In past years, Jaguar hasn’t done very well in the compact sedan segment, but is it that the brand’s upscale cachet is overqualified for a compact model or the general opinion that its previous small…

Jaguar shows off gorgeous new XE compact sport sedan

Just because you've tried something once and it was a colossal failure, doesn't mean your next attempt won't be a major victory.

This is the type of mantra people who can afford premium vehicles such as those sold by Jaguar repeat to themselves as they're climbing their way up life's ladder to success, and no doubt something similar to what the top execs in Jaguar's boardroom kept reminding themselves of every time they contemplated their next compact model.

Then again, those now on Jaguar's board are a completely different set of suits than the team responsible for conjuring up the 2001 to 2009 X-Type, a car with handsome albeit somewhat staid and predictable shrunken XJ styling mixed with Ford running gear. It was based on a modified version of the Ford CD132 platform that also underpinned the Ford Mondeo in Europe, Ford Contour, Mercury Mystique and Mercury Cougar in North America, and was related the Mazda6, while available in both four-door sedan and five-door Read Full Story
Can’t quite afford an Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz but want a sporty, luxuriously equipped compact that’s fun to drive? Kia has the answer: meet the Forte Sedan in top-tier SX trim. Auto journalist…

2014 Kia Forte Sedan SX Road Test Review

Kia is riding high in newfound popularity lately, for good reason. Its cars look better than most rivals' offerings, overall quality is good, standard and optional feature sets are more plentiful than the competition, and according to J.D. Power, dependability is at least mid-pack, while its five-year comprehensive warranty beats most peers as well. Today's consumers aren't stupid. We recognize good value when we see it, so it's no wonder the South Korean brand is enjoying sales success.

Nowhere is this more evident than with the sharp looking Forte Sedan. Redesigned for 2014, the Forte has gone from a sporty albeit cute little compact four-door to a sophisticated city slicker. Like its larger Optima sibling, you could put a premium badge on the hood and trunk lid and easily fool those unfamiliar with the car into thinking it's worth a lot more than its $15,995 base price suggests (plus $1,485 for freight and pre-delivery prep).

Maybe it's because the base car is so Read Full Story
Can you guess what Infiniti will debut at the upcoming Paris auto show? Thanks to a new teaser image, the Q80 Inspiration concept looks like a new full-size four-passenger sports coupe or maybe even a…

Infiniti reveals teaser of Q80 Inspiration concept before Paris show

It was only a couple of weeks ago that we reported on a new Infiniti prototype that would be heading to the Paris motor show next month, but all the Japanese luxury brand had to show at the time was part of the grille, leaving us with little to talk about than speculation. Now we get a much more revealing teaser photo that at least let's us know this won't be a new flagship luxury sedan, but rather a super coupe or, by the length of its greenhouse, more likely a long and lean four-door coupe, in concept form at least.

Infiniti has named this "low-slung, ingeniously aggressive four-passenger fastback" the Q80 Inspiration Concept, and as long as they follow through on their promise that it "foreshadows an audacious top-of-the-line model" they'll be able to truly stand behind additional words from their press release that say this "long-legged fastback proves that Infiniti intends to drive in and disturb the status quo."

We love the bold words, but as for what "intuitive Read Full Story
Is there still demand for a large Volvo SUV? If you looked at current sales number the XC90 is far from a hot seller, but 1,927 copies of a special First Edition version of the all-new 2016 XC90 sold…

Impressive new 2016 Volvo XC90 First Edition sells out in less than two days

Volvo started taking orders for its completely new 2016 XC90 crossover on September 3, and after a mere 47 hours all 1,927 First Edition models were sold out. According to the premium Scandinavian brand, most of these unique luxury SUVs were sold during the first hour of the online campaign.

Based on an all-new and totally revamped Volvo XC90, this special edition was oddly offered for sale ahead of the regular model, a smart idea to drum up attention as long as you're sure of success. Just how quickly the XC90 First Edition sold out clearly shows that there's pent-up demand for the mid-size Swede.

The First Edition gets exclusive Onyx Black exterior paint, Amber Nappa leather upholstery, a Charcoal leather dash-top, Linear Walnut inlays, unique eight-spoke 21-inch inscription alloy wheels, and special badging, on top of nearly every other feature available on the upcoming SUV - and that's a long and varied list.

