There’s something very special about discreteness. Certainly you can announce your arrival with sporty styling, a loud colour Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press and even louder exhaust note,…

2014 Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI Highline Road Test Review

There's something very special about discreteness. Certainly you can announce your arrival with sporty styling, a loud colour and even louder exhaust note, but life just might go a whole lot smoother if you hardly make a sound as your metallic beige Jetta Wagon TDI rolls up to your destination. Instead of bold, brash machismo, it says intelligent independent thinking. A person who is comfortable with who they are and isn't trying to attract attention. I suppose that's what I love best about this car. Well, that, its fabulous fuel economy and massive cargo hold.

My girlfriend and I were choosing between two vehicles while the 2014 Jetta Wagon TDI was in the family fleet, the "little" VeeDub and the brand new Jeep Cherokee crossover SUV. We both really like the Cherokee, especially its premium-level luxury and extensive features in top-line Limited 4x4 trim, but we had a job to do requiring as much cargo space as possible. I asked her which one we should take, and she immediately Read Full Story
We reported on the upcoming 2015 Honda HR-V at the beginning of this month, only knowing its name and that it would closely   resemble the Urban SUV Concept that showed up at the Detroit auto show…

All new 2015 Honda HR-V subcompact crossover revealed

We reported on the upcoming 2015 Honda HR-V at the beginning of this month, only knowing its name and that it would closely resemble the Urban SUV Concept that showed up at the Detroit auto show in January. Now, the New York auto show behind us, we can see exactly what Honda has in store for North American small SUV buyers later this year.

The HR-V is based on Honda's smallest North American model, the Fit subcompact hatchback. Like the Fit, it's diminutive in size and therefore capable of fitting into those all-important "Small Car" parking spots, while even more critical will use less fuel than Honda's larger CR-V and Pilot models. We won't know fuel economy estimates until later this year when it goes on sale, but we do know that the HR-V is 228 mm shorter, 25 mm narrower, and 25 mm lower than Honda's ever-popular CR-V, and weighs about 308 kilos less.

This will put it up against a raft of new subcompact crossovers such as the Buick Encore, Chevrolet Trax, Mini Countryman, Read Full Story
This is a base model? Shocking! Soft-touch dash top, door uppers, armrests and even a soft-touch lower dash tray that has to Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press be the handiest idea I’ve…

2014 Toyota Highlander LE AWD Road Test Review

This is a base model? Shocking! Soft-touch dash top, door uppers, armrests and even a soft-touch lower dash tray that has to be the handiest idea I've ever seen for holding smartphones and other devices, complete with a covered hole for slotting power cords through. Cloth-wrapped A-pillars, like a Lexus, done in a similar high-quality woven fabric, an attractive well-featured infotainment system, a polyurethane steering wheel that actually feels nice, great looking patterned seat fabric (chocolate brown in my tester) and extremely comfortable front seats, nice mesh fabric door inserts and door armrests, a massive roll-top centre console bin that even allows use of the padded armrests when it's opened up, nice looking satin silver-painted and chrome accents, swooping brown plastic trim on the doors that matches another swoop that wraps around the centre stack, automatic headlamps, integrated LED signals on the exterior mirror caps. The Highlander has always been an excellent mid-size crossover Read Full Story
While the Nissan Murano might only represent about four percent of Nissan’s total North American sales, as the company’s flagship   crossover it’s still an important vehicle for…

Nissan reveals sleek new 2015 Murano

While the Nissan Murano might only represent about four percent of Nissan's total North American sales, as the company's flagship crossover it's still an important vehicle for the brand.

When it was first introduced in 2003 the Murano's smoothly elegant styling was a radical departure from the typical boxy SUV, and Nissan didn't stray too far from the formula when it introduced the updated second-generation version for 2009.

Now Nissan has unveiled the third-generation 2015 Murano, and while it still clearly follows the Murano formula it also represents a far more thorough redesign than its predecessor, with an emphasis on efficiency and lightness of form.

