Mazda continues to refine its top-selling vehicle

 Back in ’01, I had a Mazda Protégé. It was one of my faves that year among entry-level subcompacts, having plenty of pep, sharpish styling and a decent interior that seemed a step up from entry level. Then along came the Mazda3. It instantly made my car look frumpy, and

Canada’s most popular car turns up the heat with Si Coupe

 All photos by Neil Moore It’s hard to believe Honda Civic is now in its tenth generation, evolving radically since coming to Canada in 1973 as a “cheap and cheerful” three- and five-door econobox. It soon grew both in size and sophistication, and quickly became no longer just an entry

Subaru Outback an SUV and crossover alternative

 Photos by Neil Moore / Feature image: Tall wagons like the Subaru Outback are an alternative to larger and taller SUVs and crossovers. Especially for those who prefer car-like driving dynamics. Since the extinction of the lumbering Country Squires and Roadmasters of yesteryear, I’ve developed a fondness for wagons. The European

Acura RDX Scores High Marks for Practicality and Performance

 Photos by Neil Moore All RDX models get heated and power adjustable front seats – even the base unit. This top-tier Elite tester also has perforated leather and seat ventilation. Compact crossovers continue to be hot sellers in Canada – including those aimed at the well-heeled. Like Acura RDX. It

Elantra Sport Adds ‘Fun Factor’ to Practical Family Ride

 Canadians still buy a lot of compact cars. I won’t bore you with a dry discussion on the rise of compact SUVs and crossovers to top spot in our marketplace, but suffice to say that many homes continue to have a Civic, Corolla – or Elantra – parked in the

Maxima Makeover Delivers a True Flagship Sedan

 Photos by Neil Moore. Nissan calls it their “four-door sportscar” and it was an unusual choice for a mid-winter test. Some kind of all-wheel-drive vehicle is typically on my calendar this time of year, but after having it shod with a good set of winter rubber, I had high hopes

Infiniti QX30: hot hatch, sport wagon or crossover?

 The Infiniti website calls its QX30 a “premium active crossover.” I’m not quite sure what that means, as this compact auto could just as easily be labelled ‘hot hatch’ or ‘sport wagon.’ At least the creative department is being, well, ‘creative.’ But no matter what you call it, the QX30

Sleek Infiniti Q60 Comes in Three Flavours – From Mild to Wild

 This week’s tester turned no shortage of heads among friends, colleagues and passersby, but there’s one critic in particular who’s even harder to impress. My 14-year-old son. Adam is a car geek, and his familiarity with the premium autos from Europe, Asia and North America often parked in our driveway

Often Overlooked, Mazda6 a Worthy Contender

 “Best-kept secret” may best describe one of the more striking choices in the intermediate segment. Family rides like Camry, Accord and Fusion are ubiquitous, but the Mazda6, with its curvy KODO—Soul of Motion design language, is a less common sight. Just over 1,700 had been sold in Canada by the

Big Volvo XC90 Sips Gas and Goes Fast

 My son is a car geek. And at fourteen years old, he may not be old enough to drive, but that hasn’t stopped him from dominating any and all automotive discussions around the dinner table. These usually involve muscle cars and tuners, and anything that handles well and goes fast.

Sonata Hybrids Prove Big Cars Can be Thrifty

 I’m parsimonious and proud. Don’t get me wrong, I love asphalt-ripping V8 engines and twin-turbo V6’s – as long as I’m not feeding them each week. When it comes to pain tolerance, I have precious little at the pump and am happiest when donating less of my paycheque to our

Tahoe Blends Strength with Civility

 The sedans and sport cutes scuttling below could be a light snack for the behemoth I was now driving. Even larger vehicles – like the transit bus beside me – no longer seemed quite as imposing. I could nearly look passengers in the eye. The three-row, seven-passenger Chevy Tahoe, unlike

Cars Are the Stars at This Year’s TestFest

 All photos except for Genesis on track and Mercedes/Subaru on off-road course were shot by Neil Moore. It’s late October and the local racing season is kaput. But despite the chill air, falling leaves and serene country roads on route to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, there’s a full tarmac here.

Nissan Titan Trucks Square Off With the Domestics

 CHARLEVOIX, PQ: There are few rides as complex as today's pickup truck. And fewer still on which buyers have heaped so many expectations. It was once the humble go-to vehicle for farmers, contractors and outdoor folk who needed something that could take a beating while hauling their hay bales, stacks of

Turbo Four Gives Elantra Big Boost in Power

 So far I have avoided Pokémon GO. Sure I’ve been guilty of other geekiness – just ask my friends. But the notion of wandering the neighbourhood like a lost tourist to find a bunch of virtual characters, isn’t particularly riveting. So when Hyundai’s PR team said we’d be doing something

Thrifty Prius Now Wears Eye-catching Style

 Since coming here in 2000, Toyota Prius has pretty much defined the hybrid segment. Others soon followed – like Honda Insight and the less quirky Civic Hybrid – but it was this five-door liftback that became the sweetheart of conscientious sandal-wearing folk hoping to save our polar bears. But the

Living large in Toyota’s brawniest ride

 All photos by Neil Moore. A little less than full-size and with an engine that almost could, the first Tundra didn’t quite measure up in terms of bulk and brawn. This pickup was by no means a 90-pound weakling, but brand-loyal truck buyers just didn’t see it as a serious

Volvo V60 is a Wagon for the Driving Enthusiast

 It appears we’ve forgotten how to travel lightly. I have nothing against SUVs and crossovers, but with nearly two-thirds of today’s vehicle purchases being some form of truck, it begs the question: do most of us really need this much vehicle? I’m not sure how many hockey bags today’s smallish

Santa Fe XL Continues to Excel in Family Practicality

 “Not too shabby,” remarked a fellow car nut and good friend as we gave the Santa Fe XL’s exterior a quick once-over before peering into its open back hatch. Both rows of seating were folded flat – the 50/50 split bench in rear, and the two captain’s chairs in the

Elantra Continues to Surprise with Premium Content

 All Photos by Neil Moore.  Far too often, auto scribes have pointed out how “Hyundai has raised the bar yet again,” making reference to its best-forgotten nameplates from the 1980’s: Pony, the unstellar Stellar and the Excel that didn’t. Yeah, we’ve all heard this before, and it’s unfair to keep

Auto Writer Hones Green Driving Skills on 2016 EcoRun

 The 2016 EcoRun wrapped up with closing speeches at Ottawa City Hall. Twenty-seven vehicles, minus my EV, made the journey from Toronto to the nation’s capital. (photo courtesy AJAC) Closing speeches under the hot sun at Ottawa City Hall may sound enticing, but thanks to the whims of lithium-ion batteries,