Vehicle: 2010 Audi A5 2.0T Quattro S-Tronic Quattro Sportback Price as tested: CDN$47500 (Estimated) Handling: Given B8 chassis’s dynamic capabilities already hard-to-fault in both A4 and Q5, Audi has taken it a step forward with the introduction of the A5 Sportback. The newfound B8 platform is not only much more balanced, thanks to moving the [...]

Vehicle: 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster A7 Price as tested: CDN$56498 Performance: When it comes to performance, you would never be disappointed with any Z. The same goes for its roadster version. VQ37VHR has always been known as the world’s best V6 engine, in Z’s guise, its no different than its coupe silbing. With 24-valve V6 [...]

Vehicle: 2010 Mercedes E350 4-Matic sedan with Premium Pkg Price as tested: CDN$66800 Mileage since picked up: 3500km Regular maintenance: 0 Unscheduled repairs: 0 While Mercedes has its highly praised direct injection technology for its V6 powerplant in Europe, which is called CGI BlueEfficiency, Mercedes Canada refused to bring this very technology in for warranty [...]

When it comes to building traditional station wagon with utility in mind, those who are seeking to buy European would definitely have Volvo in mind. That’s similar to what you have to buy a Subaru when buying a traditional Japanese station wagon with AWD. Everything else from Volvo’s 245, 745 and 765 have always been [...]

Vehicle: 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo with Sport Pkg and Comfort Plus Pkg Price as tested: CDN$138175 Performance: When Porsche came out with the original Cayenne 7 years ago, it has quickly become the gold standard which others have to be judge when it comes to building a proper SUV. Is Porsche able to up-the-ante with [...]

Vehicle: 2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan Sport M6 with High Tech and 4-wheel Active Steer Pkgs Price as tested: CDN$59128 Performance: One of the major reasons for considering an Infiniti G is power. With G37 replaces G35, Infiniti decided to up this ante with more horsepower and torque. The latest guise is motivated by possibly the [...]

Vehicle: 2010 Mazda3 Sport GT Price as tested: CDN$25195 Mileage since picked up: 3500km Regular maintenance: 0 Unscheduled repairs: 0 Without a doubt, Mazda3 has one of the best interiors in this competitve segment. Both the use of materials and fit-and-finish are world-class. All the switchgears have high-quality tactical feel in its operation. Its also [...]

Vehicle: 2010 Lincoln MKT AWD Ecoboost Price as tested: CDN$54980 Performance: Last year we were really enjoyed the driving experience of the Ford Flex. The Lincoln MKT is loosely based on the same platform. Whether it will come out as a purely Flex with lipstick or is it really a Lincoln flagship? We will find [...]

Vehicle: 2010 Audi A3 2.0TDI Premium with S-Line Pkg and Bi-Xenon headlights Price as tested: CDN$42450 There are cars that are sporty to drive, there are cars that are practical and there are cars that are efficiency. The answer to all of those questions is probably the subject to this test. Audi’s latest A3, the [...]

Vehicle: 2010 Volvo V50 2.0 Powershift Price as tested: CDN$32500 If you are regular Directshift reader, you probably know we are huge fans of sportswagon and double clutch gearbox. Given Volvo is the master of producing practical sportswagon, with the infusion of their new double clutch gearbox called Powershift. What is the end result? Ever [...]

Vehicle: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited Price as tested: CDN$28999 Performance: The previous Sonata was good enough to earn Directshift’s coverted Car of the Year award. Is the new Sonata any better than the impressive outgoing car? We will find out after this review. Unlike the previous Sonata, the latest iteration is no longer available with [...]

Vehicle: 2011 Mercedes E550 Cabriolet with Premium Package Price as tested: CDN$80700 Performance: Mercedes has just about every E-Class for everybody. We have reviewed the E-Class sedan and coupe, there will be a wagon and the highlight of this test drive. The E-Class Cabriolet. The Cabriolet, as with its coupe silibing, is available with both [...]

Vehicle: 2010 Mini One with Steptronic Price as tested: CDN$21500 (Estimated) If you thought Canadian-only Cooper Classic is already basic enough, wait tlll you try the Mini One. It all begins with the detuned 98 hp and 103 lb/ft of torque, from the same 1.6 liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine as the Cooper Classic. While the [...]

Vehicle: 2009 VW Scirocco 1.4TSI with DSG and DCC Price as tested: CDN$28600 (Estimated) Handling: When VW introduced the original Scirocco back in 1974, it was all about driving fun. After 20 decades, VW reintroduced Scirocco with the same philosophy as its ancestor. What is it about? Its aout driving fun, fun and even more [...]

Vehicle: 2010 Lexus HS250h with Ultra Premium Pkg Price as tested: CDN$48750 Sometimes you really can’t polish a turd no matter which badge you put on the front. That’s exactly the story when Lexus tried to market their HS250h. It all begins with a decent enough European Avensis chassis, then give it an econobox styling [...]

Vehicle: 2010 Mercedes C250 CGI BlueEfficiency Sport Price as tested: CDN$42800 (Estimated) While Mercedes’s 2.5 liter V6 is a smooth operator, it never delivers when it comes to power. Its even worse when mated with 4-Matic AWD system in latest C250 guise. For 2010, Mercedes replaces this unremarkable V6 with a 1.8 liter 4-cylinder, coupled [...]

Vehicle: 2010 Hyundal Elantra GL Sport Automatic Price as tested: CDN$22699 With all the attention surrouning Genesis, Genesis Coupe and Elantra Touring these days. Most would probably forgot about Hyundai’s bread-and-butter car, Elantra sedan. Although the Elantra sedan doesn’t share platform with the Touring, both are excellent grocery getters in their own ways. Elantra’s 2.0 [...]