Tests and Features

The new 2011 Jetta was unveiled in New York City’s Times Square in front of an interested crowd and plenty of automobile journalists from all over the world. It was a coming out party of sorts for this model. Until now, the Jetta was derived from the Golf, but after …

While compact SUVs are extremely popular in Europe, our southern neighbours seem to be buying them with less enthusiasm. In our neck of the woods, these vehicles are increasingly in demand. Over the years, most compact SUVs have increased in size, but five of them have stayed true to their …

It has been said that every man is an island. Nowhere is that more true than at the gym. As any gymgoer can tell you, there are few situations more awkward than that of being forced to exchange grunted syllables between panting breaths with a complete stranger. That said, go …

Wolfsburg, Germany – Launched almost 30 years ago to replace a Beetle that was fading fast, back then the Golf was a simple car powered by a none-too-powerful engine and equipment that was on par with that of economy cars at the time. However, it revolutionized the design world with …

Take 30 young drivers between the ages of 16 to 26 carefully chosen from several thousand hopefuls. Put them behind the wheel of race cars rigorously and identically adjusted by the manufacturer. Preferably choose one of the cleanest and most frugal compact sedans out there. Then set up a solid …

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Thus begins one of English literature’s better known works; Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, and thus begins my experience in a pair of 2009 Jetta TDIs. For you see, although there may be little that technically separated …

The technology used to retract a hardtop into the trunk is far from new. In fact, in the 1930s, Peugeot introduced the Eclipse, a model that could do just that. Then, in the fifties, Ford brought this technology back, which Mercedes-Benz has done more recently. But these days, it takes …

Look no further. The modern compact sports car was invented by Volkswagen more than thirty years ago by a handful of engineers who were determined to create a sports version of the first Golf. After several very impressive prototypes with wide tires and modified suspensions, it was decided that the …

Volkswagen has been offering a minivan since last fall, which is a little surprising considering that this market is disappearing before our eyes. But when the decision was made in 2005, little did we know what problems were on the way in 2009... For its new minivan, Volkswagen just looked …

Select third. Trail brake ever so slightly into the turn in. Momentarily dial in some opposite lock and enjoy the rotation through the apex before introducing the throttle pedal’s backside to the floormat to exit cleanly, taking just a short glance in the rearview mirror to appreciate the glorious streaks …