Test Drives

Test Drives2019 Volvo XC40: Icing on the Cake4.0/5
The subcompact luxury SUV segment reminds me of carrot cake. Nobody is reinventing anything, but rather recycling an old idea presented in a better-looking shape. If you’re going to sell carrot cake, you’d better have a solid recipe if you plan on outselling your competition. Volvo, with its XC40, has …
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Test Drives2019 Lincoln MKC: Fingers Crossed3.0/5
It would be unfair to call the 2019 Lincoln MKC a bad purchase, because it isn’t. On its own, Lincoln’s compact luxury SUV pushes many of the right buttons as far as what consumers are seeking in this segment. The problem is that it’s submerged in a sea of excellent …
Test Drives2018 Kia Optima: Beauty and Brains4.0/5
Times are tough for midsize sedans, as they used to be bread-and-butter vehicles for every mainstream manufacturer doing business in North America. With the current shift to SUVs, passenger cars are losing ground, and yet, they’ve never been so good. A midsize sedan offers space, comfort, refinement and fuel economy, …
Test Drives2018 Mazda3: Taking a Bow4.0/5
The current generation of the Mazda3, which was introduced for the 2014 model year, has been good for the Japanese automaker. Although it didn’t sell quite as well than the first-gen model (2004-2008), it consistently ranked among the best-selling cars in Canada, at a time when consumers were shifting towards …
Test Drives2018 Hyundai Kona: Like an Air Freshener4.0/5
The subcompact SUV segment has been around for a while now, and new models are being added on the market with every passing year. Consumers are trading in their cars and scooping up these little vehicles, which are admittedly more car-like than truck-like. In addition to popular or long-standing players …
Test Drives2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: The Next Logical Step3.5/5
To be honest, we don’t know why manufacturers took so long to introduce a plug-in hybrid SUV in Canada. Stuffing such a powertrain in a car is obviously a good idea, but the fuel savings aren’t all that high, as today’s sedans and hatchbacks are already very efficient to begin …
Test Drives2018 Honda Clarity: Squeezed Between a Prime and a Volt4.0/5
If you count yourself amongst the individuals who criticize electric and hybrid vehicles for looking like odd spacecraft contraptions for the road, then you might not like this car. It’s no secret that the 2018 Honda Clarity isn’t a normal-looking automobile. But while the late sixties sci-fi styling may not …
Test Drives2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: The Precursor3.5/5
In North America, the midsize, three-row SUV segment clobbered the minivan market after the minivan annihilated the big station wagons that use to rule the roads come family vacation time. These SUVs offer room for up to eight passengers, or five people and their luggage, they can haul tow a …
Test Drives2018 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400: The Excellent Compromise3.5/5
We’re looking for a powerful and luxurious compact sedan? Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are probably the first brands that pop into our collective minds, but there are many more to choose from, such as Japanese brands Acura, Infiniti and Lexus, Swedish brand Volvo, Italian brand Alfa Romeo, Korean brand Genesis …
Test Drives2019 Nissan 370Z NISMO: Endangered Species3.5/5
Twenty years from now, or even sooner, autonomous and electric vehicles will take up a significant portion of our roadways, and people will start losing interest in driving. No one likes being stuck in traffic, and as long as humans drive cars and cause accidents by distraction or lack of …
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