You’d think that a week in a relatively simply subcompact would be boring, but the 2014 Toyota Yaris was anything but. And Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press no, my tester wasn’t the…

2014 Toyota Yaris Road Test Review

You'd think that a week in a relatively simply subcompact would be boring, but the 2014 Toyota Yaris was anything but. And no, my tester wasn't the 414-hp Yaris Hybrid-R Concept that's been wowing attendees at auto shows in recent months, but rather a bone stock mid-pack Yaris LE Hatchback with (yes, sigh) an automatic transmission.

It would have certainly been more engaging with a five-speed manual, the standard transmission offered, the optional choice being a four-speed automatic sans manual mode, but somehow this little tike put a smile on my face every time I took to a set of winding corners. Putting throttle to the floor won't exactly pin you to the back of your seat, but the Yaris' 16-valve, DOHC, 1.5-litre four-cylinder's 106 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque definitely made light work out of the Yaris Hatchback's 1,020 kilo mass, which is part of the reason why it felt so good in the curves. Again, nothing radical at all under the floorboards, just MacPherson struts Read Full Story
Chicago is a great town. No doubt many Canadian hockey fans disagree, only considering their hatred of the gritty, talented, Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press oft-winning Blackhawks, but if you…

2014 Ford Taurus SHO Road Test Review

Chicago is a great town. No doubt many Canadian hockey fans disagree, only considering their hatred of the gritty, talented, oft-winning Blackhawks, but if you want a beautiful downtown filled with great architecture, including some of the tallest buildings in the U.S., fabulous food and some of the best live entertainment anywhere, there's no better place to enjoy a night out. Chicago Assembly is also home to the Ford Taurus.

There was a time not too long ago that "Made in America" was something to avoid, at least when it came to cars. Not anymore. Ford's quality, design, technology and performance are amongst the best in the industry. The Taurus is no exception. While you'll likely see many more Fiestas, Focuses and Fusions on the road than Taurus sedans, it's more a sign of today's smaller car buying practices than any indication of this large four-door's capability. The Taurus is a very good full-size sedan.

I've driven it in various trim levels with each drivetrain Read Full Story