First Drives
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First Drives
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: A Smaller CLS
It’s not uncommon for people to fall under the spell of a luxury car and then fall out of love just as quickly once they see the price, especially once a few options are added. Unfortunately, in many cases, buyers have to resign themselves to a less luxurious – read … Full story
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First Drives
2014 Subaru Forester: Subaru Cracks The SUV Mainstream
When making any type of change to a vehicle that counts for close to a quarter of your total sales in Canada - a country where your market share is among the strongest - it's only natural to proceed very, very carefully. The 2014 Subaru Forester, which has seen its … Full story
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First Drives
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT: Track-Driving The Monster
Drive the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT on the Formula 1 track in Austin, Texas? Profane the Circuit of the America's with a 5,000 lb, four-wheel drive SUV from a brand better known for building unstoppable off-road rigs than tarmac-tearing terrors? When I was given the chance to do exactly … Full story
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First Drives
2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Mid-cycle updates
In the automobile industry – and especially in the high-end market – vehicles tend to be refreshed every five or six years. But half-way through the cycle, manufacturers like to update models to keep them competitive. This usually involves some esthetic enhancements and a few technical improvements. At Mercedes, the … Full story
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First Drives
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel: Near-Luxury Efficiency
There’s a simple reason why Canadians buy so many compact cars: with gasoline so expensive compared to the SUV-hungry United States it only makes practical sense to purchase a vehicle that is as efficient as possible. In most cases, this means a small sedan or hatchback with an equally modest … Full story
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First Drives
2013 Buick Encore: Small, but fully a Buick
When the financial crisis struck at the end of the last decade, GM management decided to keep the Buick Division while shutting down Pontiac and Saturn. It was a move that surprised many, to say the least. They reasoned that Buick enjoyed tremendous popularity in China, the world’s biggest automobile … Full story
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First Drives
2014 Porsche Cayman: Precise, balanced and dynamic
The Cayman occupies a unique spot in the Porsche “constellation.” Even though it shares several features with the Boxster, don’t jump to the conclusion that it’s a coupe version of the roadster. The truth of the matter is that it is more performance-oriented with a more rigid chassis and higher … Full story
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First Drives
2014 Kia Sorento: Korean-style luxury
When Kia launched the new-generation Forte, the Korean automaker also introduced the "new” Sorento. Since this model was completely overhauled in 2011, this year Kia kept the esthetic changes to a minimum (or so it would seem at first glance). Much like the Forte, the exterior changes are nothing out … Full story
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First Drives
2013 Toyota Rav4: Shooting for Gold
Like all compact SUVs, the RAV4 continues to see its sales climb. Indeed, this market segment grows by more than 20% every year. That said, I must admit that I was surprised to find out that the RAV4 is Toyota’s second most popular vehicle (their top-seller is the Corolla). It’s … Full story
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First Drives
2014 Kia Forte: It has what it takes
The Kia Forte was unveiled in 2009 as a 2010 model to replace the lifeless Spectra, but it never achieved the success that Kia was hoping for. In 2012, for example, it was outdone by its cousin/rival, the Hyundai Elantra. Indeed, the Elantra sold 50,950 units in Canada while the … Full story