Tests and Features

Spotlight on2016 Volkswagen Passat: We’re Driving It This Week
The German brand’s midsize sedan gets a significant update for the 2016 model year, including fresh styling, a new interior and an infotainment system with plenty of connectivity features. The Car Guide will be heading to Vermont to try out the 2016 Volkswagen Passat which, at launch, will offer two …
Test Drives2015 Volkswagen Golf R: Multidisciplinary Medallist4.0/5
If you’re looking for a Volkswagen sports car in the $30,000 range, look no further than the GTI. This enhanced version of the Golf is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that develops 210 horsepower that's sent to the front wheels. Both fun and practical, it’s considered the champion of …
First DrivesFirst Drive: 2016 Volkswagen Golf R
The Volkswagen Golf R didn't exactly take the market by storm when it first came to Canada in 2012. It wasn't for a lack of effort on behalf of the hottest of Volkswagen hatches wasn't impressive—it put 256 horsepower and 243 lb.-ft. of torque down to all four wheels—but rather …
First DrivesFirst Drive: 2016 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSI
Amid the diesel dilemma currently plaguing the Volkswagen Group, I recently learned a valuable lesson: The German automaker still builds fuel efficient gas-powered cars. Like the 2016 Jetta, a car that sheds the 2.0-litre four-cylinder synonymous with the Jetta nameplate for more than 20 years in favour of a smaller, …
Spotlight onThe 1.4 TSI And Volkswagen Golf R: We’re Driving Them This Week
The Car Guide is heading to Ottawa for an all-German program: First, we’ll be checking out Volkswagen’s new entry-level engine, a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo. It’s replacing the old 2-litre that powered most of the automaker’s vehicles in the early 2000s. The Beetle, Golf and Jetta all used this venerable mill …
First DrivesFirst Drive: 2015 VW Beetle Classic
When Volkswagen launch the “new” Beetle back in 1997, it was undeniably cute. With its bubble shape and bubbly personality to match, the relaunched Bug captured the hearts of buyers the world over. But, after 14 years of production, the Beetle grew tired, and designers were faced with a conundrum: …
Test Drives2015 Volkswagen CC: Outside The Curve3.5/5
Not quite ready to park a full-on family sedan in the driveway, yet need a rear seat that can handle the day-to-day demands of shuttling kids & co? The 2015 Volkswagen CC continues to offer a style-focused alternative to the standard four-door answer to the commuting question. Based on the …
Special Events2015 Volkswagen Touareg: Crossing The Sierra Nevada
They say that what makes a drive memorable is not so much the vehicle you’re driving as the route you take. Many manufacturers offer diverse programs that afford their clients unique experiences. What would you say to a ride across the Moroccan desert at the wheel of a Touareg, a …
Comparative Tests2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI: How Many Pedals In Your Sports Car?
The arguments in favour of manual transmissions are becoming less and less compelling— robotic gearboxes shift faster than even the most skilful human ever could, conventional automatics are smooth in all situations and they're often more fuel efficient since they tend to keep engine speeds very low. The only remaining …
First Drives2015 Volkwagen Golf Sportwagon: The SUV Antidote4.0/5
Have you ever looked at the Volkswagen Golf hatchback and thought 'it's simply not practical enough?' Probably not - but just in case, you'll be happy to learn that the redesigned Golf has gained an all-new wagon model that pushes its hauling possibilities past those of most compact SUVs. The …
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