First Drives

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First Drives2025 Lexus LX 700h: More Capable, Less Flashy4.0/5
The Lexus LX is turning 30 this year. Remember, it arrived in Canada before the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator as the Japanese luxury brand’s first SUV. While not as popular as some of its flashier rivals, it continues to stand tall as the flagship of the Lexus lineup, outselling …
First Drives2025 Toyota 4Runner: The Long-Awaited Revolution4.0/5
San Diego, California— Fifteen years is an eternity in today’s auto industry. Yet that’s how long it took for the sixth-generation Toyota 4Runner to arrive. Granted, the reboot of this venerable off-roader was not a priority for the maker of the RAV4 , Camry and other consumer favourites, especially considering …
First Drives2024 Jeep Wagoneer S: A Solid Step Forward3.5/5
Jeep , much like parent company Stellantis, is struggling mightily. Sales fell 20.4 percent in 2024—the sixth consecutive yearly decrease. But get this: the iconic SUV brand plans to invest $3.2 billion in a bid to reposition its vehicle lineup, address build quality issues and ramp up marketing efforts to …
First Drives2025 Land Rover Defender OCTA: We Drove on the Moon4.0/5
The Defender is the best-selling member of the JLR family, and the one that has been steadily gaining in popularity for the past five years—a rare occurrence in the auto industry, where models normally lose ground as they age. Why? Because Land Rover has successfully created a distinctive-looking and uniquely …
First Drives2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid: Loads of Tech, a Few Compromises4.0/5
In 2022, Kia took a shot at introducing something new to the dying minivan segment where customers were (and still are) fleeing towards three-row SUVs. The gamble seems to have paid off, because for the 2025 model year, the Korean brand has significantly revamped its Carnival minivan, with not only …
First Drives2025 Volkswagen Taos: Employee of the Year3.5/5
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year, you know that things aren't going well at Volkswagen. Sales are down in most markets, profits are slim, staff cuts are drastic, and all this while the automaker must negotiate with the general challenges affecting the industry globally. Paradoxically, …
First Drives2025 Nissan Murano: Better Late Than Never3.5/5
The all-new, fourth-generation 2025 Nissan Murano replaces its ten-year-old predecessor, but does anybody care? Remember, the Japanese two-row midsize crossover originally burst onto the scene in 2003 with a bold, revolutionary design and package. Many competitors have emerged since then including the Ford Edge , which was discontinued earlier this …
First Drives2025 Nissan Armada: Also-Ran Tries to Play Like a Champ4.0/5
The Nissan Armada has always been more successful in the United States than in Canada, proportionally speaking. To be clear, large SUVs are popular north of the border, too, but mostly those from Ford and General Motors. With just 874 units sold last year (compared with 21,184 in the U.S.), …
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