First Drives

When we went to Germany to try the new S-Class AMG, Mercedes-Benz decided to double our fun by taking us to the Düsseldorf region so that we could try out the new 2011 smart, which the manufacturer says represents a new generation. While it may be true that the European …

When General Motors underwent restructuring last year, many believed that the Buick division would be sacrificed. Not only did it have few models to offer, but its sales were less-than-stellar compared to the Pontiac division. Indeed, people were surprised when Pontiac was laid to rest while Buick was given the …

For years, the Toyota Avalon has been considered a fad car appealing only to those seeking comfort and reliability. Something of an overpriced Camry. Facing modest sales figures – fewer than 500 units a year in Canada – Toyota management decided to massage a little youth into this big sedan, …

The Jeep Grand Cherokee arrived on the market in 1993, and since then it has built an enviable reputation as a tireless adventurer and champion of comfort. At that time, and it wasn’t very long ago, it was also known for its mechanical breakdowns and chronic gas guzzling... The Jeep …

It’s not easy to compete in the entry-level luxury sedan segment with vehicles like the BMW 3 Series, the Audi A4, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, not to mention Lexus’ IS and Infiniti’s G. But that’s precisely what the Volvo S60 has set out to accomplish, and I must say that the …

The new 2011 Jetta was unveiled in New York City’s Times Square in front of an interested crowd and plenty of automobile journalists from all over the world. It was a coming out party of sorts for this model. Until now, the Jetta was derived from the Golf, but after …

Since this model’s world premiere launch at the 2007 Geneva International Auto Show, journalists and Mazda dealers alike were asking the manufacturer why this lovely subcompact wasn’t offered on the American and Canadian markets. Mazda repeatedly used a lack of production capacity and even a potentially limited market as excuses …

Sir Winston Churchill would undoubtedly roll over in his grave to learn that Rolls-Royce and Bentley, the noblest of British luxury car brands, now belong to German manufacturers. The former is one of the BMW Group’s brands, just like another British icon, the Mini. The latter is part of the …

The Audi TT is not only one of the most elegant sports cars on the market, it’s also the most popular in the world in the category. In fact, Audi says that sales of the TT surpass that of all its competitors – but that doesn’t mean that they’re going …

In 2009, Jaguar sold 77 units of the XJ in Canada. Otherwise put, it was a miserable year. And things weren’t much better south of the border, when you look at per capita sales. But Jaguar’s luck should change for the better with the arrival of the new XJ, which …