Outwardly the 2015 Murano is slightly lower, wider and longer than previous Muranos, enhancing the aerodynamics without compromising the desired crossover height and stance. The styling stays close to the Resonance Concept that Nissan showed in Detroit in 2013, picking up on several cues from the company's Read Full Story
Among all the reveals at the recent New York auto show, the smallest vehicle that made the biggest splash was the 2015 Jeep   Renegade. The Renegade is Jeep’s new subcompact off-roader, a vehicle…

2015 Jeep Renegade is a real 4×4 in the subcompact class

Among all the reveals at the recent New York auto show, the smallest vehicle that made the biggest splash was the 2015 Jeep Renegade. The Renegade is Jeep's new subcompact off-roader, a vehicle based on the Fiat 500X platform and aimed at the fast-growing small SUV segment where it will compete with the likes of the Buick Encore, Chevrolet Trax, Mini Countryman, Nissan Juke and even the larger Subaru XV Crosstrek. Reflecting its European roots, the Renegade was first shown to the public at the Geneva auto show in March, with New York marking its North American debut.

The Renegade marks Jeep's first foray into subcompact territory, and while its city-sized proportions make it perfect for zipping around town, it also boasts genuinely capable off-road ability for when adventure beckons: The Renegade will be available with either front-wheel drive or a choice of two intelligent four-wheel drive systems developed using technology borrowed from the new Jeep Cherokee. Jeep Active Drive Read Full Story
General Motors hasn’t done everything right in its phoenix-like rise from the ashes, but the Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan is   one of them. The automaker has sold more than 2.5 million worldwide…

Mildly updated 2015 Chevy Cruze revealed in New York

General Motors hasn't done everything right in its phoenix-like rise from the ashes, but the Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan is one of them. The automaker has sold more than 2.5 million worldwide since the car was launched in 2010, and now it's time for an update.

The Cruze's mid-cycle refresh is one of those "if you own one you might notice it but no one else will" overhauls, the face of LS, LT, RS and LTZ models getting a mildly revised augmentation that includes a newly angled version of Chevy's bisected grille with the Chevy bowtie still planted dead centre on its body-colour strikethrough, similarly fashioned to the recently updated mid-size Malibu, while a new lower fascia with chrome-trimmed fog lamps (in top trims) sits just below. Additionally, LT and LTZ trims get LED running lights positioned below the headlamps for an upscale look, although so many new vehicles tack LEDs onto their headlight clusters they're starting to become too commonplace to be special. The Cruze's Read Full Story
Now that every model within Land Rover’s Range Rover brand is fully updated and receiving accolades from industry professionals 2014 Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept (Photo: Land Rover) and customers…

Land Rover gives green light to Discovery Sport for 2015

Now that every model within Land Rover's Range Rover brand is fully updated and receiving accolades from industry professionals and customers alike, it's time to refocus on the namesake brand that made everything possible. The current crop of Land Rover branded vehicles includes the compact five-occupant LR2 (Freelander in its home market and others) and mid- to full-size seven-occupant LR4 (Discovery in most other markets), but the Indian-owned British automaker has plans to expand.

Land Rover recently unveiled its Discovery Vision concept at the New York International Auto Show, and now the company has announced that the first SUV to utilize the prototype's styling details will be a completely new model dubbed Discovery Sport. In a press release, Land Rover states that the new Discovery Sport will go on sale in 2015, and therefore we can assume it will be a 2016 model.

While other manufacturers like Nissan have tamed some of their off-road capable SUVs such as the Read Full Story
If you’ve been perusing reviews about Chrysler Group vehicles lately (the new name is Fiat Chrysler Automobile by the way), Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press you’ve probably seen…

2014 Dodge Durango Citadel Road Test Review

If you've been perusing reviews about Chrysler Group vehicles lately (the new name is Fiat Chrysler Automobile by the way), you've probably seen a lot of well-worn comments such as "premium-level detailing" and "why bother paying more for a luxury brand?" And while tired old verbiage can make for mind-numbing reading, there's a reason for all the cliché statements.

From top-line models like Chrysler's 300 and Jeep's Grand Cherokee right down to entry-level runabouts like the new Dodge Dart and Fiat's tiny little 500, there's something special about these brands and the vehicles they build, and the same goes for the full-size 2014 Dodge Durango. From the exterior styling with its new lower fascia, unique grille treatments for each trim level, and LED DRLs in front, and 192 LED-enhanced signature "racetrack" style full-width taillight cluster and covered trailer hitch in back, to the design, fit, finish and chosen materials of the interior, you won't feel like you're downgrading Read Full Story