Mercedes’ midsize Metris Cargo Van fits neatly between compact and full-size competitors, and is economically powered by a 208-hp turbo four, 7-speed auto with paddles, and RWD. While also available…

2017 Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo Van Road Test Review

Although the Metris just arrived on North American soil last year as a 2016 model, it's been available in Europe and other global markets since 1996 and is already in its third generation. Across the pond it's referred to as Vito, but it's the identical mid-size van sold here and therefore, with more than 20 years under its beltline, has a great deal more experience than Canadian commercial buyers might realize.

Step up to its comfortable driver's seat and grab hold of its sportily shaped three-spoke steering wheel and Mercedes' seasoned approach to the commercial van market begins to sink in, the level of refinement offered to small business owners and fleet drivers alike certainly good for morale. Really, I've driven most cargo vans currently available and the Metris interior goes above and beyond what's expected, with some of the same premium detailing Mercedes is known for in its revered consumer products, such as fabric-wrapped roof pillars and satin metallic finished gauge Read Full Story
How does Bentley make its Continental GT V8 S as quick as its W12-powered GT? Check out today’s review for all the details, this beautiful two-door hardtop boasting plenty of styling and performance…

2016 Bentley Continental GT V8 S Road Test Review

The Continental GT remains a shockingly attractive car. Let's consider for a moment that it was introduced in 2003. My first stint behind the wheel was in autumn 2004, when Bentley introduced the mildly updated 2005 model at a press event in Seattle. To me it was the most beautiful car available at the time, and the best combination of performance and luxury I'd ever had the pleasure to drive.

Oh how a dozen years can fly by. Then again experience can add to the relevance and readability of a story, and I've enjoyed a lot of fabulous Continental GTs since then. Bentley redesigned the GT in 2011, and while its basic shape stayed mostly the same its details made for a thoroughly refreshing update. A lighter weight GT V8 was introduced with the remake, sporting a twin-turbocharged 3,993cc powerplant capable of 500 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque that resulted in sprints to 100km/h of just 4.8 seconds, and a 309 km/h (192 mph) top speed.

As important to Bentley was a Read Full Story
It’s a big year for Infiniti, its new 2017 QX30 subcompact SUV finally giving the brand the entry model it’s always needed. With much borrowed from strategic partner Mercedes-Benz, the QX30 sits atop…

2017 Infiniti QX30 Road Test Review

Platform sharing amongst automobile manufacturers has taken place for years. Oftentimes, this sharing makes good fiscal sense within corporations, with General Motors being a great example. If you are fifty-ish or older, then you remember the 1970s Chevy Monte Carlo, Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Regal, and Oldsmobile Cutlass sharing trim and mechanicals. GM mustered multiple cars from one platform.

Today, Ford and Lincoln share parts amongst their sedans and SUVs, as does Lexus with Toyota providing much of the mechanical goods. Other brands also share mechanicals.  For example, VW Group's vaunted W12 engine has been used in Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley models. Why build something new when you can keep the bean counters happy by dipping into the corporate parts bin?

But what is not always known is manufacturers share technology with other companies, even those they would normally consider to be the "enemy," or a major competitor.

Recently, Toyota restyled Read Full Story
There’s a new Chevy Malibu in town and it’s a real looker. Today on CarCostCanada we review it in top-line Premier trim, complete with a 250-hp 2.0L turbo four, 8-speed auto, 19-inch alloys, proximity…

2016 Chevrolet Malibu Premier Road Test Review

After more than a year with the latest Chevrolet Malibu in our midst and the 2017s starting to arrive, how has the latest redesign fared? If we're merely talking numbers it's been a major success, with the 9,953 units sold to Canadian consumers over the first 10 months of 2016 already surpassing the 2015 calendar year's total of 9,203.

This means that it's also moved up in popularity, surging ahead of Chrysler's 200 and Hyundai's Sonata which it trailed last year, although it's important to note that buyers have punished these two models so far this year, with the "Imported from Detroit" Chryco freefalling from 10,961 units in 2015 to a mere 6,387 up until October 31, 2016 (the ghostly date reference of this near dead model seems fitting), whereas the once ultra-hot South Korean did its best impression of the tumbling Won during the 1997 Asian financial crisis by deep-diving from 13,497 deliveries last year to 8,519 year-to-date 2016 sales.

It's not always easy to understand Read Full Story