First Drives

How did this giant toolbox on wheels ever transform into a fashion icon? Why is it that some aspects of the legendary SUV are considered lovely while the same on a modern Toyota Corolla would be unacceptable? And most importantly, how do you explain that people keep scrambling to dealers …

SPARTANBURG, South Carolina – Although the new BMW X7 is new, it already seems as though it’s always been part of the German luxury carmaker’s expansive product portfolio. This, in no way, means that the X7 is past due, or lacking in modern features. In fact, the new 2019 BMW …

MONT-TREMBLANT, Quebec – The German brands should start worrying now. A little. To keep the Japanese brands from taking control of the luxury compact-car segment, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have been redefining what customers want and need in such a vehicle. Today, those buyers want sportiness, style, comfort and prestige …

DENVER, Colorado – Ford’s been teasing us for quite some time with the idea of a diesel-powered F-150. It’ finally among us, and while its engine is more French than American, at last, Ford will sell you a half-ton work truck with decent fuel economy. We sampled the rig in …

NURBURGRING, Germany – The 911 GT3 RS cars sit in the pits of the Nurburgring Formula One track, bright coloured wild beasts waiting under an overcast sky. I get in to one of them and start adjusting the seat, steering wheel and mirrors before I buckle up. Everything is right …

SPLIT, Croatia – If owning a luxury vehicle wasn't in the cards before, there's a new 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class compact offering that's aimed at disrupting the mindset of traditional mainstream buyers who've longed for a taste of luxury, while simultaneously striking at the heart of a younger generation. Recently, mainstream …

TOFINO, British Columbia – These days, if you’re not a German carmaker and are trying to sell a midsize sports sedan, times could be hard for your business. While the current market is filled with great alternatives to the BMWs, Audis and Mercedes-Benzes of this world, their sales numbers aren’t …

With the demise of the Mazda5, the Japanese brand has only three cars left in its Canadian portfolio: the MX-5, Mazda3 and Mazda6. The writing was on the wall, as car sales continue to nosedive in favour of SUVs. The Mazda6, the brand’s flagship, is in a segment that has …

RALEIGH, North Carolina – The Jetta is an important car for Volkswagen, especially in Canada where it was their bread-and-butter model for a long time. Since it first launched in 1978, more than 600,000 units have been sold in our market. Of course, the brand’s SUVs are now the hot …

OTTAWA, Ontario – Two hundred and forty two kilometres. That’s how much range you’ll get from the 2018 Nissan LEAF with its new 40-kWh battery. That number seems to trigger many reactions whenever we talk about the car. Whether it is on our social media pages or directly in person …