First Drives

One of the elementary laws of physics states that energy can never be destroyed, only transformed. It is with this in mind that I lament the passing of the Audi A3 hatchback – slated to eventually return to North America in plug-in hybrid form at some future date – while …

When Porsche released the Cayenne in 2003, a lot of people thought the German brand’s end was nigh. How wrong they were! Now Porsche is releasing another new model: the Macan, a luxury compact SUV. In Canada, the Macan will initially be offered in two trim levels, the S and …

Most automakers would kill to have a full-size SUV that sells in huge numbers. General Motors is blessed with four: the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, and the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. It's no stretch to say that these trucks are amongst the most important showroom fillers in the GM …

In the race to get ahead in the premium segment, carmakers have to compete at every level and in every market niche. While the idea of luxury compact crossovers seemed like a very novel one just a few years ago, we now have some serious newcomers entering the fray to …

As a car whose parents come from different backgrounds, the MINI Cooper has come a long way since its reincarnation in 2002. Its ancestor, the first MINI Cooper, was a pure Brit, but the second vehicle of the same name became increasingly German after the brand was purchased by BMW—which …

The Nissan Rogue has been the best-selling vehicle for Nissan Canada in the recent past, but its overall sales numbers were not close to those of the segment-leading Honda CR-V and Toyota Rav4. That was then, this is now. With the new 2014 Rogue, Nissan has high hopes that it …

Honda is very proud of the Civic’s success on the Canadian market. Not only is this compact revered for its overall value, it’s Canada’s top-selling vehicle for the 16th consecutive year. It goes without saying that Honda is doing whatever it can to hold onto this title. When the new …

Carmel, California. When it first hit the market 12 long years ago, the Toyota Highlander struck me as a happy medium between a real SUV and a wagon. But since then, that role has been assigned to the Venza. In a way, it was also a toned-down version of the …

The 2015 Subaru WRX proves that growing up doesn’t have to mean turning your back on your roots. Long the first choice of Canadian sport compact enthusiasts attracted by its turbocharged, all-wheel drive performance and affordable pricing, the Subaru WRX has managed to stay competitive in a rapidly escalating arms …

The new Cadillac CTS is all grown up. Since its launch in 2002, this sedan has been targeting clients interested in the BMW 3 and 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C- and E-Class. Last year’s arrival of the new compact ATS, which is attacking luxury compacts (BMW 3 Series and …