3-day long-term test drive: 2009 Volvo C30 2.4i
Price as tested: CDN$32360
Total mileage through the test: 900km
When Volvo launched C30 a year ago, we were underwhelmed with its dynamic abilities even with the uplevel T5 form. We had a chance to put a less powerful 2.4i through the paces during a long-term test drive. Have it [...]

Vehicle: 2008 Porsche Cayman S Porsche Design Edition 1
Price as tested: CDN$89100
Performance: The Cayman, riding on the same platform as its Boxster roadster silibing, shares the same mid-ship layout. The S, however, differs from its lesser 2.7 liter silibing with its more powerful 3.4 liter flat-6 powertrain. Its not only uses DOHC as with all [...]

Vehicle: 2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo X Sport Sedan
Price as tested: CDN$57095
Performance: Saab’s introduction of the Turbo X is supposed to be a reincarnation to the legendary 900 Turbo SPG. The SPG has always been the standard of how a sports sedan with Swedish flair should be build. Its a blast to drive without losing the [...]

Vehicle: 2009 Nissan Maxima SV Sport with Xtronic CVT
Price as tested: CDN$39950
Performance: Nissan claims Maxima has got back its “4 door sports car” mojo with its latest offering. Any good sports sedan has to begin with a proper engine. The new Maxima is no exception. It all begins with Nissan’s legendary VQ engine series. With [...]

Vehicle: 2009 Honda Pilot Touring
Price as tested: CDN$49920
Performance: The Pilot, as always, is powered by a sole powertrain. This is Honda’s 3.5 liter SOHC V6 24-valve with i-VTEC. Its good for 250 hp and 253 lb/ft of torque. Consider Pilot is a heavy vehicle, weighting in at close to 2100 lb for our loaded Touring [...]

Vehicle: 2009 Ford Flex Limited AWD with Vista Roof, voice-activated navigation system and monopaint application
Price as tested: CDN$44674
Performance: Given the stylish Flex is based on the same underpinnings as Taurus, it doesn’t come as a surprise that it shares the same powertrain. It is the same Duratec 35, as its designation indicated. Its the 3.5 [...]

Vehicle: 2008 Scion XB
Price as tested: US$16370
Performance: The XB is powered by the most proven engine in the entire Toyota powertrain profile. This is the same 2.4 liter 16-valve 4-cylinder DOHC with VVT-i variable valve timing. In XB’s case, it has 158 hp and 162 lb/ft of torque of driver’s disposal. Despite of XB’s compact [...]

5-day long-term test drive: 2008 Infiniti EX35
Price as tested: CDN$50650
Total mileage through the test: 1100km
Compact premium crossover is a the fastest growing segment in the industry despite of rising fuel prices. The latest addition is the Infiniti EX35. We have a chance to put EX through the paces to see whether its practical and efficient [...]

Vehicle: 2009 Pontiac G8 GT with 1SD Package
Price as tested: CDN$41830
Performance: There are 3 powertrains currently available in the G8. The 256hp 3.6 liter VVT that shares with the exceptional Cadillac CTS. On the uplevel GT and GXP, however, both use GM’s tried-and-true pushrod V8 to push the heavy sheetmetal around. On our GT tester, [...]