Vehicle Type Bad-weather confidence, a commanding driving position, comfort, flexibility, and space to spare. Mid-size crossover History/Description In 2013, Toyota began selling a heavily revised version of their popular Highlander crossover. With improved looks, safety, fuel efficiency, and overall value, the overhaul helped this hot-

Vehicle Type The Maxima seems to strike an ideal balance of handling and comfort that satisfies on long highway drives and in winding backroads alike. Sport sedan History/Description Nissan’s Maxima entered its latest generation after decades of affordable sports sedan popularity, and hit Canadian roads in 2015 as a larger, more high-

Trucks sure have come a long way over the years. I can recall my Dad’s dismay at the idea that his new truck had heated seats back in 1998. “Who the hell needs heated seats in a truck?” He scoffed. Interesting post-script to that story is that he loved the new feature so much and used it so often that he actually developed a heat rash. Funny how we

Automotive manufacturers have mastered the art of crafting driving experiences to launch new models to the media, specifically picking locations or situations that will dazzle and delight any driver – any lucky enough to enter this dream world. Two years ago, Audi turned the driving media loose in the current-generation RS 5 Coupe on a blitz run

JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming – We’d rolled into Jackson – Wyoming’s answer to Aspen Colorado – in an enormous heavy-duty pickup, and despite being all hat and no cattle we’d felt right at home in this rustic western playground for the astronomically wealthy. Jumping into a mid-size crossover threw ice-cold water on our swagger, and pulled the plug on the

MALIBU, CA – A chance encounter in Germany over 10 years ago to drive the Europe-only Audi RS 6 Avant power wagon had me smitten: it offered the practicality of an A6 wagon, the power of a Lamborghini-derived R8, with looks and handling nicely balanced between those two extremes. From then on, it was my answer when folks would ask what I’d pick, if

Canadian drivers want all-wheel drive. Some also like manual transmissions for the added control and connection that shifting your own gears adds to the driving experience. But what if you want all-wheel drive and a manual transmission? Well, there aren't many choices left on that list, and most of the choices that exist are very similar models fro

Having driven my fair share of Chrysler Pacifica minivans the last few years, this particular 2020 mid-level Touring tester came with two items I hadn’t yet seen in the family-friendly people-mover: seating for eight, and an as-tested price under $50,000. With an updated and more SUV-like Pacifica set to arrive for the 2021 model year, which will

Every now and then, automakers transform consumer vehicles to commercial ones. (In Europe, for example, it’s possible to buy a windowless “van” version of the Ford Fiesta subcompact hatchback.) Occasionally, commercial vehicles are converted for consumer use, as is the case of Ford Transit Connect with three rows of seats inside. Although it’s pr

Vehicle Type Compact sedan/hatchback History/Description Just one year after a refresh, an all-new Chevrolet Cruze hit the market for 2016. A competitor to models like the Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Kia Forte, Dodge Dart, and Nissan Sentra, the Cruze was a smaller economy-oriented car that was big on safety features, connectivity, and selection

The Maserati brand has seen its share of media appearances over the years, always being associated with wealth, style – and often a bit of misbehaviour. Rock-and-roll star Joe Walsh of Eagles fame said his Maserati would do 185 mph, and the brand’s cars have made on-screen cameos in Godfather III, Miami Vice, Entourage , and, of course, in the d

When I first drove the redesigned Hyundai Sonata I came away largely impressed, griping only about its mediocre handling and relative lack of power. A year after its launch the lineup has expanded, addressing both of those complaints in the process with the 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line . A sportier Sonata isn’t going to reverse the trend of decl

Overshadowed by the upcoming range-topping Wagoneer, the new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L makes the brand’s return to the three-row SUV segment in more than a decade. Given the immense popularity of sport utilities of all sizes, it’s something of a surprise that it’s taken Jeep so long to launch a larger model. This extended version of the Grand

Maybe it’s because I’m another year older and a few pounds heavier, but I’m sad to report that the idea of driving something low and lean every day is beginning to lose its lustre. Oh, sure, I still love the sports car experience as much as the next gearhead, but not day in and day out. That includes spectacular sport compact hatchbacks – cars th

Lexus’s IS sedan might be getting on in years, but it’s still a looker. And now it’s a real goer, too, with the brand dropping a 472-hp V8 under its bulging hood. Just like that, the 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance  has been thrust into legitimate super-sedan territory, but don’t expect AMG-like brutish antics. While the rear-wheel-drive I