Is there a more livable subcompact SUV than the HR-V? We certainly don’t know of one, which is likely why it’s Canada’s bestseller by a long shot. Today we take a closer look at the popular HR-V…

2017 Honda HR-V EX-L Navi Road Test

Two years ago Honda hadn't even staked their claim in the burgeoning subcompact SUV category, but after its first seven months of availability the HR-V shot right up to the top of its class in the Canadian market with 8,959 sales compared to the next-best Chevy Trax that had 12 months to achieve its 8,156-unit final tally.

What about 2016? With a full year under its belt the little Honda SUV became the only segment challenger to break five figures with final sales of 12,371 units compared to 9,354 deliveries from the next-bestselling Mazda CX-3. Things aren't letting up this year either, with a new six-month high of 8,219 HR-Vs down Canadian roads at the close of Q2 2017, almost doubling the second-place CX-3's 4,873-unit total and third-ranked Buick Encore's 4,221 sales tally, while deliveries of the Mitsubishi RVR, Chevrolet Trax, Jeep Renegade, Nissan Juke, Fiat 500X and Mini Countryman trailed far behind at 3,443, 3,202, 2,968, 1,370, 786, and 411 units respectively (the Read Full Story
Acura has smartly added its advanced 3-motor hybrid system to its popular MDX for 2017, and the result is a quicker and more efficient 7-occupant luxury SUV that doesn’t cost much more than the conventionally…

2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid Road Test

Here's a no brainer. Acura finally figured out a way to make its highly advanced "Sport Hybrid" drivetrain relevant by incorporating it within a vehicle people will actually buy in quantities large enough that it might even make a profit.

I know such a volume-oriented business model seems logical at first thought, but considering how many electrified cars lose money, some sense can be made of minimizing production-as of Q2 2017 Acura had sold just 37 RLX Sport Hybrid sedans in Canada and 555 in the U.S. (actually the U.S. number was a mix of top-line Sport Hybrids and front-drive base RLX models that we don't get here anymore, so the Japanese luxury brand is minimizing hybrid losses even better than the numbers suggest).

The new 2017 MDX Sport Hybrid will likely be a winner, however, especially considering Acura Canada sold 5,425 normally aspirated versions last year and the brand's U.S. division purveyed 55,495. Even better, as of Q2 2017 the Canadian numbers were Read Full Story
Subaru’s 2018 WRX gets a mid-cycle update that’s really worth investigating, as it enhances styling with plenty of new blackened details such as a new grille and front fascia plus new sets of 17-…

2018 Subaru WRX Sport-tech RS Road Test

With an entirely new fifth-generation Impreza introduced just last year, Subaru couldn't exactly let its rally-inspired WRX flagship venture into the 2018 model year without any attention at all. Fortunately they've gone all out and given this four-door sports car a thorough mid-cycle update that renews styling, improves interior refinement, adds features, and ups performance.

I think WRX fans will like what they see. While the basic shape of the fourth-generation VA design is the same, improvements include a completely reworked grille with new blackened borders and a black mesh insert, a race-spec style multi-part lower front fascia with a matte black centre vent, and bigger reshaped matte black fog lamp bezels, all supported by a variety of new black alloy wheels depending on trim. The gaping hood scoop, swollen fenders with reverse engine vents and chromed "WRX" appliques, rear deck lid spoiler, and racy matte black rear diffuser with quad chromed tailpipes remain, the combination Read Full Story