BMW 3 Series, Kia Optima Hybrid, Scion xB, Toyota Prius V all offer good value and quality
Looking for a used car around five years old? Here are some models from 2015 that I happen to like, from four manufacturers. BMW 3 Series BMW makes some outstanding automobiles, no question. But for driving pleasure, value, and accessibility, the 3 Series takes some beating. The base version was actually less expensive than the…
This lovely automobile has a nice sense of balance, plenty of get-up-and-go, is comfortable and easy to get along with
Maybe it’s because the price of diesel has crept up. Maybe it’s because Volkswagen got busted for a massive fuel economy scam a few years ago. Maybe it’s because people stopped caring about fuel economy. But whatever the reason, diesel-engined cars have decreased in popularity to the point where they’re almost unavailable. For a while,…
With Mercedes discontinuing the Smart after the 2020 model year, this thrifty, surprisingly durable city runabout may be in short supply
When the Mercedes-Benz Smart car debuted in Canada in 2004, I had mixed feelings, to put it mildly. At first, I absolutely loathed it, mainly because the first versions were really ugly and it had a clunky, uneven diesel drivetrain that just wouldn’t behave. Things got better with the introduction of a gasoline engine model…
Every now and then, a vehicle comes my way that just seems to bug me at every turn. I can’t get along with it and everything about it rubs me the wrong way. Sometimes, the car ticks all the right boxes in terms of engineering, styling and performance, and often comes with top-notch credentials, but…
From subcompacts to minivans to performance cars, here's something for every buyer
Are you looking for a used car around five years old? Here are some suggestions from four manufacturers for the model year 2014. Ford Fiesta This model shows that Ford can do more than build hotrods and pickup trucks. With plenty of European input, the Fiesta was arguably the only North American subcompact on equal…
The Volkswagen Rabbit was the original hatchback pocket rocket when it was introduced to North American in 1974. It quickly morphed from sensible urban transport to a lively, performance-oriented corner-carver that was immediately popular with enthusiasts and racers around the world when the GTI was introduced two years later. Over the years, it has been…
How I found myself scrabbling around on a cold garage floor trying to breathe life back into a car that should have gone to the knackers years ago
A few years back, after at least 25 years of driving various Morgans, I sold my 1955 Plus-4 Special and bought a 1976 Triumph TR6. Some might counter that I jumped from the frying pan into the fire by acquiring a Triumph, but after some 10 years of ownership, I’m still a happy camper. The…
The fuel economy of today’s car is miles ahead of what it used to be but manufacturers aren't done yet
Arguably the biggest challenge facing automakers has to do with the environment: How to make their products more fuel efficient and cleaner running, while consuming fewer natural resources and leaving a smaller carbon footprint. Air conditioned seats, illuminated cup-holders, and cars that park themselves are fine and dandy, but people (and governments) want automobiles that…
In the economy market, this model has always been a cut above the rest
Car buyers have plenty to choose from in the economy market segment. Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Hyundai, etc., all have tons of models available and, by and large, they’re pretty good. But one model has always been a cut above the rest when it comes to getting maximum bang for the buck – at least, as…
Today’s automobiles are full of safety features and more improvements are added every model year
In a dramatic video that made the rounds on the Internet a few years ago, a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu is crashed into a 1959 Chev Bel Air in a front offset collision staged by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Despite the prevailing wisdom that older automobiles, with their heavier construction and greater use…