Behind the XC90's larger, bolder new grille, Read Full Story
Are you starting to think that a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle might be right for you in the near future? Many buyers are at least contemplating the thought, and cars like the new Ford C-Max Energi…

2014 Ford C-Max Energi SEL Road Test Review

Am I getting older or is there some other reason why I get just as excited about driving an innovative plug-in electric vehicle as I do when slipping behind the wheel of something ultimately sporty like the new Fiesta ST?

Don't answer that. As I recently passed the 50 yard line (a little over a year ago) I'm well aware of my aging body and even more fragile mind, yet while my reflexes might not be quite as quick as they used to be I still enjoy the occasional romp down a backcountry road in a performance car. All said there's something equally intriguing about silently going about my day's business without spending much more than a nickel on fuel, and then popping down to my local city hall to juice it up with electrons for free. I don't know how long such freebie plug-in programs will continue, but I for one will take full advantage of local politicians and their do-good green agendas as long as I have cars as efficient as Ford's new C-Max Energi to drive around in.

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For those of us looking for inexpensive, comfortable, reliable, dutiful daily transportation, the pickings have never been better and build-quality, available features and just general niceness of the…

2014 Nissan Versa Note SV Road Test Review

In recent ads, Nissan is touting itself as Canada's fastest growing automotive brand, and with vehicles like the 2014 Versa Note it's easy to see why. Compared to the outgoing Versa Hatchback, also a strong seller, the new model is arguably more stylish and obviously more refined, yet while improved in just about every way it remains roomier inside than its subcompact peers, with more comfortable seating, better ride quality and impressive cargo space, is feature-filled for the class it competes in, and is just generally good value.

Those that might be lured in by the model's upscale styling should know first and foremost that the Versa Note is not a performance car in the slightest. Oh, don't worry, it'll accelerate away from a stoplight quickly enough and get you into plenty of trouble with the constabulary on the highway if you're not paying attention to the posted limit, but it'll take some time getting there. Of course, the Versa Note was never intended to compete in the Read Full Story
The new Mazda MX-5 has finally arrived, and it’s more of a change than you might have expected. Read Trevor Hofmann’s report and check out the photo gallery for everything we know about the iconic…

Hot looking new 2016 Mazda MX-5 roadster revealed

Yesterday, a full 25 years since the first generation model was introduced, Mazda unveiled the latest fourth-generation of its iconic MX-5 (Miata) roadster. By looks alone it appears to be worthy of the revered MX-5 nameplate, not to mention torchbearer status for the Japanese brand's performance image throughout the latter half of this decade.

The new 2016 model year design represents a bold departure from any previous MX-5, its cute and friendly persona replaced by a downright serious, purposeful and even slightly menacing look. The hood is long and low, not unlike the old Honda S2000's, ending with a deep and wide version of the brand's new trapezoidal grille design. Likewise the new headlight clusters are narrow as if the car is determinedly squinting, capping off a set of sculpted front fenders which follow a beltline that tapers inward as it passes by the doors and then bulges outward as it rounds over the rear wheels, forming a strong, planted appearance that will no doubt Read Full Story
Ford’s Focus Hatchback is hardly the latest compact model available, but it was so far advanced when it debuted that even this year’s model beats most competitors when it comes to performance, refinement…

2014 Ford Focus SE Hatchback Road Test Review

There's a reason why automakers give we journalists vehicles in different states of trim. If you hadn't already guessed, it's because the little badge on their backsides can make them look and feel very different from one another. The 2014 Ford Focus, for instance, comes in two different body styles, sedan and hatchback, while the latter gets three radically different grille designs depending on whether you choose SE or Titanium trim, the ultra-green Focus Electric, or performance-oriented Focus ST. But even when choosing between the base SE and near-premium Titanium, exterior trim, interior detailing and the quality of materials differ.

Rare for the mainstream compact class, the Focus Titanium not only features a luxurious soft-touch dash top, but also soft-touch door uppers. Normally it's one or the other, not both. The Focus SE follows the status quo instead, with Ford opting to upgrade its refinement levels by making the dash top soft to the touch and its door panels out Read Full Story