First Drives

Graz, Austria – The Austrian Alps are already underneath a blanket of snow and the roads around Graz are wet. Comprised of a series of tight turns and larger, faster bends, these mountain roads are often icy in shaded areas. All of these elements add up to ideal conditions for …

What was Nissan thinking when they built the last Pathfinder on a slightly shorter version of the Titan pick-up’s frame? With its optional 5.6-litre V8, rugged look and large tires, this macho Pathfinder was equipped to either climb mountains or tow them. But the market changed and its sales plummeted; …

In the past, the Buick division’s forays into the compact car category have been unconvincing. But with the Verano, its more recent attempts are much more positive. To win buyers over, the Verano combines an efficient platform, complete equipment, a meticulous finish and flawless handling. In a few months, it …

Introduced in 2006, the Fusion has helped Ford become a serious competitor in the mid-size sedan class, after several years of concentrating on trucks and SUVs. The Fusion has always done well with its excellent style, different engines and good quality for the price, but it was missing something that …

Mazda is set to release the latest generation of its mid-size sedan, the Mazda6, at the start of 2013. Its arrival will be the culmination of a project that began several years ago with the goal of radically transforming all of this manufacturer’s vehicles. The dawn of this program dates …

The number of luxury sedan owners who will ever flog their rides on the race track is admittedly a small one. That doesn't mean, however, that the closed circuits of the world aren't a great place to test and tune a premium car before it is unleashed on the public.

The Santa Fe, one of the best known names at Hyundai, was ripe for a third generation and Hyundai wants to take full advantage of the passion Canadians have for mid-size utility vehicles, a category that is constantly growing. In fact, the new Santa Fe will be two vehicles. A …

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia – How do you like your new Chevrolet Malibu? From the base version to the Eco to the Turbo, there’s something for everyone. Although the Chevrolet Malibu Eco costs almost $3,000 more than the base version, it’s the one we like the least. Why, you ask?

Santa Barbara, California — In 2008, the eighth generation of the illustrious Honda Accord was outwitted by the Chevrolet Malibu, which edged it for the title of Best New North American Car. For its ninth generation, the Japanese intermediate wants to take back top billing, but will its performance be …

How many small vehicles can one showroom hold? If you're Chevrolet, the answer to that question is six: the Spark, the Sonic, the Cruze, the Orlando, the Equinox, and now the new 2013 Chevrolet Trax. The Chevrolet Trax is a subcompact SUV that aims to lure in budget-conscious buyers looking …