedrails. The Chevy Silverado comes with an optional DVD player. The Toyota Tundra’s tailgate drops with a delicate hiss; damped by a pair of gas struts. Mazda’s …

Remember the stir the Cayenne caused when it was introduced in 2003? Many wondered why Porsche would bother hopping on the SUV bandwagon, given their reputation for sports cars. But business is business, with money trumping ideals more often than not, much to the dismay of purists. Nonetheless, the Cayenne …

There are innumerable ideas on how to quell the coming fuel crisis; some feel we need to explore new hydrogen technologies, some think gas/electric hybrids are the way to go, and some realize that automotive fuel consumption is a proverbial drop in an oily bucket as compared to international shipping, …

When GM began introducing their new flotilla of mid-size SUVs, the manner in which they began to release the oh-so-similar looking lineup confused a great many critics. With the GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook rolled out as the first two to break cover, with the Buick Enclave coming shortly after, …

There are a few hallowed names in the world of automotive tuning. BMW’s M division, Mercedes’ AMG, and Audi’s Quattro may perhaps be the three best known; lusted after for their uninhibited performance and impressive cachet. But for historical value, none can hold a candle to the name affixed to …

Fresh out of a Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid that left me greatly disappointed due to the inefficiency of its system, I stepped right into the new Yukon Hybrid 2-mode. I knew that this utility vehicle’s integrated technology was much more impressive, but the proof is in the pudding. Let’s end the …

Those in charge at Toyota are putting a great deal of hope on their latest model, the Venza. We have already published a first look at this vehicle on this site by Sylvain Raymond. I had the opportunity to take this crossover for a round trip between Montréal and Rivière-du-Loup …