The case for the 2017 Kia Forte5 vs VW’s Golf

Volkswagen’s Golf is arguably the world’s most refined, most thoroughly complete four-door hatchback from a mainstream manufacturer. A close second is Kia’s Forte5. But a skilled debater could argue that the Kia has an edge over the Golf. The case for Kia starts with an anti-VW argument. “Dieselgate” has turned VW into a felon under U.S. …

Read more

2017 Chevy Equinox slims down, gets connected

JORDAN VILLAGE, Ont. – I have just signed onto a Wi-Fit hotspot, which would not be particularly remarkable if I were in a Starbucks or an airport. But here, Wi-Fit is part of the OnStar package in the newest version of the Chevrolet Equinox, the reinvented 2018 model (base price $26,995 including freight and dealer …

Read more

Are eight-year car loans a ticking time bomb of debt?

– Graphic source: J.D. Power & Associates’ Power Information Network More than half of Canadian car buyers who opt to finance take a loan of 84 months or longer, which suggests “we might be bumping up against a ceiling regarding the (term) length,” says the chief economist of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA). But …

Read more

2017 Mazda CX-5: tops amongst best-selling small SUVs

Mazda most certainly does not have the marketing muscle of monster car makers like Ford, Toyota, General Motors, Nissan and even Honda. So you might not have noticed, even heard, that there is a revamped CX-5 small SUV (sport-utility vehicle) for sale. But you should know about the 2017 CX-5. Even though the exterior design …

Read more

2017 XF 20d: Jaguar pulls on big boy pants, tackles Germans head-on

During these past 12 months, Jaguar shifted from charismatic niche brand with a nice history and a spotty quality record to something quite different: serious alternative to the Big Three Germans, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It happened without much fanfare; many didn’t even notice. But we saw the plan begin to unfold in real time …

Read more