Vehicle: 2009 Acura CSX Tech
Price as tested: CDN$31385
Unlike its forebear, the EL. The Canadian-only Acura CSX never sold well, even Honda Canada has agreed it isn’t as a marketing succeed as all the EL preceding it.
Dynamically speaking, CSX is a very delightful car to drive. Our tester is the mid-level Tech package with manual gearbox. [...]
Vehicle: 2010 Toyota Corolla CE automatic transmission with enhanced convenience pkg
Price as tested: CDN$19200
Toyota Corolla has always been known for its quality use of materials, fit-and-finish, inexpensive to own and buy. While the latest generation remains inexpensive to buy, Toyota has cut corners drastically. When we first drove the current iteration about a year ago, [...]
Vehicle: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ with 3.0 V6 and power sunroof
Price as tested: CDN$39565
Performance: The Equinox is powered by 2 sets of engines. The base version comes with a 2.4 liter DOHC 16-valve Ecotec with 182hp and 172 lb/ft of torque. Although this little 4-cylinder mill comes with both direct fuel injection and variable valve [...]
Vehicle: 2009 VW Jetta Wagon 2.0TDI Highline with 6-speed DSG, rear side airbags, ESP and Sirius Satelite radio
Price as tested: CDN$33035
Mileage since picked up: 500km
Regular maintenance: 0
Unscheduled repairs: 0
VW just announced a voluntary recall for all cars equipped with DSG transmission. Ever since we picked up our long-term Jetta wagon TDI with this gearbox, we [...]
Vehicle: 2009 Audi TT-S Roadster
Price as tested: CDN$61900
Performance: Unlike regular TT with S-Line sports package, the TT-S received a modified version of Audi’s award-winning 2.0 liter turbocharged DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine, with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing. The upgrades of all the cams, exhaust and ECU have upgraded the base powertrain’s 200 [...]
Vehicle: 2009 VW Jetta Wagon 2.0TDI Highline with 6-speed DSG, rear side airbags, ESP and Sirius Satelite radio
Price as tested: CDN$33035
Mileage since picked up: 50km
Regular maintenance: 0
Unscheduled repairs: 0
Since VW introduced the Jetta wagon TDI, we have been impressed with its combination of performance, efficiency, practicality and driving experience. What makes the Jetta wagon stands [...]
All good things have to go. After 12 years and half million units sold, the final 9-5 finally rolled off the assembly line in Trollhattan, Sweden.
When Saab introduced the current 9-5 back in 1997, it was hailed as Sweden’s contender against benchmark mid-size luxury sedans dominated by Germans. Even though its based on previous [...]
Vehicle: 2009 BMW Z4 SDrive 35i with 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, sports pkg, executive pkg, Exclusive Ivory leather and servotronic steering
Price as tested: CDN$72400
Performance: The Z4, just like the 3-Series, which is loosely based on. Got both normally aspirated DOHC 3.0 liter straight-6 or twin-turbo straight 6 depending on whether you opt for 3.0 or 3.5i. [...]
Vehcle: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS with Inferno Orange Trim Pkg, Rally Sport Pkg and sunroof
Price as tested: CDN$45545
Performance: As with any American muscle cars, the new Camaro is available with both a V6 and V8. The subject of our tester, of course, is the SS with General’s very well-proven 6.2 liter pushrod V8. This V8 [...]
Vehicle: 2010 Toyota Prius with Premium Pkg w/Solar Panels
Price as tested: CDN$31100
Performance: Instead of using a 1.5 liter as with the previous Prius, the latest version comes with a 1.8 liter 16-valve VVT-i. On the gasoline side, the Prius has 98hp and 105 lb/ft of torque. On the other hand, Prius’s Hybrid Synergy Drive has [...]