After more than a decade with the 1st-gen Ridgeline, Honda delivers a totally new Pilot-based version for 2017. Today on we go in-depth critiquing its styling and potential sales while lauding its innovation.…

2017 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition Road Test Review

When you think of Honda, do trucks immediately come to mind? Such might have been the case back in 1963 when founder Soichiro Honda expanded beyond motorcycles to build the company's first-ever four-wheeled vehicle, a tiny mini-truck dubbed T360, but most don't conjure up images of pickup trucks or anything similar when they hear the brand's household name now.

In most markets throughout the world Honda is predominately recognized for its bestselling Civic compact car, ultra-popular CR-V compact SUV, Accord mid-size sedan, and more recently its bestselling (in Canada and the U.S.) HR-V subcompact SUV (congrats to Honda on this latest feat). Here in North America we typically opt for large trucks from the big three U.S. brands when it comes time to haul, with only a relative handful of buyers choosing an imported full-size pickup. This pattern changes in the mid-size (previously compact) truck market, however, a segment the imports introduced way back in the '60s and still dominate. Read Full Story
Most financial analysts aren’t predicting a rosy short-term future for Canada’s economy despite what PM Trudeau, FM Morneau and the rest of the Liberal establishment tell us, so will automakers start…

Kia releases photos of new Picanto city car

The Picanto has long been a great looking little city car that sells very well in global markets. Canadian world travelers that happen to love cars may have noticed them roaming the streets in Europe, Asia, or most anywhere else, although diehard automotive fans will likely be aware of the car's existence. Given its popularity elsewhere and our burgeoning small car market, wouldn't it make sense for Kia, a growing albeit still less popular brand, to offer it here?

Kia has just released photos of its third-generation Picanto, a stylish little runabout that boasts a 15-mm longer wheelbase than its predecessor at 2,400 mm, and wheels that have been pushed farther out towards each corner for "a more confident appearance," says Kia. Along with more sculpted bodywork the new Picanto's exterior colour palette will be even more vibrant than previous generations, with 11 bright paint options designed to make passersby take notice.

The Picanto's redesigned interior will include Read Full Story
Honda’s automobile division is almost young enough to fall into gen-X, but despite its relative youth the innovative Japanese company has managed to build 100 million vehicles globally since it began…

Honda achieves 100-million global automobile production milestone

Considering that many of today's largest automakers are more than a century old, it's amazing to contemplate everything Honda has achieved within the car industry in just 53 years. In fact, on December 22, 2016, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it had surpassed the 100-million automobile production milestone.

"Thanks to the support from our customers around the world," said Takahiro Hachigo, President, Chief Executive Officer and Representative Director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. "Honda was able to deliver 100 million automobiles. The passion of our company founder who wanted to help people in their daily lives and pursue the joy of driving has been inherited by Honda associates as the original starting point of Honda automobile manufacturing. Striving to meet the next 100 million customers, Honda will continue delivering increasingly attractive products."

Honda first began assembling automobiles at its Saitama Factory in 1963, its initial mass-produced model being Read Full Story
Some premium buyers are brand motivated while others want all the performance and luxury at a more modest price, this latter group well provided for by Acura’s TLX. The D-segment compact goes up against…

2017 Acura TLX SH-AWD Tech A-Spec Road Test Review

Let's begin by agreeing that it's highly unlikely a competitor to Germany's big three sport sedans, which include BMW's 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz' C-Class and Audi's A4, will outpace any on Canada's sales charts for a very long time. The best and brightest from Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Cadillac, Volvo, and Jaguar have tried over and over, and while each has made headway none has unseated even one of these popular performers so far. BMW, Mercedes and Audi own this market, just like they did when rival Saab was a serious player and will continue to once Alfa Romeo fully reenters our market. Therefore we really should award prizes for the best of the rest.

In this respect, Acura has long held position at the top of the "others" category, first with its TL and then by adding the smaller TSX, plus more recently with their single TLX offering. Comparing D-segment sport sedan sales alone (which is difficult to do as BMW includes its Gran Turismo hatchback and Touring wagon models in the Read Full Story
Want a Civic but need more functionality? Honda’s been listening and the reborn Civic Hatchback is here, complete with five doors and more eye-catching style than anything else in its class. Available…

2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Road Test Review

Take a look at the all-new 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback, and if you're old enough, you might fondly flashback to the 1970s, when the Civic CVCC first debuted in North America. It was a tiny affair -- dependable transportation for four normal sized adults, and chock full of the latest fuel saving technology that saw the Civic earn 48 mpg on the highway (yes Canada used miles per gallon back then, albeit with smaller imperial gallons).

Given the fact that pre-gasoline crisis of the 1973, gasoline was the equivalent of about 12 cents per litre. Yes, 12 cents. Due to the 1973 oil crisis, consumer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles was high, and leaded fuel was being phased out due to environmental and public health concerns. During this transition, the Civic had a trump card over other vehicles like Ford's Pinto and Chevrolet's Vega. The super efficient "stratified charge" CVCC engine debuted in 1975 and did not require a catalytic converter or unleaded fuel to meet Environmental Protection Read Full Story