Vehicle: 2010 Mercedes E350 4-Matic sedan with Premium Pkg Price as tested: CDN$66800 Mileage since picked up: 7100km Regular maintenance: 0 Unscheduled repairs: 1 No matter how Mercedes claims their build quality and reliability have improved over the years. Nothing can beaten the true ownership experience. We have encountered the first problem with our long-term [...]
Vehicle: 2010 VW Passat R36 Wagon Price as tested: CDN$52000 Performance: What “R” stands for in VW is exactly like what “S” stands for in Audi, its the performance version of the more sedate silibing. The 3.6 liter DOHC 24-valve VR6 has been messaged to a potent 300 horses and, most importantly, 300 lb/ft of [...]
Vehicle: 2010 Honda CR-V EX-L Price as tested: CDN$34990 Performance: Unlike so many of its rivals, Honda only put 4-cylinder in their latest CR-V. As everyone would expect from Honda, this particular 4 banger is a very good one. Pumping out 180 ponies from Honda’s well-renowed 2.4 liter SOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder with well-known i-VTEC variable [...]
Vehicle: 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado Luxury edition Price as tested: CDN$55700 (Estimated) Performance: In North America, we got Lexus GX570 which is a luxury-laden SUV. In the rest of the world, however, its called Land Cruiser Prado which the GX is heavily based on. What makes the Prado different than the GX570 is the [...]
Vehicle: 2011 Mazda2 GS Price as tested: CDN$22005 Performance: Over the last few years, Mazda have got homerun after homerun. Everything from Mazda3 to Mazda6 to MX-5 Miata have enjoyed rave reviews after rave reviews. Subject to this review is the 2011 Mazda2. Is this Mazda2 destined to be another homerun for Mazda? We will [...]
Vehicle: 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS V6 with Navigation and Entertainment Pkg Price as tested: CDN$40198 Performance: While the Outlander has 2 powerhouses, our tester comes with the uplevel V6 with 6-speed Sportronic. If you can live with a noisy racket that takes the Outlander from rest to 100km/h, thanks to Mitsubishi’s annoying CVT, then the [...]
Vehicle: 2010 Bentley Continental Supersport Convertible Price as tested: CDN$322430 Performance: If you thought power corrupts anything, then this Supersport really owns anything on the road. The DOHC 6.0 liter W12 48-valve twin-turbo delivers 621 horses and 591 lb/ft of torque with variable valve timing, which is loosely based on the VW Phaeton derived drivetrain, [...]
Vehicle: 2010 Ford Kuga 2.5T Price as tested: CDN$37000 (Estimated) Performance: Given Kuga is a performance-oriented crossover to begin with, it doesn’t come as a surprise that our tester comes with one performance-oriented engine. This Volvo-sourced 2.5 liter straight-5 20-valve turbocharged engine comes with 220hp and 240 lb/ft of torque. Given this application works like [...]
Vehicle: 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic Price as tested: CDN$250000 (Estimated) Performance: The Sport Classic is powered by a reworked version of Porsche’s 3.8 liter DOHC 24-valve flat 6 with all the latest Porsche engineering like VarioCam and DFI direct fuel injection. The messaged version of this Porsche flat 6 has a wonderful dose of [...]
Vehicle: Porsche Panamera V6 with heated front seats Price as tested: CDN$89835 The Panamera has proved itself to be a runaway success, after launching the high-powered versions. In order to appeal to those consumers who are more willing to take the looks and cachet of a Porsche, Zufferhensen has launched a V6 for 2011. With [...]
Vehicle: 2011 Honda CR-Z Price as tested: CDN$23490 Performance: Honda CR-X used to stand for pocket rocket in Japanese laugage, is the latest CR-Z live up to its reputation? We will find out after this test drive. Unlike its forebears which powered by gasoline engine only, the CRZ uses Honda’s hybrid system. The CR-Z uses [...]
Vehicle: 2010 Suzuki Alto 1.0 with 4-speed automatic Price as tested: CDN$15000 (Estimated) Performance: For such a lightweight supermini with a tiny engine, one would expect the Alto to be rough and crude. While you won’t expect the same kind of refinement as in a Lexus, the Alto’s engine is surprisingly refined given its tiny [...]
Comments Off
Vehicle: 2010 Cadillac CTS-4 3.6 AWD Wagon Price as tested: CDN$63930 Performance: The American wagon is coming back! The subject to this test drive is Cadillac’s foray into an arena that has been dominated by German for years. The Cadillac CTS wagon. The CTS wagon has the same powertrains as its sedan silibing, sans the [...]
Vehicle: 2010 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro S-Tronic Avant Price as tested: CDN$43200 (Estimated) This is the classic example of what we North American are always getting the shorter end of the stick, when it comes to gearbox choice. Although we got DSG in both A3 and S4, our A4 has to opt for the 6-speed [...]
Vehicle: 2010 Acura TSX V6 Auto w/Tech Pkg Price as tested: CDN$42790 Performance: Acura promises lots of things with the new TSX V6. Does it deliver? We will find out after this test drive. Acura decided to slot a TL-derived 3.5 liter DOHC V6 instead of using the originally planned diesel version in the uplevel [...]
Vehicle: 2010 VW Scirocco 2.0TSI Price as tested: CDN$37600 (Estimated) If there is one car VW really needs to bring it to Canada, Scirocco has to be the top candidate. It all begins with the 210hp 2.0 liter TSI engine that comes with both variable valve timing and VW’s advanced direct fuel injection technology called [...]